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An Interview with Melissa Ireland

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i-genius took some time out with Melissa Ireland to ask her about Grok TV and being an eco-artist

i-genius: What exactly is an eco-artist?

Melissa: An artist that is aware of their impact on the earth and creates with the intention to support a positive and nourishing interaction with the eco system.

i-genius: What have you done that has made you most proud?

Melissa: Pride is dependent on external circumstances. A moment of ego gratification or mental masturbation if you will. I am going to be so bold ( something more prevalent with my older age! haha!) as to change your question and say “what has taken the most courage?” In the courage department I would say at times when the support and finances were not there it has taken courage to continue practicing and learning artistic skills. The opportunity I had with the Indigo Pearl Resort is an example where I am grateful for that courage or I would not have been prepared for the job.

i-genius: Tell us about your award winning sculptures for the Indigo Pearl Resort Hotel in Phuket, Thailand?

Melissa: First, the sculptures were not award winning ( I will work on that! smile !), it is the Indigo Pearl that got the awards.

For years I had created small sculptures so to be asked to create large ones was a dream come true! To be in the company of John Underwood (www.underwood-phuket.com) and Bill Bensley (www.bensley.com) the architect for the resort was divine! John is a wonderful artist who’s trust in me was a joy to experience and I will be forever grateful for! That trust was very inspiring!!!
I had a couple of wonderful Thai men who helped me with welding and picking up the heavy pieces. The language barrier was quite hilarious at times and one morning I came to the studio to work to see that one of the men had put together a few recycled items to create a funny looking character . It was heart warming to see the creativity spreading! The sculptures have saved all kinds of items from the land fills such as part of a saxaphone , tire irons,pig troughs, fans, grates, and corregated tin. To see the sculptures made from discarded materials blending so harmoniously in such elegant surroundings, as I was told by one viewer, brings a smile to ones face. I feel honored!

i-genius: You’ve launched grok tv in the past few months, tell us more about it?

Melissa: Grok tv is a seed I have created. The idea came to me as a way to support artists who also support the environment. I am not a web designer so it was a bit painful and very time consuming to get up on line that which I have so far. I tend to prefer organic materials over computers! A big thanks to Sarah Rebello for her help! I knew it would be important to be able to present a basis for what I have in mind so that it would be clear to others who may be inspired to help take the grok opportunity to the next evolutionary stage. A good friend once told me that including humor is always a wise move. The word “grok” makes me smile.! My intention with this site is to provide a platform for which artists can create projects they are supported in and then have them pass on that good fortune in some way to environmental organizations. A partnership if you will. There is a creative culture that has been emerging that has been written about in the last few years.. Grok tv is in alignment with this emerging culture.

i-genius: If you were an investor, what would you invest in?

Melissa: Grok tv !

Not long ago, for an entire year I had a patron. The work and growth I had during that year was phenomenal. The opportunity at the Indigo Pearl also magically appeared that year and I feel it was the support I had that allowed and inspired me to take my work to a new level. I advise any investor to pay attention to the creative types around them and to support those who you feel will appreciate and make the best of that support. When the results are as wonderful as what happened with the Indigo Pearl experience everyone gets high!

i-genius: What will Melissa be doing in three years time?

Melissa: The next moment is a mystery so 3 years???????
Life has never turned out how I thought it would so I have learned to put the thinking aside and focus on doing the best I can where I am with what I have. The shift is very supportive of peace of mind!!! hahaha!

i-genius: Thank you and good luck!

Melissa: A pleasure, cheers!!


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