President’s Message

Amanda Gee (ON)

When the last issue of Envisage came out we could not have even predicted what was to come. These times have left me with deep gratitude. Thank you to all of the essential and front-line workers. Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers who keep CATA-ACAT moving forward even in these difficult times. Thank you to our membership for being a part of the organization and for providing input and feedback.

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Editor’s Notes

Patricia Ki (ON)

Like many, I have been thinking about how I can be made accountable for my complicity in oppression. What does it mean to take actions, or what forms can our actions take? Might Envisage be a place of action also?

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Still Life

Phuong Nguyen (ON)

During my time working at the shelter I noticed that flowers often find themselves inside. Some flowers are found on the street and brought into the space, some are donations, and some are gifts from one community member to another. Regardless of where they came from, I’ve always seen them as an act of love.

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Always Essential

Shae Anthony (BC)

It is plain to see that “unskilled workers” have kept us safe through the pandemic by putting their own lives on the line. As businesses slowly begin to reopen, my hope is that we can move forward in a new way. This new way would include ensuring all people earn a fair living wage. It would include time and space for creativity and rest, especially for frontline workers who have kept us going.

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Healing Through the Creative Process: Artwork in a Time of COVID-19

Chioma Anah (Maryland, USA)

Making Space: Art and Social Justice Advocacy with Dr. Anah
Current data shows a disproportionate burden of illness and deaths amongst racial and ethnic minority groups. Blacks/African American make up most of the deaths from COVID-19. Health disparities African Americans face when dealing with coronavirus are often due to unequal economic and social conditions, which have made it difficult to access resources and adequately respond to the outbreak of the virus.

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Mandalas 4 NS

Katie Hanczaryk (NS)

Canada has had the worst shooting in history in our small province of Nova Scotia. Already feeling vulnerable, alone and afraid, we were unable to mourn together publicly because of COVID. Yesterday, there was a plane crash and we lost some more bright youth of our military. With the help of Gabriella Rizkallah, Nova Scotia Art Therapy, and collaboration with the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Mandalas4NS began, with the intention to create a response to these losses.

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Finding Community and Connecting through the Arts Online

Amanda Gee and Virginia Jahyu (ON)

From Trauma to Trust was opened to provide therapy to individuals with intellectual disabilities who have experienced trauma. The pandemic has created more isolation for people who are already isolated. We wanted to creatively respond to this situation by continuing to offer our drop-in arts group. By moving online, we were able to continue building a consistent, safe, and artful space.

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Behind the Masks

Lin Liu (SK)

From inside, I looked outside through my window and I felt safe. A home is like a mask. I am very grateful to have this protection to support me. I realized making masks is not only helping others but also myself. The truth behind making masks is helping me to go inside and reconnected with my own sorrow.

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Riding the COVID Wave

Karen Stevenson (AB)

As our worlds began to close in, I was thankful I had made the decision to pull back from my art therapy practice in mid-February. I wanted time to reassess how, or if I should move forward with my work. I wanted three or four months to mull that over. Be careful what you wish for.

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Everyday Recently

Laura Brown (Washington, USA)

On March 24, when our quarantine started, I had to move out of my trailer in the state park I was living in/working at called Cape Disappointment, and rent a beach cabin further up the Peninsula. My daily photographic practice has now deepened to become about being in the same place everyday at the same time, as a way to provide structure, stability, calm, hope.

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