User:Hearts in the World

Introduction

Hearts in the World is a Street Art Event accessible to all, aiming to support a local Charity as well as to bring art closer to the average person in a City entailing community involvement and collaboration.

The streets of the City become full of colourful, funny and imaginative Heart sculptures that brighten the routine of a city, and some of which convey social messages. Citizens smile and take pictures while passing by, walk around the streets and the squares of the City looking for them, and get used to different expressions of art.

Quotes

« Using the form of heart as a vehicle, conveying messages of symbolism of love, devotion and life itself, the City of Athens fills once again with colour and sentiment.» Nikitas Kaklamanis, Mayor of Athens

« It brings Art to the city’s streets, it familiarizes citizens with cultural events, stimulating their sense of humour and their fantasy, and therefore upgrading their daily round» Sofi Daskalaki-Mytilineou, Municipal Councillor, Cultural Organization Municipality of Athens

The Heart as a symbol

Without a doubt, heart constitutes one of the most recognisable symbols, both in the Western and in the Eastern Art World. It also has an important place in the history of Anatomy, as the basic part of the human body, equally important and as religious symbol.

Hearts appear perpetually in Art in Literature, in Fashion and in Publicity as a diachronic symbol. In the world history of symbols, fables and religions, from Paganism and Christianity, to Islamism and Buddhism, Hinduism and Hebraism, it constitutes the basis of humans soul. In the arts of humanity, from Romanticism to Pop Art, the heart holds a fascination and a charm that no other vital part of human organism (not even the brain or the eyes) exceeds.

Everyone recognises in the form of a heart the symbol of love and devotion, expectation, attachment and dedication. The heart Sculptures large in size, constitute a canvas suitable for each form of art. The Hearts represent a lot of different things for each one and cause various strong sentiments. There is something magic surrounding Hearts…

Sculptures

The sculptures are available in two different sizes: Three dimensional (1.80x1.90x0.80) by fiberglass and two-dimensional metal heart (1.50x1.60)

The sculptures are attached to a solid heavy base.

The prototype sketch used to create the hearts was designed by the well-known Greek sculptress Aphrodite Litti and was shaped in clay for the fibreglass mould with the help of the world known sculptress Vassiliki and her team.

The sculptures are delivered to the artists primed, sanded and ready for crafting and painting (acrylic or oil paint) and once finished they should remain outside for the years to come with a minimal maintenance (a coat of varnish every year).

Once the sculptures are completed they are placed simultaneously in pre-designated spots in the city

Some damage to the sculptures may occur, due to vandalism or excessive ‘cuddling’, while their display in the city. The Hearts are repaired in a specially designated area provided by local authorities.

Heart2Hearts

Hearts in the World aims at the highest involvement of the citizens in this Street Art Event which will beautify a city, and to this end, runs an exhibition within the exhibition, named Heart2Hearts, common to all Hearts in the World Exhibitions… Museums, Institutions and Cultural and Social Organizations from all over the country, are invited to participate to this project showing their support for events getting Art closer to citizens. Through their inspiration and their sense of humour, they are invited to transform a sea-ply wooden Heart into a piece of art (individual participation or group), and dedicate it to the Hearts City Event.

For this purpose Hearts in the World offers to participants, Wooden two dimensional Hearts (1.25x1.30 cm), which the artists or group of artists will have the chance to use as a canvas and create unique pieces of art. This side project does not involve Sponsors or any payment. These Hearts will be placed inside a gallery style space, i.e. a shopping arcade in the centre of the city, and after the completion of this Street Art Event, they will be auctioned alongside the other fibreglass and metal sculptures of Hearts in the World City.

Charity

Hearts in the World Events aim at supporting the work of Local Charities, by providing exposure to their work through all the printed material and supporting events as well as by donating 50% of the Auction proceeds.

Sponsors

Hearts in the World gives the local business community, an important opportunity to relate and get involved in a big Cultural Event of the City visible for the duration of the Event to hundreds of thousands people, and finally to show support to the Local Charity and give an example of their company's CSR. Sponsors play a major part in all Hearts in the World Events by financing them. According to their choice, each company receives a different package of compensating benefits. All sculptures have a sponsor, which is acknowledged with a plate, containing the logo of the Exhibition, the Platinum Sponsors of the event, the artist’s name, the title of the artwork, and the Sponsor of the specific Heart, on the base of each sculpture. Sponsors choose a design from the Event portfolio of submitted designs of the artists, or commission an artist or their design agency, to submit a design, approved by Hearts in the World that reflects most their company’s profile

Artists

Hearts in the World Event makes an open call to people who feel artistic to participate by submitting a sketch of the Heart with their work.

Painters, sculptors, graffiti artists, architects, designers and other aspiring creators, basically anyone with creative ideas can fill in the application of Hearts in the World.

There are no constraints apart from the fact that commercial signs are not allowed, nor are insulting to the public opinion images and messages, given that the Event is an Art event and should be treated as such. Artists whose sketch are chosen, and therefore transform it to a Heart Sculpture, receive a fixed fee. They also receive a 5% of the price at which their piece is sold at the Auction.

Auction

All Hearts in the World Events reach their completion with a Farewell Party followed by an Auction of the Sculptures. 50% of the proceeds are donated to support the work of the chosen local charity organisation. Collectors, sponsors and individual with cultural and philanthropic sensitivities, are asked to support the event and participate to the Auction.

Intellectual Property

Hearts in The World name, logo©, website and designs as well as The Heart sculptures and shapes used in all Hearts in The World events are protected by Intellectual Property Acts.