Lucky Art? The Lucky T Project Hopes So

Art is all around us, at least that's certainly what some people believe. Many people turn to using everyday objects in new and unusual ways when they are thinking about creating a work of art, just think of Tracey Emin's controversial Turner Prize nominated piece back in 1999. My Bed was an installation featuring a used bed and underwear and it caused plenty of raised eyebrows in the art world and beyond.

However, she's not alone in her desire to elevate the ordinary into art, plenty of other people have the same or similar ambitions. For example, Monica and Sean Welsh took inspiration from pop artist Ray Johnson's mail art idea and created an art project based on T-shirt designs.

Sean was inspired by the community effect of that mail art project and also wanted to create an artistic work that went back and forward between people. Dubbed the Lucky T, the project saw graphic designer Sean put his talents to good use as he made images to put on postcards. He then sent these, complete with pictures of lucky items such as a rabbit's foot, a four leaf clover, a wishbone and playing cards, to a network of friends who were asked to add to the designs.

The couple then took the logo and put it on T-shirts to send to recipients all around the world and asked them to use the medium to express their own good or poor fortunes. They hope that through this project they will be able to measure or chronicle luck in some way, to find out if good luck is random or if it can have a placebo effect. Sean Welsh has said that one of the motivations behind the endeavour was his desire to do something positive. He sees the project as a way of sharing and sending positive energy.

So far, the couple have had many of the Lucky T participants reporting an increase in lucky events - although not all. However, Monica has suggested that it's the power or positive thinking that is the real beneficiary of the T-shirts. While it seems unlikely that a mere item of clothing can turn your life around, a good dose of optimism can sometimes have that effect. So if you're feeling down about the recession and can't afford new art materials, why not take a leaf out of Tracey Emin's or Sean Welsh's book and see if you can create something special out of your everyday mens clothing or old bedding!