City Walk About
Current Location:
Section 20 (VS) -> Middle Shelf (VS20)
Location Notes:
IDC; Vertical Storage; Section 20; Middle Shelf

Outsider Art ➔ City Walk About

Artwork
Identifier:
2016.15.21
Artist:
Rick Schaafsma
Credit:
Gift of Rick Schaafsma
Medium:
Acrylic on Canvas
Date:
2001
Dimensions:
Artworks - Height: 16 in Width: 20 in
Description:
A large purple and yellow striped butterfly covers a city on the water. Various trains and boats sail around. A blonde haired woman with a large umbrella stands over the city.
Historical Context:
Rick Schaafsma is a retired police officer who served on the streets of Grand Rapids from the late 60s through the mid-90s. Using the pen name "ARCH" taken from his high-arched basketball shot, Schaafsma draws a range of fanciful figures, including his "CopToons” with the hope that children will look at police officers in a positive light beginning at an early age.

“I always looked at it when I was a police officer: I may not be able to change a lot of things I may not be able to do a lot of things but I can chip away at it and make some improvements when I’m on my beat, when I interact with people”

In addition to his art, Schaafsma works with Seeds of Promise, a non-profit with a mission to empower people to increase their prosperity through improving the neighborhoods they live in.

Getty Art and Architecture Thesaurus Terms:
acrylic paint
acrylic painting
acrylic paintings