Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1447854
Kathy Bell has no background in art and never imagined she'd be involved with a public art installation. But about four years ago, while in a "deep valley" in her life, the Fayetteville mom got some divine inspiration. She was visiting Chicago when her Uber driver took a wrong turn, bringing her face to face with not just one, but two signs that read "You are Beautiful." When she came back home, she couldn't stop thinking about those signs and "all the people like me who needed to hear that message…I wanted others to experience what I had." So, Kathy began placing handmade "You are Beautiful" signs in her own front yard. Notes appeared on her doorstep and in her mailbox about how the signs touched people. The signs were continually stolen and she'd put new ones up, but that got Kathy thinking about doing something more permanent. "I investigated and found out the two signs I saw in Chicago weren't isolated, they were part of a movement taking place all around the world, of spreading these powerful and transformative three words of kindness and identity," Kathy recalled. She contacted the You are Beautiful headquarters to see what her options were. Kathy was gifted a sign to display, but was then faced with a dilemma—where to put it? "I was perplexed about how and where to get the ball rolling with the city. One of my husband's friends suggested contacting the Fayetteville chamber," she said. Kathy's daughter had been a participant in the chamber's high school leadership program. So she reached out to Teen 'X'perience program leader Jennifer Irwin, who connected her with Steve Clark. "He was very eager to hear my story and was immediately on board with the message and how we could share it with the community," Kathy said. "He took on all the legwork and cost of getting it installed and with all the complications, it took over a year… he is tenacious and it wouldn't have such a wonderful location if it weren't for him!" "It took a while to figure out where the sign should go," Steve admitted. "We kept looking for a place where the most people would see it. Then one day Kathy and I were out in front of the Chamber and I said 'why don't we put it right there?' and I pointed to the front of the building. She was thrilled." The sign went up the day before Thanksgiving, 2021. It's the only one in the state of Arkansas. Now, what Kathy calls the "life- changing truth that every single person is beautiful" is there for all to see at the top of the Chamber building, facing the square. Steve says he's gotten a number of comments letting him know that the simple, powerful message is being seen. Kathy has received messages on social media, but says "I don't think I will ever know how this message will change the course of a person's day or maybe even their life, but that's ok…I am just a steward of the message. "I guess my dream would be that people would not only believe it for themselves, but also would see it in others," she continued. "As our world is becoming so polarized, I hope that people will challenge themselves to see the truth that there is beauty in the person who doesn't think like you, act like you or look like you and treat them with the kindness and compassion that this truth warrants. Wouldn't that be beautiful?" Seeing the Beautiful You can learn more about the original vision of the artist and organization and even order your own products to spread the message at: https://you-are-beautiful.com/ public art installation photos on website: https://you-are-beautiful.com/pages/public-art The You are Beautiful project started in 2002, with 100 stickers, in a two-car garage in Chicago. In 2018, the YAB HQ, retail store and studio opened, and offerings now include signs, candles, bookmarks, clothing, stationery and accessories, in addition to public art installations around the globe. A Kickstarter campaign is bringing one installation to each state, and the Fayetteville Chamber sign is the first in Arkansas. About the project, the YAB team says, "Public Art makes the world a better place. It helps each of us not feel so alone or lost in the world. It reminds us that there are people that care about us, and to pay it forward." By karen Rice 13 Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce