In Northern Greece on the Chalkidiki peninsula (Χαλκιδική), in its part which is called Kassandra (Κασσάνδρα), there is a small city Afitos (Άφυτος). Afitos is an ideal holiday destination with wonderful sea and amazing air.
Afitos has been known since the 5th century AD. It withstood both internecine wars and the struggle against foreign invaders. And as a result, it achieved the niche of a respectable seaside resort, quiet and extremely beautiful.
Afitos gives the impression of a classic Mediterranean seaside town. It is located 70-80 kilometers from Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη). The city is ideal as a "base" for beach activities with compulsory evening walks, which may be interspersed with an extensive excursion program in Northern Greece, covering Halkidiki (including Athos (Άγιο Όρος), Thessaloniki and the mainland up to the foot of Olympus (Όλυμπος).
In 2019 active citizens realized that, for all its merits, Afitos lacks a unique image, an urban identity that will distinguish it from a number of no less beautiful Greek resorts and villages. A respectable artist in Afitos, Vasilis Pavlis (Βασίλης Παυλής), made an unexpected step: together with volunteers, he collected large tins of the traditional Greek cheese "Feta" (Φέτα) which was empty, and painted them, turning them into exclusive flowerpots. In June 2019 a small presentation was organized and after a while, the painted cans became so fond of the townspeople and, most importantly, of the guests of the city that they became an integral artistic feature of the city.
Here is what the artist and project participant Souzana Giouvanoudi (Σουζάνα Γιουβανούδη) said:
People in Afitos liked the idea. There were several aggressive moments and disagreements, but tourists began to visit exactly those shops that were decorated with cans, thus even those who was disagree changed their minds over time. In general, this theme has helped the business a lot. For example, if a store or a cafe wasn't having any decor, the painted tins added color to it, attracting guests of the city to come and to take photography as well.
As it turned out, the tins are an excellent occasion and field for creativity. They do not restrict freedom; they allow one to be liberated. The tins get a "second life". In general, there is something sacred in it — the Greek Feta cheese, the old town, greenery and flowers, the European desire for environmental friendliness...
The tins are painted by both volunteer artists and professional craftsmen who have their own galleries. Some of them were painted by schoolchildren, awakening their talent.
Souzana Giouvanoudi says:
Last year I started painting cans for my friends. I painted in their shop. People began to come and make orders, I carried them out too. This mainly happens in the summer. I paint several cans in winter, but in summer I paint more of them because people directly see me sitting in the square and painting. People see these same cans in Afitos, see that they really exist, they like them, and they turn to me with a request to have their own can at home and to remember Afitos.
The dream of Vasilis Pavlis and his colleagues is coming true — they managed to transform the city. Tourists happily take pictures of the cans, which have become the cultural code of the city. According to Greek media reports, about 100 artists took part in the project.
Interestingly, artists and volunteers do not depend on the authorities. This is a classic bottom-up initiative. Although perhaps, it would not hurt to help — places for artists to work and a place for storing cans in the winter are desirable. There are already about three hundred of these local works of art.
Souzana Giouvanoudi: @itssuzietho
Photo: @ie_potapov
Links:
https://www.miraggio.gr/el/blog/street-art
https://www.efsyn.gr/node/200707
https://www.anexartitos.gr/o-filos-moy-o-vasilis
https://www.soulouposeto.gr/2020/06/glastres-se-zografismenous-tenekedes.html