Art & Basketball--a SLAM DUNK!

What do basketball and art have in common? Well, If you are a basketball fan like me, you will know that the season of shooting hoops is here! But did you also know(and here’s the art part), that some basketball courts these days come in an array of different patterns, unique designs, and bright colors? Through varying initiatives and organizations, in our country and also around the world, some cracked, crumbling, and falling apart basketball courts are getting a much needed facelift through the arts. The photo above, is one of these amazing examples. Created and painted by artist Joshua Martel in 2021, this court is located in Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington. Below are several more examples of renovated courts created by the organization Project Backboard. Started in 2015 by New York native Dan Peterson, the goal of Project Backboard is to renovate public basketball courts using large scale art in order to help strengthen communities, and inspire people to think creatively about their environment.

All the photos shown on this post are from cities only in the United States, but there are also many amazing examples from all around the world as well--click here to check some of them out! What a great example of how the arts help to beautify as well as bring together our world in unique and wonderful ways.