Nurture
Artist: Melissa “Mo” Lashbrook; Cabot
Tell Us a Little About This Mural:
The concept for this mural is a play between wild and domesticated, native and non-native. It includes numerous Arkansas wildflowers found along the roads in Cabot and strawberries brought here by the railroads. The different plants thrive together thanks to pollinators like the honeybee. The single bee in action is a metaphor for the difference that one can make in the lives of others.
What is your art medium and/or special techniques?
Mixed media. I love to experiment by combining techniques and materials together. I often start with a discarded or found object. It may be a wire I found on the street, fabric remnants of a loved one’s possessions, or clippings from my own garden. I then layer the object with painting, fibers, cyanotype, collage, and so on.
Where do you find inspiration for your art?
My inspiration comes from family connections and natural surroundings. After a series of life events (witnessing my aunt slowly deteriorate from Alzheimer’s, the birth of my children, and the death of my grandmother) my work has become a way to preserve memories and connections. Assembling objects and layering materials allows me to connect the past to my present and acknowledge the change in between.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about my family and improving the lives of others through little things. Making the discarded relevant again and highlighting the extraordinary beauty in the ordinary is my way of improving the experiences of others. Through art I hope to help people appreciate the little things, to think hard about the big things, and change the potential they see in others and themselves.
Do you have any awards or achievements relative to your work as an artist?
2018 Artist INC Fellow and work in numerous group exhibitions throughout the state. My art can also be found in many private residences.
Visit this artist online:
@behindthesmileart