Carole Epp is a Canadian ceramic artist and writer, who received her Master's Degree in Ceramics from the Australian National University. Her ceramics branch off into two distinct bodies of work wherein she produces lines of sculptural and functional objects. Her sculptural based work incorporates the production of collectible figurines whose traditional genre is subverted by revealing a more truthful representation of behaviour and morality in contemporary society. An analysis of consumer culture is unveiled and dialogue is presented regarding the personal relationship one has with global events and politics. The functional domestic wares investigate contemporary industrial design aesthetics and their sustainability through handmade qualities, including what has traditionally been deemed glaze-faults, in combination with the clean and calculated look of mass-produced wares. Her work has been exhibited in Canada, Scotland, Australia and the United States. Her artwork and writing has also been published in the past few years in magazine publications, websites and books. She is editor of Musing About Mud an online blog which showcases information, calls for entry, exhibitions and artist profiles related to the ceramic arts.

Carole Epp will be the Shelter project artist with the YWCA participants.

Cheryl L'Hirondelle is one unique and much sought after interdisciplinary artist and musician from this land now known as Canada. A nomadic mixed-blood (Metis/Cree-non status/treaty, French, German, Polish) originally from Alberta, her creative practice investigates the junction of a Cree worldview in contemporary time and space with projects that spans a wide array of disciplines including: music, performance art, storytelling, spoken word, theatre, audio art, installation, public art and new media. Since the early 80's, L'Hirondelle has created, performed and presented work in a variety of artistic disciplines, including: music, performance art, theatre, performance poetry, storytelling, installation and new media. In the early 90's, she began a parallel career as an arts consultant and programmer, cultural strategist/activist, and director/producer of both independent works and projects within national artist-run networks.. Most recently, she received the 2006 Award for Best Female Traditional Cultural Roots Album and the 2007 Best Group Award from the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, for Fusion of Two Worlds, the first CD from her Aboriginal Women’s ensemble, M’Girl. Her own solo recording project entitled Giveaway has recently been included in the 2nd edition of the Encyclopedia of Native Music. She is now working on a new collection of songs she’s writing with women in prison.

www.cheryllhirondelle.com

Cheryl L'Hirondelle will be the primary artist with the Pine Grove Creative Circles Program

Felicia Gay b.1977 Swampy Cree/Scot Originally from Cumberland House in Northern Saskatchewan Felicia is a curator and Artistic Director currently residing in Saskatoon. She is co- founder and Director of Saskatoon’s only Artist Run Centre with a gallery space dedicated to the Aboriginal contemporary arts-The Red Shift Gallery a contemporary Aboriginal Art Space. Felicia is dedicated to furthering the representation of Aboriginal peoples in the dissemination of contemporary arts and their inclusion in the context of Canadian art history.

Felicia Gay was a manager in Cumberland House – Northern Artist Initiatives.

Besides being the current Southern Artistic Director for Common Weal, Gerry has been a practicing artist and photographer for over 40 years. His sculpture, photography and installations have been exhibited in numerous solo and group shows in Canada and Jamaica, and his work was included in the 2008 Jamaica Biennale at the National Gallery in Kingston, Jamaica. From 2006-2008 he served as a volunteer in Kingston through CUSO, where he taught art and photography to inner city children and youth. Gerry is an avid proponent of the power of photography projects in giving voice to otherwise ‘silent’ minority groups, and has conducted numerous such photo-voice projects in Regina.

Jayce Salloum, originally from Kelowna, currently based in Vancouver, has been a working artist since 1975 in video, photography, drawing and installation. He has lectured worldwide and has exhibited at a very wide range of local and international venues, from the smallest unnamed storefronts and community centres to institutions such as National Gallery of Canada; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Rotterdam International Film Festival; Havana Biennial; and the Biennale Of Sydney. See: www.111101.net/Artworks/JayceSalloum

Jayce Salloum was a consulting artist on the Cumberland House program as he was the initiating artist of this project.

Josh has been active in Regina’s urban art scene for over ten years. From his early beginnings, working ‘underground’ as a youth creating graffiti art, Josh has developed into a teacher and mentor for youth interested in the art form, and has raised the profile and respect of urban arts in our community. Over the last six years he has been conducting workshops with such organizations as Common Weal Community Arts Inc, Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange Society, Prince Alberts Grace Campbell Gallery, Mackenzie Art Gallery, University of Regina,, City of Regina and the Regina Public School Board.

Besides being very active with his personal art work, Josh has participated in numerous conferences and panel discussions around the topic of the urban arts, linking Graffiti artists, local Police and the public, in order to connect and increase understanding and cooperation. He has conducted open discussions with students in numerous schools throughout the province regarding what Graffiti art actually is, in contrast to popular perception of graffiti art as ‘tagging’. Josh has given frequent workshops on the topics of skills and career development, and how Graffiti art can provide a positive voice to youth in communities.

Josh has created numerous mural artworks in Regina, in particular in partnership with the Cathedral Village Arts Festival for the past four years, Craven Country Music Jamboree, and numerous local business establishments.

Michèle Mackasey’s work addresses issues in humanity and social justice, a reflection perhaps of the world that entours her. Her current work is deeply rooted in her concerns as a single mother, portraying single parent women with their families through large scale, life-size figurative portraits. Michèle graduated with Honours, from of the Ontario College of Art & Design in1991, having specialized in drawing and painting. As a student, she focused on figurative studies and was awarded several scholarships. She has had her work displayed in both solo and group exhibitions in Saskatchewan and Ontario and greatfully acknowleges funding received from the Saskatchewan Arts Board for her recent project. Michèle was born in Chibougamau, in northern Québec, and grew up in both Toronto and in Timmins, in northern Ontario. She now lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with her two children of Dene heritage and holds deep ties to Patuanak, a Dene community in Northern Saskatchewan, while maintaining her Francophone indentity.

Michele Mackasey is an artist & manager in Cumberland House and Patuanak – Northern Artist Initiatives.

Rachael Van Fossen is a theatre artist, former artistic director, teacher, arts consultant, and researcher whose particular focus has been the development and promotion of engaged community arts practices. She has frequently acted as a consultant for community-engaged theatre projects across Canada, and has traveled to England, Ireland, France, Greece and Australia to lead workshops and/or speak about her work. She was the founding artistic director of Common Weal, a company acknowledged as a Canadian leader in community-based arts. During her tenure as Artistic Director of Black Theatre Workshop (2001-2005) she successfully integrated community arts programming into the life of this Montreal professional theatre company. Rachael is on faculty in the MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts Program at Goddard College (Vermont) and teaches in Theatre and Development at Concordia University, a program for which she contributed to development of curriculum. She is also a co-founder and artistic associate of the Collectif MOYO in Montreal.

Rachael Van Fossen is a Primary Writer for the Connect Publication

Traci Foster is multidisciplinary performing artist and educator who is Canada’s first certified teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework. She explores and develops her work through a blend of Fitzmaurice Voicework, extended vocal technique, movement, mask, acting, and singing. Her latest area of creative focus is as the founding member and Artistic Director of Lunacy, an interdisciplinary collective. Currently, she has completed co-writing, performing, and producing, Twelve Crows, an original theatrical work and artistic installation. Her latest area of creative focus was teaching a mask and voice workshop for emerging and professional artists with and without disabilities.

While not teaching/coaching privately, she conducts workshop in acting and creative development though voice work in Regina. Traci is a faculty member of the University of Regina Conservatory of Performing Arts, Youth Ballet of Saskatchewan Summer Intensive, and Regina Public School Board's Create program.

In addition to studying at the Banff Centre for the Arts and University of Regina, Traci has engaged in extensive training and mentorship experiences with a founding member of the Roy Hart Theatre Group and extended vocal technique visionary, Richard Armstrong of New York; renowned mask and clown master teacher, Sue Morrison of Toronto; Dora award-winning performer and writer Fides Krucker of Toronto; and founding member of the Toronto Dance Theatre, Amelia Itcush of Saskatchewan.

Traci’s acting credits include The Attic, the Pearls, and Three Fine Girls, Room With Five Walls, Pretty Girl Ugly, Everything’s In the Box, Tracing Steps, 12 Crows – An excerpt, and 12Ccrows.. Directing credits include, Stuck in the Middle, If the Shoe Fits, Cassandra’s Way, Roz. She has also participated in numerous performance art and experimental theatre/dance performances as well as co-created and acted as a creative development coach on many local projects. TV and film credits include, Renegade Press, Corner Gas, Tideland.

Wally Dion lives and works as an artist in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Born in 1976, Dion is a member of Yellow Quill First Nation (Salteaux). In 2004 Dion graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. His work has typically consisted of large scale painted portraiture sometimes working with themes including social-realism and First Nations class struggles in modern Canadian life, specifically in Saskatchewan. More recent work has involved the use of recycled computer circuit boards for large sculptural pieces. As an active artist, Dion has been met with positive support from both the local and national art communities. He is the recipient of numerous grants from agencies including the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Saskatchewan Arts Board. In the summer of 2008 Dion held his first major solo exhibition: Wally Dion, at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina. His work has been included in several group shows: Flatlanders 2008, Honouring Tradition 2008, and No Word for Good Bye 2006. In 2010 Wally was long-listed for the Soby Awards. His work can be found in several prominent public collections including: the Saskatchewan Arts Board, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada Council Art Bank and the MacKenzie Art Gallery.

Wally Dion was an artist in Cumberland House – Northern Artist Initiatives.