Community Art Program

The Mission’s art classes encourage emotional expression through drawing, painting and collage. They offer a reassuring space in which participants can explore interior conflicts or simply express who they are through art. Participants also learn how to use different artistic techniques.

Community art is very empowering. It awakens the imagination and stimulates creative energy, self-awareness and the joy of creating something unique.

Classes are supportive and non-judgmental, and everyone learns at their own pace. Participants have been helping develop the classes since 2004.

Lynda: I’ve been taking the workshop since 2004. It’s a great way to meet people. I look inside myself as I draw and I find I’m better able to express myself.

Lise: I’ve been learning about myself since 2004. I’ve become more tolerant towards people. I’ve learned to see the beauty in people and things around me. I’m becoming proud of what I do, of being able to keep on with a project right to the end. I’ve realized I am a creative person.

Marie-Claire: I’ve been learning about the different media and techniques for a year now. I’m building up confidence in what I do and discovering my inner self. I’m finding it easier to face conflicts. I recognize more who I am and what I want.

Joanne: It’s hard experiencing social exclusion day-to-day, whether for financial or medical reasons. You can’t follow the frenetic pace of life today without thinking you’re weak, lazy or unwilling – but it’s just that you live at a different pace. These workshops help me accept who I am, that I am different and that art can heal.

Comments and Photos

	Claudia Hamilton
Femmes Collectif – Lubo Joanne – Lynda – Marie Claire	Lubo
Lynda Seasons Book 2	MCG
Renée

Workshop History

The art workshop was started in 2004 when the director wished to offer art during a gala.

Benefit stars in paper maché. The theme was “Reach For The Stars” and the members of the mission made over 300 stars.

2005-2006: Works of art presented at the Mission’s Open House

2007: Both adults and children participate in an exposition at Studio O, with the neighbourhood acting as a general theme in the Musee des Beaux arts’ Musee en Partage program. A teacher offers workshops for adults, and the children go to the museum; Olga Dimitri, a russian artist, offers workshops on mandalas.

Exhibition of photo collages taken in the area for our Open House.

2008: Open House exhibition for mandalas; creating hats witht the “Raging Grannies”; participation with Dare Dar and Andrea Cavagnaro, an Argentine artist, at “All Love Is Powerful” intervention; watercolour workshop with Genvieve Odin, local artist ; drawing workshop with Lilison Cordeiro, african artist; participation with CECI and Encadrex at an auction benefiting Haiti.

2009: Open House presentation with a season-themed sketchbook, art exhibition, collective construction of a totem with elements of recover