MOV Rocks

Whether you are exploring historic downtown Marietta or enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, you may notice a uniquely painted rock at your feet. First and second graders at Veritas Classical Academy participated in this project for an art assignment.

Holly Hamrick, an instructor at Veritas Classical Academy, is constantly on the lookout for fun activities to do with her kids in the classroom. She came across the idea to paint rocks and spread them across the community from a group in Richmond, Virginia she follows on social media.

“I thought it would be an extra fun activity that would keep the kids connected over summer break, and knew it would be perfect for our community” she said.

Hamrick thinks that the community has had a positive reaction to MOV Rocks. Individuals from the community have been using the hashtag #MOVRocks to share their findings!

Adel Raber, a local parent, used the hashtag to follow their rocks’ journeys. “The very first rock we found and hid has been spotted in at least four places so far that we know of! Without Facebook, we wouldn’t be able to see who found the rock and where it went to next. It is all about the journey and social media allows us to follow it,” she said.

Raber found out about the rock-painting trend from a Today Show post on Facebook. She reached out to some of her artist friends and soon found out that the trend had already taken hold in the area. “I started following the MOV Rocks page, added a bunch of friends, and started painting rocks,” she said.

My kids love that they can create pretty much anything they want and its going to be found by a stranger and travel around the area!

The trend is for kids and adults alike. Raber recalls that her colleagues have started bringing rocks to work that they think would be “good ones” to paint. “My kids love that they can create pretty much anything they want and its going to be found by a stranger and travel around the area,” she said.

Rachelle Smith is another parent who has seen the enthusiasm for painting rocks take hold in her house. “After my son painted rocks for school, he came home in search of more good rocks for painting. Then, his sisters had to get in on it so they set up an outdoor art studio on the spot!” she said. Smith recalls that the project has been contagious in her house, and she imagines others in the community are experiencing the same thing.

Painting the rock is often just the beginning. Raber takes her kids back after they hide a rock a few days later to see if it is still there. With the impact that MOV Rocks has had on the Mid Ohio Valley, I was curious to see who all could take part in this project.

“Anyone can [participate],” Smith said. “And before they know it, their sisters and neighbors will be in on it too!”