Community Rock Garden: Kindness Rocks

︎ The Bentway - Community Incubation Program
︎ Community-engaged Arts & Multimedia Public Art Program
︎ Toronto, ON
︎ October 2021

_{Kindness Rocks - Community Rock Garden, Assorted rock paintings, October 2021, Individual rock paintings range from 3 to 12 cm in width.

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A community-engaged art project for The Bentway using painted rocks to encourage kindness and community connection.}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, creating art programming that was accessible, safe, and responsive to community needs became especially important. In October 2021, as part of The Bentway’s Community Incubation Program, a platform that supports artists in testing new ideas through public-facing, community-centered projects. Paddy Leung developed a series of hybrid initiatives that activated the site through creative, low-barrier engagement. The program provided space, resources, and mentorship to pilot work that prioritized care, experimentation, and public connection during a time of uncertainty.

^{A slideshow documenting Kindness Rocks by Paddy Leung, featuring the community rock garden and circular bench, moments of public activation, and close-up details of participant-painted rocks that reflect collective care, play, and creative connection.}

Kindness Rocks was a temporary public art project designed to foster gentle connection, joy, and play. The installation invited people of all ages to interact with a growing rock garden by painting, trading, or contributing rocks over the course of a month. A circular bench, designed by Leung, encouraged visitors to gather, rest, and reflect while engaging with the work in an open-air, physically distanced setting.

_{A slideshow documenting the Kindness Rocks hybrid workshop, showcasing samples created by Paddy Leung using a variety of rock-painting methods, including ready-to-pour fluid art techniques and seasonal ghost, treats and pumpkin designs that highlighted the October, near-Halloween activation.}

The project was intentionally designed as a hybrid experience to support those unable to participate in person. Virtual workshops were offered alongside the public installation, with accessibility and safety prioritized throughout, including the invitation of an ASL interpreter for online sessions. Through playful participation and shared care, Kindness Rocks demonstrated how public art can create inclusive, affirming spaces that support both individual expression and collective belonging.