Interview with Kindness Rocks Artist, Tiffany, for Random Acts of Kindness Day
Tiffany, artist behind Kindness Rocks, with the Trading Post they created!
Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17th, which in 2024 falls on this coming Saturday. The day was started by the Random Act of Kindness Foundation in Colorado in 1995, and it is a day that celebrates kindness and the pay-it-forward mentality. This could be paying for the order behind you in the drive-thru, helping your neighbour carry something a bit awkward to hold on their own, having a nice word to say to the people you meet that day, or painting a positive message on a rock for a stranger to find. To get some inspiration for what you can do this weekend, read more about the purpose behind KIndness Rocks. Tiffany, who created Regina Kindness Rocks is a great personality who enjoys being part of and supporting the community, as well as spending time with their pets and chosen family.
How did Kindness Rocks start?
People have been painting rocks and hiding them for ages to aid in things like navigation, storytelling and historic significance. I also painted rocks as a child a couple times and had fond memories of doing so.
Regina kindness rocks started as a crafty way for me to connect with my community after being diagnosed with some debilitating mental health conditions. I felt isolated and sad, but I knew that the one consistent thing I could offer the world was kindness in the form of art outreach. I painted my first batch of rocks and after hiding them, was amazed at the outpouring of love and smiles from those who had found them and had their day brightened by them. This made me aware of just how much random acts of kindness can really turn someone’s day and even life around for the better.
These painted rocks connected me with community members that also wanted to brighten their neighborhoods and address large issues like food security, and access to warm clothing or supplies like gloves, shoes, sunscreen, and hygiene products. I had already built a ‘trading post’ as I refer to them, with my father in his neighborhood that had a give-and-take system with treats or small toys and clothing for children. I decided to expand on this and join the Little Free Library team with a twist; filling posts with not just books, but also care packages, non-perishables, assorted clothes, and seasonal items to help those that need them. These posts are accessible 24/7 and are hubs for the community to freely exchange goods with each other under a model of ‘take what you need, leave what you can.’
Why rocks as a medium?
Rocks are our grandfathers, with vast experiences and stories to share. We are keepers of the earth, and rocks amplify the story of where we are from and how we came to be, possessing more ancient knowledge than we could ever know. Rocks are strong, durable, and an ever-present part of our world billions of years ago to now. This is what makes them such good canvases, but also why you must respect them and honor their knowledge. I am careful to only approach this sacred canvas with artistic ideas that positively build on important but sparse virtues in our current society that aim to motivate, console, support, and connect people back to the earth and the qualities that strengthen a community.
I use as eco-friendly products as possible and make sure not to hide my rocks in conservation sites or on protected trails, but rather man-made monuments or urban sprawl. Another wonderful thing about the eternal significance of rocks is that they are ever-changing, and that what I add to it will not always be a part of its story that you can see, but rather a layer in its life that helps people remember the significance of the smaller things on our planet and what they can teach us.
What do you find most important about the work you're creating?
The most important aspect of my art is community, and through that connection making sure others know that some strangers are friends you just haven’t met yet. It just takes a simple act of random kindness to spark community initiatives, help someone who may be struggling, or create relationships that help others discover their worth and support system within their communities.
What role does the community have in your art practice?
Community is integral to Regina Kindness Rocks, without it I would be the only one filling the trading post or leaving little positive art pieces for others to find. The community is also the reason the trading posts can function as such valuable resource hubs for others. When someone takes a few minutes of their day to do something to help others, we strengthen our society, which allows for the formation of critical support networks and programs based on the unique needs of those communities. Meaningful relationships are an important part of community development and what better place to start than an personal act of kindness toward others that need it most!
Can you tell me about your rock workshops?
I host a variety of workshops that are based on creativity and people-led projects with a focus on accessibility for anyone of any age. I recently did a workshop with Harvest Community Inc. which is an exceptional vocational day program for adults with disabilities, and it was wonderful seeing the uplifting rock art they created. I even had the opportunity to go out into the community with them and hide their little works of art around Wascana Lake. I absolutely love seeing people connect with each other over art no matter their dispositions in life. A rock workshop can be booked through my Instagram @ReginaKindnessRocks or through my Email ReginaKindnessRocks@gmail.com .
What do you want people to take away from your artwork?
If I had to choose one thing for people to take away from my artwork, it would be that someone they might not even know cares for them and wants them to be happy and be here on this earth with them. That some random person went out of their way to create something for them to let them know they are important and they are loved.
What role does the artist have in Regina’s community?
Artists are seasons, they are diverse and ever-changing, as well as their roles. There is room for art in every facet of life. In Regina particularly, I think a large percentage of our artists try to make up for what the city and provincial government lacks, which is a consistent consideration for the most vulnerable in the community. These governmental deficits in community connection are shouldered by many, including artists who want to bring their community together despite the distrust, lies, and corruption of those in power. We can help people find their voices and means to address these struggles in a therapeutic and empowering way that amplifies the needs of those in the community.
What is your dream project?
A massive painted rock scavenger hunt involving local businesses.
A rock mural that changes annually during a community event where everyone can add their touch to it.
The two previous things combined.
