Skip to main content

Inspiration Interview with Lindsay Bess, visual artist, teacher



Lindsay Bess is a visual artist from Scarborough, ON.  She is also an Art Teacher who has worked with local community initiatives (Elevated Grounds, Por Amor, CKLN 88.1FM) for over a decade, and is fully vested in the uplifting of her audience and her students. The work she does is never very far removed from the issues going on locally and internationally, and shes consider her work to be functional, artistic social commentary. She has done work all over the world, mostly murals – and shes believes mural-making to be one of the best ways to engage the public in art making and appreciation.

Lindsay Bess lives by an aphorism, “The artistic education of those unfamiliar with art relies on its practitioners and how well they convey their ideas – and that is a reflection on how well the practitioners understand themselves and their roles as artists.”


What/who inspires you?
Many things inspire me, but right now it's my late mother. All of her struggles with life, her work ethic, her ability to make something huge out of nothing, her desire to be better and to have better for her children is totally incomprehensible to people who never knew her. She was amazing.

When have you had you greatest "A-ha" moments?
My greatest aha moments are when I least expect them, but always when I allow them to come in...meaning, when I stop being my own idea-blocker and creative control freak and start letting the thoughts just flow...and that's for everything actually. I had one of those moments today after a near-death experience (sorry if I sound super-dramatic - I lived, obviously). I had to stop and think about what had happened, be honest with myself about prevention and then I remembered a dream I had last night about my mother and grandmother. I miss them both so much and usually think about them as gone, not with me and very distant, but it was clear to me that they were and are with me every second of the day, still nurturing me and keeping me safe like I remember them.
 
What do you do when you feel you are in need of inspiration?
When I'm in need of inspiration, I listen to Stevie Wonder...or Jean Grae.

What do you feel you do to inspire others?
I think my cheerfulness is one thing, same with my giggling at even the worst jokes (you'll feel like a comedian around me, and yes I really think you're funny)...Actually it's me being a vegetarian. I know some pretty hardcore meat-eaters, and they always seem amazed that I can do it - and if I can, anyone can, seriously. And I think I've inspired a couple ppl to jump ship and travel, and go back to school...wait, that's a lot of things! But only because people have inspired me in the same way, so I recognize it in others.


Anything else you'd like to add...
Thanks for askin! This was fun! Hip hop ya don't stop...

Be sure to check out Lindsay Bess:
myspace.com/lindsaybess
For inquiries email: visual.funk@yahoo.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for leaving a message!

Popular posts from this blog

Introducing the new "Focus" line of aspiration rings.

I have been working on a new line of “dream driven” rings, which are now available at Jewel Envy in Toronto, and soon online. This line is based on a simple idea – stay focused on your dream. Many of us have vision boards, or other ways to inspire us and remind us of the things in life we want to manifest. However, once those visual reminders are out of sight, they can be out of mind. My vision is two-fold. One, a beautiful, easy to wear ring that helps to stay focused when making decisions about time, money everyday, all day. Two, a constant reminder of love and support as a loved one works towards their dream.  The rings follow a motif, but are elegant and subtle, leaving it up to the wearer to share the deeper meaning with those they deem worthy. Our dreams and goals are varied and individual as we are, but the Focus line has launched with three rings which look beautiful with or without the aspirations: Focus - Writing a Book:  This is designed with the aspirations of someone who w
Post a Comment
Read more

Jewellery Holds Our Memories

Jewellery is often with us during special moments, experiences, and milestones. Sometimes it is given to us by a special person, or in a special way, or at a special time. Our jewellery pieces carry these memories for us, even when we didn't mean them to. Sometimes, there are experiences so personal, and so common, that we keep them in our own special way, and only share them with certain people, when we feel the time is right. It might be through a song, a poem, sculpture, or painting, and this is often the way that artists touch us in the deepest way - by channeling, sharing and expressing our stories. As a goldsmith, my poetry and sculpture is precious and portable. I am acutely aware that I am always creating vessels that may carry memories and emotions which haven't happened yet, but sometimes, I also get to design pieces that can carry an emotions someone has been holding alone. This is a special connection we artists have, and always have had, to the human experie
Post a Comment
Read more

It's Good to be in Knots

 Through the pandemic, much cleaning was done.  Many boxes discovered, and their treasures revealed.  Treasures like old rings (too small), brooches (too outdated), and necklaces (too broken).  You may, like me, have wondered why treasure chests in the old movies always seemed to have loose gems in them.  There could be a terrible, historical reason for that I can cover in a another post, or it was just theatrical drama, but I think many people these days have similar stashes because they simply do not know what to do with them.   Over the last few decades, there have been literally tons of silverware and ornate jewellery deemed gaudy and melted down for money.  Diamonds get reset into new engagement rings.  But what about pearls?  How do you know if they are real, if they are worth anything, do they need to be treated in a special way, and what can you do with them? 1. Real pearls have a subtle, grainy texture.  Experts will look for clues like seams to give away mold lines in plastic
Post a Comment
Read more