This webinar explores the development and outcomes of an arts-based workshop series for equity-deserving students at Ontario Tech University in partnership with The LivingRoom Community Art Studio. Initially designed as a closed-group focused on delivering coping skills to equity-deserving students, the Art of Being Me: Exploring Identity through Art Making evolved into four, three-hour drop-in sessions that also welcomed friends and allies. Embracing an open-studio, third-space approach responded to the realities of campus life, allowing facilitators and students to meet one another where they were at for creative explorations of self that moved beyond labels. This session will discuss how making art enabled students to open up about BIPOC, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and Neurodiverse identities, while creating much needed opportunities for connection, mutual support, and belonging. French closed captioning will be provided.
Mary Krohnert (she/they/them) is an Artist and Art Therapist (RP Qualifying), who identifies as queer and neurodiverse. They specialize in offering identity-affirming, trauma-informed creative care through community-engaged practice, and are founder of the LivingRoom Community Art Studio, a Durham Region based Art Hive. Their work endeavours to honor the diverse identities, lived experiences, and ways of knowing that each person carries, as they work towards realizing their goals in being and belonging.
Bonnie Pedota (she/her) is a Mental Health and Wellness Facilitator with Student Mental Health Services at Ontario Tech University. The inspiration for this partnership project came from her participation in Art with a Heart’s Empowered Arts Groups for 2SLGTBQIA+ adults. Bonnie strongly believes in the power of art-making in community to soothe, inspire, express, connect, and heal.
