Ross A. Laird

Hi everyone.
My creative project was inspired by the idea that everyone is connected and similar yet very much unique and individual – like blackberries from the same bramble. I hope to use this one day as an art project for my daughter’s class at school, to teach a variety of different art styles (art history) and to instill a sense of belonging despite their differences. Using different art styles will demonstrate that no matter how original each is, it should be appreciated for its own unique reasons. I hope this metaphor will play out so there will be a willingness for each child to experiment with discovering their own artistic style instead of worrying about what others might think. This hopefully will extend to how they feel about themselves and each other too.

This project also gave me the opportunity to experiment with different art styles and it became a personal moral booster. :)

I’ve attached a picture of my work. It consists of painted and engraved plexi-glass, sculpted plaster, wood, water colour, acrylic and oil paints as well as some photography. Oh, it also shows a real squished blackberry and a real jar of jam. There are statements pasted around which apply universally to everyone. Since the text is difficult to read in the photograph I’ve copied it here too:

I am a blackberry.
One of many yet original. No two the same. Part of a collective.
Unique. Individual.
Slightly different tastes. Resembling each other.
Simultaneously sweet and tart. Not everyone likes me.
Protected by thorns.
Small yet significant.
A seed. Potential to provide.
Can be great, or can be wasted.
Fragile.
If squashed will stain.
The stain can last forever – A personal mark.
Creative.
Mortal. Limited life span.
Can be preserved. To be consumed.
Valuable.
One of many.
We are blackberries.

Thanks for letting me share it with all of you. :)