Persimmon Blackbridge

Artist Statement

The work here is part of an ongoing series of portraits of people with disabilities. I've asked a number of people to send me photographs of themselves and ‘objects of meaning.’ Meaning? Anything from their highest award to lint from the pockets of their favourite jeans. These become the basis for a mixed media portrait that reflects some of what I know of them.

It feels like my birthday every time I receive a package of photos and objects — opening the box and finding gifts and surprises that send me on journeys I'd never have imagined on my own.

But those journeys would be short stumbles without the skills of Della McCreary, who built the boxes and mechanisms, as well as taking the photographs that form the backgrounds in most of these pieces; who finds ways to realize my craziest notions and makes sure that when you turn the crank, something actually happens.

Catalogue Description

Persimmon Blackbridge is an award-winning multi-disciplinary artist and learning disabled crazy chick, whose work on themes of disability has been shown internationally since the mid 80s. She currently lives on Hornby Island.