The Story of the Little GuardiansâŚ
friendly, adoptable beasts hidden in & around philadelphia
Over the past year, Iâve made more than 100 weird little monsters out of clay. I hide them around my neighborhood in Philadelphia for people to discover. They sit in plain sightâwatching over the local coffee shop, habitating natural rock walls, or cross-legged at the base of a cool tree. I encourage people to adopt them if they find them & feel so called. I believe they find people who need a little extra love & protection.
Thereâs something magical about them...they attract good things. Sometimes a whole neighborhood will adopt one of these little guardians & leave offerings of everyday treasures you might find on the street (if you are paying attention)âshiny coins, barrettes, marbles, even long-lost jewelry.
The whole thing is a very strange hobbyâone that I donât feel I chose so much as one that chose me. Iâm quite buttoned up during the day (I run a small graphic design studio) so I savor the opportunity to let my freak flag fly. To find the magical in the mundane. To think like a kid again. To do things for the joy & the joy alone.
XO - AUBREY
(Guardian of the Guardians)
4 Ways to Adopt
We have a tribe of gremlins, hobbits, monsters & other tiny dudes looking for good & happy homes. They are like friendly gargoylesâŚthey bring protection & love to the places they inhabit. Here are four ways to get your claws on one of your own.
Find one in the wild!
If you live in or around Philadelphia, you have the opportunity to go on a monster hunt! Guardians are hidden around the city periodically. We share clues on social :) Request a guardian in your neighborhood.
Newsletter Giveaways
Not in Philly? No problem! Each month, we pick a friend on our newsletter list at random & send them their own guardian. Sign up & you might just find a new friend on your doorstep next month â¤ď¸
Originals
These creatures are made-to-order & one-of-a-kind, made out of an oil-based clay which remains fragile.
3D Prints
These beasts, made from 3D scans of originals, are light & durable.
Press!
People Magazine
Artist Hides âLittle Monstersâ to Bring âMoments of Magicâ
âAubrey Fink has been drawing monsters since college. Last February, the graphic designer brought one to life with clay & hid it in a neighborhood park. âThe idea was to bring somebody else a little moment of magic,â says Fink, 28. Since then she has hidden about 100 monsters and encouraged people to keep the ones they find. Says Fink: âItâs been magical for me too.ââ
Philadelphia
12 Art Shows to See in Philadelphia This Summer
âWACK! brings together 25 artists selected from an open call, all of whom made work inspired by the utter weirdness that Philadelphians have lived with since the COVID-19 pandemic. A couple of highlights include Jordan Princiottaâs âINFECTIONâ, a plushy, furry worm taking over a ladder; Aubrey Finkâs army of little clay âGuardianâ monsters; and Alex Schecterâs mind-bending drawing entitled âThe Transcendent Nadirâ.â
Labyrinthian HOT BED Gallery spotlights artistsâ wild creativity in WACK!
âThere are several standouts that employ traditional materials in surprising waysâŚCrossing the gallery, youâll find another group of small, figurative sculptures by Aubrey Fink / Wolfdog from her âGuardianâ series. These works are made of plasticine, a non-hardening clay typically used as the waste positive in a mold made to cast with durable material. Instead, Fink / Wolfdog sends these fragile, funny, gray-green, long-eared, curved-horned creatures out into the world, placing them in spots around Germantown. When they are sold, the artist commits to attending to them if they suffer any maladies. Their vulnerability strengthens the work.â