Talk about art

By Carolyn Henderson

If you walk around town or country, you may have found a piece of artwork in the form of a painted rock. Sometimes they have an encouraging statement on them, other times a colorful image that brings a smile and sense of gratification.

"The best part about painting rocks is putting these small pieces of art out into the world to share with others as an act of kindness," says Ashly Beebe of Dayton.

"I have found a few rocks myself, and it is such a special moment. For some it's a smile, and for others it's what they needed on a bad day or a reminder of a loved one."

Painting rocks and putting them out for others to find has become a national trend, one that started in earnest four years ago when Megan Murphy of Massachusetts wrote "You've got this" on a rock and hid it on a Cape Cod beach. When the finder contacted Murphy to tell her how much the discovery meant, Murphy realized she was onto something. That something developed into the Kindness Rocks Project, which grew, grass roots style, to the movement it is today.

All around the country, people paint rocks and hide them in public places for others to find. Often, the finders post their rock treasures on a local Painted Rocks Facebook group (Dayton, WA ROCKS), and both finder and artist delight in a random act of kindness that grows each time the rock is re-hidden, and refound.

Wenaha Gallery (219 East Main, Dayton) is celebrating the regional artists who paint rocks by hosting a Rock Star art event, featuring painted rocks by Dayton, Waitsburg, and Walla Walla artists. The Art Event runs through February 23, and select rocks are for sale, at the choice of the artist, for $10 each.

(Wenaha Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is committed to showcasing the artwork of Pacific Northwest artists.)