Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alison Brynn Ross. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alison Brynn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Over the past few years I have been lucky enough to shift my focus from just creating artwork to finding ways to support community connection and creativity. Through this shift I have the opportunity to work on a lot of projects that I consider meaningful, and are hopefully meaningful to the communities I work with.
Three years ago my husband and I moved to rural downeast Maine where he grew up. This area, like most rural communities, tends to run on a shoestring budget in the towns and the schools, but despite that it has cultivated a thriving creative community. Teaching was never in my plans but after having several kind and supportive people in schools and other local groups reach out for specific projects and workshops, it seemed to be something that could be helpful and useful to area residents. With that I started working on small projects with teachers and organizers. Projects have included a sketchbook project with outreach across Washington County, multiple drawing introduction classes, brush lettering workshops, and even a mural created with the student body of an entire school.
Most recently I have been able to work with the Cobscook Institute, a non-profit group that supports the area in so many ways from hosting educational & health focused events to community game nights. Since we moved here I have been a part of the pottery studio, learning under Michelle Cousineau. Her knowledge and passion for ceramic arts is truly contagious and has led to a vibrant studio community with members ranging from beginners to professional artists.
After learning of my recent foray into teaching, the kind folks at Cobscook invited me to pilot a School Partnership Program. In this we invite local students for a 4 session program to learn the basics and history of pottery and to create a piece that is both functional and artistic. They learn how to create, sculpt, carve, decorate, and glaze their works and have 1-2 finished ceramic pieces at the end. Many of these schools have limited resources and most don’t have access to kilns or the myriad tools needed for ceramic work. We are now on our third school with two more partnerships starting soon.
Seeing students find inspiration and new ways to express themselves and their creativity is incredibly inspiring. Many students don’t realize all of the ways that creativity can become purpose as they get older and that being an artist isn’t only sitting in a studio painting oil paintings. Art exists in every facet of everyday life and I think sharing that with young people, and helping them find their own creativity will be up there on the list of the most important things I have done in my life.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My “career path” has always been a weird and wandering thing with a degree in Graphic Design and a quick realization that I am terrible at cubicles leading to an wonderfully diverse creative life. For the past ten years my projects have been wide ranging including murals, signs, pottery, wire and sculpture, brand development, illustration, lettering, and now, lately, teaching from this varied well. I always enjoy getting a “you can do that too?” from clients and friends who may not realize the possibilities available to them.
Currently, I am also president of a small co-operative gallery on the coast of Downeast Maine, Eastport Gallery. Through this I am able to support living artists, connect with locals and tourists alike, work with the community and local schools on myriad creative projects, and just foster creativity in an area on the outskirts that sometimes doesn’t have the resources for education, public art, and creative opportunities that more urban and affluent areas may have.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
There are few things I feel like every person can do to support the creative community.
Right now, in the United States, a lot of things are up in the air with funding for arts and education disappearing rapidly. If people have the means, then donating to support local arts groups and organizations that support the arts in their community. This can be financial donations, but also volunteering, showing up to events, visiting galleries and museums, even just supporting their content on social media, even the little things can make a big different to small organizations.
Another great way to support creative community is through supporting local libraries. They provide a lot of access to inspiration, not just through books, but through events and workshops. In a lot of rural places they also serve as a meeting place for creative groups. My local library has knitting, quilting, writing groups and a lot more.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
The biggest resource any person has is their community and I wish that I had tapped into that earlier. All of the biggest shifts in my career have come from just reaching out to artists and creative business owners that I admired and connecting with them. It can put people out of their comfort zone to reach out and make those connections but the worst thing anyone can say is no, but I have found most people in creative fields are excited to share their knowledge and story to folks in the same field. I’ve been lucky enough to watch those sort of awkward interactions become life long friendships and collaborations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alisonbrynnross.com
- Instagram: @alisonbrynnross
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisonbrynnross
- Other: https://www.eastportgallery.com
Image Credits
Photos by Alison Brynn Ross.
Aerial Mural shot credit to City of Goose Creek, SC