Colorful pieces of art have been popping up in yards around Concord this month, inspiring neighbors and friends to participate in a new community-building activity. 

Friends Liza Poinier, Sarah Robinson, Jessica Livingston and Melissa Hinebauch, along with Concord City Councilors Zandra Rice-Hawkins and Stacey Brown, the women share a common interest in building community and being creative while having fun, said Hinebauch.

This is the first year that Concord Yard Art has come to fruition. A Facebook group was created named “Yard Art Concord 2023” in the spring, which now has 221 members. Posts on the page feature large and small pieces of art on display, from a black crow situated on a mailbox with battery-powered glowing red eyes, to an impressive painted cornflower blue Polar Seltzer can on Monroe Street. 

Accompanied by each display is a sign that labels the work as Concord Yard Art, tagged with a printed QR code that will take people directly to the Facebook group so they can see the various community works of art, and participate if interested.

Connie the kindness snake has been created by Judith Kurtz and displayed in her yard with the help of her creative 14 and 11-year-olds, she said. She found the idea for the kindness snake in a post on the Yard Art Facebook page and thought it’d be a positive addition to the activity. Kurtz invited community members to add to the snake by painting a rock and adding to its tail. So far about five people have added to Connie since it was created, she said. 

“It’s something fun and interactive to do,” said Kurtz, who added that she’s created yard art in the past, especially during the pandemic as an engaging pastime.

Connie the colorful kindness snake can be seen slithering along Ridge Road in Concord. 

A creative wire squirrel was constructed by Poinier and her family. She found the metal figurine in her basement and turned it into a fun project by spray painting it gold and using hot glue to attach faux flowers and leaves, and tiny animal figurines to create a unique art expression. 

“The benefits of having Yard Art Concord are enormous. Neighbors gather around the art installations and chat,” said Hinebauch. “Families get inspired to create their own yard art and spend time building something together.

It also helps people get outside, explore the community and meet new people, she said.

“It’s like finding buried treasure when you come across some random yard art on your walk – and there it is – for free,” said Hinebauch. “Yard Art Concord builds community, promotes creativity, encourages sharing of ideas, and connects neighbors to each other. It is magic. I think the more yard art there is around Concord, the happier we will all be. Community efforts like Yard Art Concord draw us  together and open our imaginations."  

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