CREATIVES

I work with acrylics, and my favourite subject/genre is Aboriginal. My art is painted in the traditional Woodland style that reflects my Odawa-Ojibway heritage. The originality of my paintings is marked by a combination of everyday experiences around me and the traditional legends of my heritage.

Also figuring heavily in my work is my own spiritual odyssey as a Christian. For a long time I was lost. I tried to blend into the dominant society but I never found a place when I felt good about myself. My Creator in His great love for me saw this and He opened up a way for me to get back in touch with who I am and where I come from. Today He is leading me gently back to my culture, my heritage, and my people. He has done this through my art. My art and faith have become integral parts of my self-discovery. When I paint, I pray. I find that I get very dissatisfied with myself when I do not paint, and so, if I am not painting, I am not praying.

Today my husband Jim and I have made Bawating-the Rapids-Sault Ste. Marie our landing spot, our home. Together we have six grown children and many grandchildren. Jim is my greatest supporter. My family is very important to me. They have always believed in me, in my capabilities. They are part of my Sacred Circle – Gifts from God.

I am from the OTTAWA NATION, WIKWEMIKONG UNCEDED INDIAN RESERVE on Manitoulin Island, ON.

​Maria Parrella-Ilaria is the Developer/Coordinator of the ArtSpeaks Project. Maria’s idea for the initiative began during her 7-year run as owner/operator of the Fireball Cafe, a barber shop turned espresso art bar in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, that has etched its way into local lore.

The ArtSpeaks Project​ offers adults & youth impacted by trauma non-clinical art-as-therapy experiences via free-access community-based art-making.​ Self-expression through the arts offers a non-threatening way for folks to give voice to their lived experiences and conversely, make sense of often difficult and/or frightening emotions. 

​Creative engagement helps to reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the body while also helping to foster new perspectives through the exploration of one’s symbolic mark-making process. Thus, by reducing stress and increasing self-knowledge, one experiences greater personal resilience and wellness.

Riley Drover is a cutting edge entrepreneur and innovator and the CEO/Owner Operator of Maker North. Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Riley is a graphic design graduate from Sault College 2015. He has worked hard to learn the necessary skills to adapt to the trade over the years.

Riley’s enterprise Maker North Co. is providing clients with four basic services: design/education, prototype development, 3D printing and laser cutting. Their customers range from entrepreneurs who seek design and prototyping services to bring their own products to market to businesses and individuals who wish to purchase an available product that can be 3D print or laser cut. Maker North has already played an integral role in the design / prototyping of several products that were created and brought to market by their customers and continue to work with several others who are on the path to mass production of their own creations.

Sheri Minardi has had a love of the outdoors since she can remember, growing up hunting and fishing with her parents and two brothers. The knowledge gained and the skills she learned came in handy when she discovered the art of shooting with a camera. And it changed the way she expressed her love for the forest wildlife. Her photography hobby grew into a business while her passion for the life of being in the great outdoors has only grown deeper.

By her own admission, Rebeka Herron is a “complicated person.” Projects I am working on currently are Potluck Ladies – Season 1, which I am producing, and A Witch Named Agatha (I think it’s the first animation project for TV) which I am writer, director and producer on.

Rebeka Herron is a Mixed Raced Latina filmmaker with over 15 years experience in the film and TV industry working as a line producer, production manager and producer. She is an alumna of Capilano University’s Motion Picture Program, Women in the Director’s Chair and the Producers’ Lab at the Canadian Film Centre. She is a member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). Her recent work includes writing for Anaana’s Tent Season 3 and Tundra Friends Season 1, directing for Kuluk Season 1 & 2, and producing 5 features during the pandemic, 1 of which she directed called Armchair Traveller. Rebeka’s latest project about the sport ringette was chosen out of 9,000 submissions to be developed by CBC through their Covid-19 CBC Relief Fund. Herron owns production company Rusty Halo Productions, co-owns 180 Sisterhood Productions, and is co-founder and co-director of the Sault Film Festival.

Amy Williams is an artist inspired by nature and based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.  In her unique style she focuses primarily on landscape paintings, house and business portraits, and offers a variety of prints depicting landscape scenes from the Algoma region, Canada, and beyond.  Amy will happily take on commissions in acrylics and watercolour and ink.

Amy's hope is "that you find the same joy and happiness in my work that I feel when I make it."

After years at home raising my beautiful children, I am finally blessed with the opportunity to chase my dream of becoming a full-time artist. 

Shannon Jondreau is a multi-media artist, true to her family's deep and wide creative roots. For over 20 years, Shannon has worked and taught the arts in the Ottawa region and now back in her hometown. Always excited about the challenges of something new, Shannon also gives classes in a variety of the disciplines at her work studio location in downtown Sault Ste. Marie at 504 Queen, the ART HUB At Spring.  

I've been creating since I can remember. I'm pretty sure my Grandma has kept every drawing and painting i've ever done. I grew up in a creative family, my Mom was a very gifted artist, my Great Grandma was an artist and a potter, and my cousin Meagan is a very talented jewelry maker. So it just seemed to come naturally for me.

I have been working as an artist, art teacher and photographer for over 20 years now. I lived and worked in Ottawa and the Ottawa valley doing all 3 things and also worked as a curator at 3 galleries as well as my own. While in Ottawa i shot 14 NHL weddings, did 3 books showcasing amazing businesses and entrepreneurs and did 2 calendars raising over $10,000 each for Ride For Dad and local hospitals. I was also commissioned to do 24 3ftx4ft paintings for (at the time) the only green daycare in Ontario, which was opened by the Governor general. I moved back to the Soo about 7 years ago to be closer to family. I'm so happy that the Soo is getting a lot more involved with the arts and has a lot of great spots now for artists and art lovers to show off and view their talents.

I work primarily in acrylics and water colour. I do everything from animal portraits, landscapes, semi-representational paintings, mixed media and abstract. I also teach pottery and photography. I photograph weddings, newborn sessions, children, engagement and family sessions. I especially love working with and teaching children. I love to see how expressive and creative they are. I love teaching a painting to a room full of people and seeing how completely different each one is even though we are all working on the same thing, everyone has a different style, colour preference, technique etc and i love it!

I teach drawing and cartooning, watercolour, acrylics, mixed media, sewing, crafting and much, much more. I offer classes for babies from 3 months of age all the way up to big kids ages 103 or more. I love art and everything about it. I love having a vision for a piece and seeing it come to life, or sometimes it ends up completely different from what i had originally envisioned but you just have to trust the process . "At LilyCreek Photography we strive for creative, dramatic and dynamic shots when shooting your wedding, special event or even just a family portrait.  We do everything from Pet Portraits, Weddings, Horse Shows, Maternity, Boudoir, Fine Art Black and Whites, and newborn baby photos.  We can shoot it in our beautiful studio or go to a location of your choice."

Penny Gabor is creating a career as an artist.  Her life has been mostly dedicated to raising her family, and helping it grow.  Now, Penny is at a time where she has the time, to make the art and still have her family life.

"I have a wonderful husband and 6 amazing kids - so it just took me a while to get here. My name - Penny - actually means Weaver or Creative Spirit, so I guess it's rather fitting that I have found myself in creating. Painting provides opportunity to continually push ideas and try new things and while this is both stimulating and exciting, I think I do it to reflect the light and goodness I see in the world. So far in this artistic journey for me, I want what I do to have an uplifting impact on the people who interact with it. Life has enough darkness and hardship - I want my work to feel life-giving and cheerful with a side of joy. So there you have it - I hope that my work brings something bright to your life!"

MUSIC

Melody Moffatt - Flame
Nicholas Luck - Prophecy
Nicholas Luck - Conviction
Nicholas Luck - Rally
Nicholas Luck - Emerged
Nicholas Luck - Through It All
Nicholas Luck - Drowned Sines
Nicholas Luck - Planes
Nicholas Luck - Prelude
Nicholas Luck - How I Learned To Love The Bomb
Nicholas Luck - Bacchanal
Melody Moffatt - Letters