What It Is
The ARTSPEAKS Project offers women and female-identifying individuals impacted by trauma due to sexual violence, addictions and mental health challenges, the opportunity to participate in art-based-learning through cultural mentorship with professional artists.
Who We Are
The ARTSPEAKS Team
Maria Parrella-ilaria, Project Developer & Co-ordinator (2016--) for The ArtSpeaks Project & The ArtSpeaks ArtHives; Painting, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Installation Proccesses
Trained in traditional fine arts practices while at the Ontario College of Art (1980-84), she explored fibre arts and installation processes while pursuing her BFA in Art Education at Concordia University (1985-89). Her graduate training in art psychotherapy (M.A./1989-93 Concordia) encouraged an exploration of the arts as tools for nurturing community and social interconnection. Once back in Sault Ste. Marie, ON she opened the Sault's first 'art cafe', the award winning Fireball Coffee'n Arts House and went on to freelance for CBC Radio--Points North. She developed art therapy/art-as-therapy programs for a number of local agencies and continues to offer her services to women in recovery at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre. She has developed arts curriculum for Sault College and both Algoma U and Lake Superior State University, MI; developed the ArtReach Program for Youth (Art Gallery of Algoma, 2005-2011) and most recently, is the lead developer for the ArtSpeaks Project & ArtHives (2016- ).
www.openartstudios.ca
Newest Team Member:
Lisa Meschino,PhD, brings to her work as co-facilitator of the ArtSpeaks ArtHives (2019--) a unique combination of experience and training both as a community-engaged artist and a researcher with a PhD in cognitive neuroscience including:
Through her work in community-engaged arts projects, she shares her commitment to creative arts education, arts-based health initiatives, and social models of care.
She currently works on contract for NORDIK Institute of Sault Ste. Marie as Manager of Operations and Communications
Trained in traditional fine arts practices while at the Ontario College of Art (1980-84), she explored fibre arts and installation processes while pursuing her BFA in Art Education at Concordia University (1985-89). Her graduate training in art psychotherapy (M.A./1989-93 Concordia) encouraged an exploration of the arts as tools for nurturing community and social interconnection. Once back in Sault Ste. Marie, ON she opened the Sault's first 'art cafe', the award winning Fireball Coffee'n Arts House and went on to freelance for CBC Radio--Points North. She developed art therapy/art-as-therapy programs for a number of local agencies and continues to offer her services to women in recovery at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre. She has developed arts curriculum for Sault College and both Algoma U and Lake Superior State University, MI; developed the ArtReach Program for Youth (Art Gallery of Algoma, 2005-2011) and most recently, is the lead developer for the ArtSpeaks Project & ArtHives (2016- ).
www.openartstudios.ca
Newest Team Member:
Lisa Meschino,PhD, brings to her work as co-facilitator of the ArtSpeaks ArtHives (2019--) a unique combination of experience and training both as a community-engaged artist and a researcher with a PhD in cognitive neuroscience including:
- over 30 years of painting and drawing experience as a visual artist (BFA candidate York University Fine Arts; Toronto School of Art), where she co-created works with interdisciplinary artists, with high school students in classrooms, academics and health professionals, and seniors with dementia in day programs.
- ten years of hands-on experience coordinating and assessing health education and research programs with community organizations such as The University of Waterloo, The Royal Conservatory, and the Alzheimer Society of Waterloo-Wellington
Through her work in community-engaged arts projects, she shares her commitment to creative arts education, arts-based health initiatives, and social models of care.
She currently works on contract for NORDIK Institute of Sault Ste. Marie as Manager of Operations and Communications
Chandra Barnett, Project Artist (2017--): Photography, Digital & Mixed Media
Chandra has been pursuing an artistic lifestyle since she was very young. Her medium of choice and expressive style has evolved through the years, maturing with her as she grew as both a woman and an artist. Her experience in painting and sculpture, while using a wide variety of mediums and materials, has led to her greatest passion: photography. She graduated with honours from the Digital Imaging Program at Sault College (2011-2013). During which time she launched the self-published, "MAMAFESTO Magazine," with the capacity to not only showcase some of her maternal inspired images but also create a platform of communication for women and mothers to share their knowledge and stories. While her method of creative communication continues to evolve, she maintains her enthusiasm about sharing her life and experiences with her community through her work.
www.chandrabarnettphotography.com
Chandra has been pursuing an artistic lifestyle since she was very young. Her medium of choice and expressive style has evolved through the years, maturing with her as she grew as both a woman and an artist. Her experience in painting and sculpture, while using a wide variety of mediums and materials, has led to her greatest passion: photography. She graduated with honours from the Digital Imaging Program at Sault College (2011-2013). During which time she launched the self-published, "MAMAFESTO Magazine," with the capacity to not only showcase some of her maternal inspired images but also create a platform of communication for women and mothers to share their knowledge and stories. While her method of creative communication continues to evolve, she maintains her enthusiasm about sharing her life and experiences with her community through her work.
www.chandrabarnettphotography.com
Joanne Robertson, Project Artist (2017--): Storytelling and Mixed Media
Joanne Robertson is AnishinaabeKwe and a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She was raised on a farm in southern Ontario, and now lives by a river in northern Ontario. She received her degree in Fine Arts from Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig. Her first children’s book “The Water Walker”, was released by Second Story Press in the fall 2017. She is currently working on a second children's book.
www.secondstorypress.ca/kids/the-water-walker
Joanne Robertson is AnishinaabeKwe and a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She was raised on a farm in southern Ontario, and now lives by a river in northern Ontario. She received her degree in Fine Arts from Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig. Her first children’s book “The Water Walker”, was released by Second Story Press in the fall 2017. She is currently working on a second children's book.
www.secondstorypress.ca/kids/the-water-walker
Our Mission
We are dedicated to offering women and female-identifying folks impacted by trauma due to sexual violence, addictions and mental health challenges, a ‘safe space’ to collaborate with local professional artists in the service of cultural mentorship, fostering resiliency through arts-based skill-building towards the creation of personally meaningful works.
Our Goals
- To serve the women and female-identifying folks in our community who have been impacted by sexual violence, addictions and mental health challenges.
- To express the physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological impact of trauma due to sexual violence, addictions and mental health challenges through arts-based skills learning and art-making.
- To create an environment that is warm and welcoming, that excites and inspires a keen urge to explore and create using a variety of media and processes.
- To come together with all our participants to assemble an authentic and engaging collection of art-works we can share with our community.
- To bring awareness to sexual violence against women and female identifying folks.
- To bring awareness to the challenges faced by women and female-identifying folks in relation to addictions and mental health issues.
- To create an opportunity for women/female-identifiers living with trauma and impacted by sexual violence, addictions and mental health challenges to turn their words and stories into art that speaks.
How We Exist
The ARTSPEAKS Project came into existence in 2016 thanks to a SEED Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and currently relies on the volunteerism of it's Arts Mentor Team and support from our community of Sault Ste. Marie, ON. The Project is supported-in-kind by two local agencies invested in women's health: Breton House and the SAH's Sexual Assault Care Centre. Many thanks to the directors, counselors and staff of our agency partners, and to our community partner, the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, for their awesome support.
