RE-create Art Studio, Shalem’s drop-in studio for youth artists in Hamilton’s core, has recently experienced a number of changes among our staff and volunteers.
Meghan, who served as studio co-ordinator from 2012 to 2017, took a year off on maternity leave to be with her new daughter. At the end of her maternity leave, Meghan let us know that she will at this time not be returning to RE-create but will instead focus on completing her MSW and spending time with her young family.
Emma, a former RE-create volunteer, courageously and seemingly effortlessly stepped into Meghan’s role for the year of Meghan’s maternity leave. The year flew by and RE-create youth did many creative ventures including three art crawl art exhibits, Battle of the Brushes, Annual Tie Dye BBQ and the regular creative art making that happens in studio.
As this year came to an end, we also said goodbye to Emma. Emma is looking forward to learning more about counselling and psychotherapy while continuing her Master’s degree at Martin Luther University College. While she is not sure exactly sure what the next chapter of her life will be she is clear that RE-create will shape the way that she works in the future.
While we are sad to say goodbye to both Emma and Meghan, RE-create is excited to embrace a new studio co-ordinator, Megarrah.
Megarrah holds an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art from York University, with a focus in photo-based art. She has spent the past 9 years working in the not-for-profit sector in both Toronto and Hamilton doing volunteer management, community engagement and supporting those living with mental health and addictions issues. When she’s not working, Megarrah can be found cycling, swimming or hanging out in one of Hamilton’s many amazing parks with her husband and their two small children. She also loves to bake, sew and eat ice cream.
Megarrah joined RE-Create as Studio Co-ordinator just five days before this year’s Battle of the Brushes. “You’ll be baptized by fire” both Emma and I joked. And she was. What an introduction! Megarrah was able to witness first-hand the kind of incredible community that surrounds RE-Create; the artists, volunteers, staff and youth banding together to pull off such an energizing event. Read more about the Battle of the Brushes in the upcoming November 2018 RE-create newsletter.
To recognize and honour all these changes, RE-create had a “hello, good bye, Hallowe’en party” on October 30th to thank Meghan and Emma and to welcome Megarrah aboard.
Change is inevitable. Change creates space for growth and new opportunities. Change is part of the creative flow of life. While change may be a regular aspect of RE-create, one thing that remains constant is that RE-create continues to be a safe and welcoming place where youth on the fringe can begin to connect to themselves, others and their community in the context of creative art making.
Betty J.B. Brouwer is Shalem’s Director of the Linking Lives/Building Attachment program and the Artistic Director of Shalem’s RE-create Outreach Art Studio.