Note the proper shade of yellow in Johndonnell’s shirt
KINGSTON – Happiness is not just a feeling, it is also a particular shade of yellow – specifically, Pantone® INT-O Yellow, short for International Optimism.
Everyone was smiling when local artists and community organizers cut a giant yellow ribbon, for the Kingston Paint the Town Yellow event at City Hall on Tuesday evening.
The project is meant to shine light on mental health issues – and also generally cheer people up. While naysayers and grumps might need just a little bit of sunshine, others suffering from clinical depression or PTSD need more professional help.
Local health and veteran representatives lent their participation to the initiative.
“I always believed there was a silver lining,” said Kingston artist G. Riley Johndonnell, curator of the former Midtown Happy Spot gallery on Broadway.
One day, Johndonnell said he was glumly walking through Manhattan, having a tough time, asking the universe for a ray of hope. He found inspiration in a can of Sunshine carrots, discarded inside a trash bin. Soon he was dipping other pieces of trash in yellow paint and writing happy messages on them.
Eventually 500 other artists picked up on the idea, and a phenomenon was born.
“Can optimism not only be a color, but can optimism also be an ism? What started as a question has now become a color with a cause; a movement of people with shared intentions, to brighten reality, turn negative to positive, or at least try to make a positive impact,” Johndonnell said.
“The color yellow is also a healing color,” said Kingston Midtown Arts District President Anne Bailey. “It’s meant to shine a light on depression, a force that affects all families. It is time in our nation to talk about depression openly, and help those who suffer from it, get the help they need,” she said.
Other participants and speakers included Kingston Mayor Steven Noble, 9th Ward Alderwoman Andrea Shaut, Health Alliance Hospital President David Scarpino, and Kingston Arts Commissioner Micah Blumenthal. Also featured were art exhibits, and complimentary cupcakes.
