Green Heart Fridays Raise Awareness for Arthritis

Arthritis, the nation’s No. 1 cause of disability, affects nearly 60 million adults and children in the U.S.  May is Arthritis Awareness Month, and the Atlanta-based Arthritis Foundation is using the power of public art to creatively increase focus on people living with arthritis through its Green Heart Fridays project.

The nationwide activation encourages the public to share the Foundation’s Green Heart, which began as an organic sign of support within the arthritis community and is quickly becoming a recognizable symbol of solidarity for the millions of people living with the disease.

A post on the AF Instagram account explained: “Every Friday in May, we’ll flood social media with our Green Heart, and artists across the country will drop original, Green Heart–inspired art in their cities for someone to discover and take home. Follow along, share your own Green Heart and help raise awareness while showing support for everyone living with arthritis.” #GreenHeartFridays #ArthritisAwarenessMonth

In Atlanta, well-known “Tiny Doors” artist Karen Anderson Singer will be participating for a second year. Singer’s unique whimsical miniature door installations are found in 30 locations around Atlanta, including along the Beltline Eastside Trail, the Fox Theatre, the Swan House and around neighborhoods such as Kirkwood, Cabbagetown, and Inman Park.

According to Singer, her association with the Arthritis Foundation began when the organization reached out to commission her to do a Tiny Door installation for their headquarters lobby in Midtown Atlanta. When they began the Green Heart arthritis awareness project last year, the Foundation invited Singer to be the Atlanta artist.

“We had such a good time working together, they invited me to also do Green Heart Fridays. That was really fun, too, because the rules they give you are, basically, just that it has to include a green heart. And I had so much fun just letting my imagination go with that. These doors are really fun and special — they’re all suncatchers, and I’ve never done a release like that before,” Singer said, adding, “I think it’s a cool way to celebrate the arts and give something back to people in Atlanta too.”

Each Friday in May, Singer drops a location clue in her Instagram stories (@tinydoorsatl) where that week’s Green Heart art will be found. Each one will be at an existing Tiny Door location.  The first, on May 1, for example, was placed at her very first Tiny Door installation at Krog Street Tunnel. The first person to find the Green Heart art gets to keep it, and they are encouraged to share their special find on social media to promote Arthritis Month awareness.

Throughout the month of May, people across the country are encouraged to share green hearts in their own way. Whether posting on social media, creating their own interpretation or engaging with content shared by others, individuals and communities can take part in raising visibility for arthritis nationwide.

“Green Heart Fridays is about more than art,” said Steven Taylor, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. “For the millions of people living with arthritis, each day can bring real challenges that often go unseen. The Green Heart is a powerful symbol that those living with arthritis are seen, supported and not alone. By bringing creativity and community together, this initiative creates space for conversations about arthritis in a meaningful and uplifting way.”

Green Heart Fridays is a critical part of the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to raise public awareness about arthritis and its profound impact on daily life. The Foundation’s efforts continue to focus on funding research for better treatments, supporting patients and caregivers, and advocating for policies that ensure better access to care and treatments.

Other cities participating in this year’s campaign include Phoenix, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, San Antonio, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Kansas City.