Curtis Trubiak
Born and raised inNorthern Manitoba, CC Trubiak is a multi-faceted artist, as well as a BSWgraduate from Carleton University. Working in the field for 10 years he has most recently begun merging hiscreative talents as an artist/visionary with his social work practice. A published self-portrait photographer (Hail the Narcissist, 2010) andsinger/songwriter ( They Say I'm Different,2011) he firmly believes in the healing power of the arts; his songs poignantexplorations of deeply felt insights that always reveal a spark of hope,optimism and courage.
"Initially when Ibegan doing self-portrait photography, I did so as a way of self-explorationand discovery – and the dynamics between our dominant and less dominant selves arethe fundamentals of my work. Myportraits begin with a character idea, evolving into compositions where thischaracter/persona becomes the primary subject; characterization as a means of emotionalcatharsis. To me, art is a reflection ofboth our dominant/less dominant selves and photography allows me to exploreother existing sides of my personal architecture by allowing the moresubmissive sides to dominate and shine, even if temporarily so. When these selves begin to shine our darknesstransforms from a weakness into a byproduct of strength – and therefore bygetting dressed in our strengths and weaknesses, we attempt to toughen and washour hands of what we perceive to be weakness. Music on the other hand provides an amazing opportunity to engage andextend myself vocally, which is something I struggled to do as a youth growingup so bringing the arts into my social work seems a very naturalprogression."
A born story-teller,Trubiak recently exhibited his work at Manitoba's NorVA Centre and is part ofan emerging art scene in Ottawa, most recently performing at SAW Gallery and nominatedby Xpress as Best New Musical Act and Best Album "They Say I'm Different" (2011). His recent involvement withArtswell has renewed his interest in making the arts accessible andinteractive.
Website: www.cctrubiak.com
Valerie Dunn
My education - BA in Psychology from Trent University, Diploma in Art Therapy from University of Western Ontario, and Bachelor of Education from Ottawa University. I have presented workshops on art therapy to first and second year ECE students at Heritage College in Quebec.
I was the former Program Co-ordinator and Counsellor for the Domestic Violence Program where I ran run art therapy groups with young children who had witnessed domestic violence. I have also conducted art therapy sessions with children facing various emotional and behavior struggles. My Native studies classes at Trent led me to working with many groups of Aboriginal youth and parents conducting Art Therapy groups at Wabano Aboriginal Health Centre.
I understand that art is a powerful tool that promotes healing and transformation in all people, not just natural artists. I appreciate that the artistic process can be geared to various levels of depth to suit the needs and expectations of the client. Personally, I get excited and passionate about all art forms and I am constantly seeking new and creative ways to incorporate art in my life. As a visual artist, I enjoy drawing, sketching, doodling, painting, printmaking, pottery and collage. I like to say I am a, “Jack of all Trades, but master of none in particular!”
As a teacher, I enjoy seeing how free spirited children are as creators in their early life. Teaching youth and adults can be rewarding to help them unleash that freeness that was once central to their child being. I have been fortunate to travel and see art in various countries, France, Australia, Thailand, Mexico, and London.
Megan Piercey Monafu
Megan Piercey Monafu is committed to exploring the many ways drama can heal and transform.
A young artist fresh from the BFA Theatre and Development program at Concordia University, Megan has facilitated drama workshops and classes with Third Story Window Theatre Company, Centre Évasion Seniors Day Center (Montreal), the IWK Children's Hospital (Halifax), Orleans Young Players Theatre School and the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. These experiences have provided insight on the benefits of drama for seniors, as well as for children with autism and with physical disabilities.
Megan believes strongly in drama as an educational tool in the classroom, and as a conduit for personal development through physical expression and teamwork. New to Ottawa, Megan is excited to collaborate with and learn from other artists, and is looking forward to working with Artswell!
Josée Robillard
Josée Robillard is a visual artist who believes that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression has the power to promote healing, growth and transformation. She facilitates Mandala workshops that are designed to encourage individuals and groups to discover their innate potential to thrive and live a healthy and fulfilling life.
Through formal instruction, workshops and experimentation Josée has developed an intuitive approach towards her art and is concerned with revealing and celebrating the exuberant qualities of the human spirit. Her mixed media paintings are inspired by the interconnected relationships of color, texture and patterns from the natural world.
Josée is an active volunteer in the Ottawa community and a member of Mainworks Artists' Studio Cooperative. She is passionate about the practice of imagination in all areas of life!
Gertrude Létourneau
Flutist, Singer, Workshop Leader
Gertrude Létourneau is a flutist, singer, accompanist and music instructor at the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre in Ottawa since 2000.
Engaging audiences in music is a major focus for Gertrude Létourneau. Fluently bilingual, she has been presenting music-theatre performances across Canada, has taught children of all ages — including those with learning disabilities — and leads Artswell workshops on music-making for the elderly as well as a unique painting and music. Ms Létourneau, who has a music B.Mus. from the University of Ottawa and a Masters in performance at the University of Montreal, has been involved in innovative musical communication programs in Toronto and London, England, focusing on community music-making.
“To watch Gertrude Létourneau bring music to elderly people is to experience the nourishment of a parched flower. Faces and eyes light up. Mouths form the words from almost forgotten songs. Gertrude brings a vivacious and energetic spirit to her interchange with her audiences which is only one of the reasons why they love her.”
- Julia Foster Chair, National Arts Centre
“Apart from her versatile musical talents, Gertrude Létourneau has a very warm and likeable personality which shines through in her performances. The rapport she has with elderly people and the enjoyment they derive from her music is most noticeable, and obviously very meaningful and important to their well being.”
- Robert Murray, President, The Kiwanis Club of Sage of Ottawa.
Read more on Gertrude’s website: http://www.gertrudeletourneau.com
Fortunée Shugar
Raised in Montreal, artist Fortunée Shugar has spent a lifetime involved in the arts. With a love of visual art, she began her degree in Fine Arts at Sir George Williams University. Fortunée broadened her pursuit of artistic passions to other areas, from Haute Couture, to animation to commercial art, while raising her family.
Searching for relationships in colour and spontaneous expression in her interpretation of the world, Fortunée’s work is emotional and textured. Often there are strong narrative elements stemming from deeply felt personal beliefs and/or memories. In her semi-realistic, and/or semi-abstract work, Fortunée expresses and portrays human desires, hopes, passion and things ephemeral.
Fortunee facilitates Artwell's very successful Art on Mondays program at Granite Ridge.
Fortunée has exhibited her work in solo and group shows in many galleries and other public spaces . Her paintings are on display in private collections and institutions in Canada and abroad. She was highlighted in the May 2007 issue of Ottawa Life magazine. As well, she claims the cover of the book A Common Thread: A History of the Jews of Ottawa.
fortunee@rogers.com
www.fortuneeshugar.com
613-723-1270
Janice Mah
Janice Mah has been musically involved with the piano and violin since the age of 5 in Lethbridge, Alberta. She has studied with David Stewart at the University of Ottawa and graduated in 2003. In the past, she has collaborated with other violinists such as Paule Prefontaine, and Andrew Dawes. She has performed as soloist with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra and has toured with L’Orchestre de la Francophonie Canadienne. Janice has had the opportunity to perform for noteable dignitaries such as our Governor General Michel Jean, past Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and the Prince and Princess of the Netherlands through her affiliations with the Perley Rideau Veteran's Health Centre. Ms.
Mah has lived in Ottawa for the past 9 years working as a teacher of violin and piano and an occasional performer around Ottawa with pianist Catherine Donkin and other fellow musicians. She has also been involved with the PRVHC as a music educator, where she has been able to share her love of music with the Veterans residing in the facility.
Janice’s involvement with various Artswell projects over the past few years has renewed her interest in making music fun, accessible and interactive for everyone involved!
Beth Ross
Visual Artist, Textile Designer, and Performance Artist
Beth Ross has a broad reputation as artist and educator. A fine arts graduate from Sheridan School of Design, she has exhibited across Ontario and Quebec in artistic areas from tapestry to printmaking to performance art. Beth, who leads painting and music workshops and special projects for Artswell, also works with seniors at the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre. Experienced with Alzheimer patients, she is responsible for resident painting and horticulture programs. She has run several projects for enriching the art experience for children in schools under the Artsmarts grant program and was intimately involved in the Art With Heart, Paper Prayers project in conjunction with the Museum of Civilization. Beth recently returned from Tanzania where she was engaged with several related workshops for local children and women’s groups while volunteering with CACHA to assist in one of their frequent medical missions to the area.
Jennifer Ryder-Jones
Multi Media Artist and Mask Maker
Jennifer Ryder-Jones has a passion for innovation, for teaching and for promoting an understanding the power of the arts in healing and well being. She carries a reputation for innovative ways, including the mold-making technique she developed for replication of native masks for the Museum of Civilization. She is a widely experienced educator, having taught in a variety of settings including the Ottawa School of Art, the Nepean Visual Arts Centre, for the Alzheimer's Society, Algonquin College and the Ottawa Board of Education. She also co-ordinates workshops and sculpture, clay and paper classes at the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Care Centre in Ottawa.
Cheryl Jones
Associate Artist
Cheryl Jones, MMT, NMT-F, holds her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Crandall University and her Masters of Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University with a focus on Music-Centered Psycho-therapy. She has further training in Neurologic Music Therapy from Colorado State University. Cheryl is a Fellow of the Robert F. Unkefer Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy and is a member of the International Society of Clinical Neuromusicology. She has been an invited speaker at various music therapy conferences, both national and international, and at workshops. She is also a researcher for Laurier's Center for Music Therapy Research. Cheryl currently resides in Ottawa, Ontario, where she teaches part-time and maintains a private music therapy practice, Con Brio Music Therapy Services.
Janet Beath
B.A. Sociology
Janet has worked 25 years for people of all ages who have intellectual and physical disabilities. “Art seems to take me on all kinds of adventures.” As a professional artist, Janet has painted flora and fauna on cottons and silks at juried shows in the Ottawa area, pet portraits, and works with sandblasting and etching on granite monuments. As a visual arts teacher and facilitator, she teaches visual arts in local schools to help build the teachers capacity for the visual arts curriculum, and advises teachers on how to evaluate the students artwork using rubrics. Janet also teaches private art lessons.
Since January 2009, Janet has been working with Artswell facilitating visual arts for people who have dementia and other challenges.
Andrea Warren
Andrea Warren is a firm believer in the power of the creative process to promote health and transformation. A fine art and philosophy graduate from Trinity Western University, Andrea has exhibited her paintings and photography in Ottawa and throughout BC’s lower mainland. She regularly provides painting and mixed media workshops for art groups, as well as guest lectures for local art schools and associations, including Ottawa U and Algonquin College. Over the last ten years, Andrea has had wide-ranging experience in the field of health care, working with disabled children, individuals with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and mental health patients at the General and Civic hospitals in Ottawa. She currently teaches art classes for elderly residents at the Perley Rideau Veteran's centre.