We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ron Blake. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ron below.

Hi Ron, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I am happy this creative journey began when it did. I would not change a thing. The greatest things in our lives happen just when they are supposed to.

It all began for me with an unexpected moment of laughter I had on a suicidal night. At 10:44pm on November 2, 2015. That spark of hope started my now seven-year cross-country journey of creating social practice artwork. With the colorful contributions of 32,101 complete strangers I’ve met one by one along the way.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am proud that I have created over 4,000 square feet of artwork with the contributions of a whole lot of strangers. That art one day will impact millions of people. When I reach the symbolic goal of becoming a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Blue-collar guys like me often almost never speak out about being victims of rape and domestic violence. It just ain’t something we’re supposed to talk about. Society expects us to toughen up. Forget about it. And just move on.

I am proud I did not shut up or forget about it. I spoke out. I still speak out. I’ve encouraged others to speak out. Now I have the stories of hope and support from those 32,101 strangers in 94 languages written in 27 Sharpie marker colors on 494 giant foam boards.

I am most proud that I have made this a massive collective story of triumph. Not sadness.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My symbolic goal is to get all of these 494 giant foam boards of dynamic, inspiring artwork to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

I was nominated for and gave a TEDx talk about the significance of a moment of laughter from this show on that suicidal night I experienced. A group of Arizona State University students also produced an Emmy nominated documentary about the artistic mission of realizing this goal.

The power of hope is impressive in this odyssey. That spark of laughter on that one night has given me the momentum to keep going. To keep meeting strangers. To keep developing art with their contributions. In my efforts to reach this show in New York City.

That spark of hope glows brightly today. And is the reason I don’t give up. Even after putting forth 19,000 hours of moxie to get on this show for only five minutes. I still believe. It will happen.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It’s like pulling a rabbit out of a hat each day. El Mago. Before I go to bed each night, I have created something that simply did not exist or wasn’t panned when I awoke earlier that day. How water to wine cool is that!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://blakelateshow.nfshost.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakelateshow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100056596280784
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-blake-b447ab10/