Who we are

Random Acts of Artists (RAA) is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization made up of some of the most creative individuals located in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. Our members represent some of the area’s finest talents in Fine Arts, Theater, Music, Dance, Design Crafts, and more! RAA was founded in the summer of 2014 as a small group of around a dozen artists. RAA became a non-profit 501 (c) 3 in June of 2016.

Our mission statement is “Dedicated to promoting the arts, nurturing the artists and serving the community through open communications and mutual cooperation.”

RAA is a grassroots movement of artists who have bonded together to share their vision: “Art can revitalize our communities and our lives”. Our purpose is to unite, inform, and encourage artists to organize and create projects that help to rejuvenate and bring more color and art into local communities, and our lives.

RAA currently has several subgroups focusing on specific creative endeavors. You can follow on Facebook as a social member.

• For the Love of Writing (FLOW)- creative writing F.L.O.W. (For the Love of Writing) by RAA

• For the love of Photography (FLOP) - creative photography F.L.O.P (For the Love of Photography) by RAA

• Black Sheep Players (BSP)- theater and performing arts Black Sheep Players

• Random Acts of Music (RAM)- Music Random Acts of Music RAM

We often post on our Facebook Group Page Random Acts of Artists RAA Group where we help our members learn about upcoming art shows, festivals, & theatrical events that are happening in the area so that they may have a chance to participate. We also encourage an educational element that is achieved through mutual cooperation with other artists, instructional websites and videos that demonstrate various techniques and artistic concepts. We encourage our members to post their own creations and art-pages on our Facebook Group Page to showcase their work.

Some of our efforts so far…

-In 2015 RAA created an art installation in Sharon's River Gardens Park. RAA artists gave their time and talents to help groups such as the local Untied Way, Joshua's Haven City Mission, Greater Sharon Associate Merchants and Sharon Beautification Commission. The group also coordinated several public juried art shows and casual “Pop-up” art shows. RAA has also been honored to be a major part of the Sharon Waterfire events.

-In 2016 RAA worked with the Sharon Beautification Commission, the Sharon Gardener’s Club , to complete the "Literary Garden" at the Shenango Valley Community Library. It consists of 42 individually painted posts representing books and their authors.

Another installation we did that year is called "Willow Way" which is located in the newly named River Gardens Park in downtown Sharon, Pa. This installation is a 20 foot long living arbor, live willows grace the walkway and add beauty of the park.  RAA also worked with Buhl Park to install several "Dream Pods" for kids to play in.

-In 2017 RAA created our Flower Garden Gallery along W. Connelly Blvd. in Sharon, PA. This consists of 40 paintings of local flowers. These were painted on 3 foot by 4 foot panels which were then mounted on steel poles and hinged so they can revolve with the wind. Twenty artists participated in this project which was partially funded by a Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts Stream Project Grant.

RAA helped to transform an old alleyway in downtown Sharon into a work of art we call "Random Interface" This consists of 22 portraits painted on 3 foot by 4 foot panels and then mounted on the side wall of the alley. We also painted the entire pavement with a decorative design and added overhead bistro lights to create a European style walkway.

In 2018 we installed a 1,700 square foot mural. It is painted on the south side of the Sharon City Shopping Centre. Around 40 Sharon school students silhouettes were painted on the mural over a brightly colored background. Ten RAA members participated and volunteered in the production of this mural. This mural was funded partially by a PPA Stream Project grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. The mural was named "Choose to Fly" as an inspiration to both students and adults to make good choices in life, and to work hard in order to reach for their dreams.

In July of 2019 RAA created a 50 foot wide labyrinth in the parking lot on the North side of the Reyer’s Shoe Store building, located at 40 S. Water Ave., Sharon PA. This was inspired by a visit to the labyrinth at Federated Family Life Center in Chagrin Falls, OH. It is based on the well known Chartres Labyrinth which is a centuries old design. It is a seven-course "Classical" design without branching or dead ends with one entrance which leads to the central circle and then back out again.It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The Labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools. This labyrinth can be enjoyed by young and old alike and brings focus to the existing mural on the wall behind it.

This public art installation has been funded by Random Acts of Artists and donations from the Sharon Beautification commission and Warren Glass & Paint. The artists who volunteered their time and talent to this project were Bill & Sue Griffin, Wayne Rongaus, Gary Barnes PhD. and Terry Polonsky.

RAA is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization which has completed several other beautiful art installations in the City of Sharon over the past 4 years. These have been created to fulfill the RAA mission statement: “Dedicated to promoting the arts, nurturing the artists and serving the community.”There are many more community projects that we have completed, and have in mind. We hope to accomplish as many as possible with the help of community funding and individual and corporate tax deductible donations.

Going forward we hope to initiate and cooperate with businesses and organizations to bring art to the community as a foundation for the growth and revitalization of our communities. As artists we do this to benefit each other’s artistic endeavors as well as the community. Think about joining us today! Sincerely,

-Terry Polonsky- President, Random Acts of Artists Inc.

-Dedicated to promoting the arts, nurturing the artists, and serving the community through open communication and mutual cooperation.