Creative SPIRITS
In honour of Pride Month, a spotlight on six Canadian LGBTQ makers and the products of their self-expression
There’s something about an artisan-made, handcrafted piece that transcends mere “object” status. When something is created by a skilled maker it’s a window into an artist’s imagination, imbued with meaning because it’s a reflection of how they see the world and themselves in it.
Here, six Canadian artisans share what inspires them to create.
Elycia SFA
“I’ve always used making as an outlet to express what I’ve been feeling or thinking about,” says Elycia SFA. “I’m grateful that being an artist has remained such a consistent part of my life.” This OCADU grad’s work with handwoven cloth tells stories of her own person- al journey as well as meditations on big ideas like the nature of memory and nostalgia. Her latest series, “home life / still life,” focuses on the domestic spaces (bathrooms, living rooms) that became our whole world during lockdowns, exploring themes of grief and loss. Framed works from “home life / still life” (above), $3,000, others from $250, elyciasfa@gmail.com
Pigeon Coop
Before he started making cross-stitch patterns, Mon- treal-based Max Pigeon worked as a zookeeper, animal trainer and a school teacher. In a way, all of those threads have found their way into the nature-inspired cross stitch designs and kits he now sells online. “Being a cross stitch designer allows me to combine my passions for crafting and nature,” says Pigeon. “I aim to create designs that can be appreciated by stitchers of all levels and that celebrate the beauty of the natu- ral world and all its wonders.” Orca Bay cross-stitch kit, $42, pigeoncoopdesigns.com
Brandy Mars
Vancouver-based artist Brandy Mars’s goal, she says, is to “normalize LGBTQIA+ relationships.” Her moving paintings are a response to “overly sexualized” depictions of lesbian relationships in art that don’t reflect how romantic love feels to her. “Some people have written to me to say they came out after seeing my artwork. Other women told me they came out after seeing how feminine presenting I am because it made them feel validated as a femme,” says Mars. “Art is about connection, a thing we all crave regardless of sexual orientation.”“Young and In Love Study 1” , $127 (10 x 10-in. poster), brandymarsdesigns.com
BlacWalnut
Toronto-based Rikki Ellul comes from a family of carpenters. During the pandemic, he launched his own online business, incorporating skills taught by his father and grandfather, working with wood, epoxy, metal and acrylic. “I make the things I make because I get to express myself fully and be true to myself,” says Ellul, who has a flair for live-edge wooden charcuterie boards (above). “Art is self expression in its truest form and I am grateful to be able to have the ability to show my true self within my work.” Charcuterie board, from $60, blacwalnut@gmail.com
Lilac Glass
According to Lindsey Adelman and Em McDonald, glass-making in their Toronto studio is very much “a team sport.” Together, they create sculptural glass that is as impactful as it is delicate. “Our work is playful, whimsical, and we draw inspiration from nature and the human form,” Adelman and McDonald say of their vibrant works depicting everything from mushrooms, baby owls and the jellyfish seen above to functional items like bowls and soap dispensers. “We seek to create work that elevates functional and decorative objects into art that is accessible for the everyday.” Lilac Glass sculpture, $45, lilacglass.ca
Heidi Cho
Heidi Cho is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto who’s found acclaim in many mediums: Her illustrations have appeared in several magazines, while other work has found its way to the Gardiner Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Whatever she’s creating, Cho says her work is always a reflection of what’s going on in her head at that moment. “I love making things that reflect questions or ideas that I'm working through around mental health, queerness and the Korean diasporic experience,” she says. Ceramic bowl, contact heidichomakesart@gmail.com to inquire