This series began with this piece, where photos, sound snippets and images were collected via YouthCAN workshops. I sensed an overwhelming theme in many of the submissions of health, well-being and the triumphs and little wins like eating well, getting a diagnosis, or getting a parking permit. Young persons Simone, Sarah, Lian and Ada were prominent in this one.
It’s important to recognize the meaning of our achievements and what it took for us to get there, especially when we’ve faced abnormal amounts of obstacles—that’s what often lies in many of the origin stories of youth in and from care. It’s not surprising that this was a stand out piece at the live event for CYICD on May 8th with OACAS. Ideas of a “Lived expert club” and the crown ward pin came about from conversations with my siblings as we all grew up in similar circumstances under the crown in foster care and continue to meet adults and generations of those with similar stories every year especially around May 14th.
I’ve been told multiple times that this one was a favorite by people who have seen the art, especially live. When I saw Amy’s photograph of herself staring out at a city in a hotel room, the meaning I got from the art was very personal, but also I felt that the themes of mobility in life, being able to travel, or stay in one place (Ezekiel’s first apartment photo, Sadeqah’s front door window image, Lian’s balcony view on an excursion) were totally relatable on a larger scale in the grand scheme of growing up in Ontario.
What I’ve learned from creating these paintings from the contributions of Youth in and from Care is that home is something they make themselves. From what I know about how people feel about “home”, it’s not always a house or place to sleep—it can be the little moments where we feel we really belong to something, to a place or people or moments. This was probably my personal favorite piece, as at the point in time where these were getting produced I had been feeling a bit of physical burn out. I decided to add a few things that felt “me”; a grid for some inner neurodivergent design language, the isometric lego house, glossy food renditions and colorful pops from Amy’s life, Lian’s pokemon card, and Aidan’s pup.
Getting your first car, your first place, even having somewhere to call home, getting into the program of your choice, continuing education—these are big milestones that I wanted to represent with a contrast of text in the background reminding us, “remember when you didn’t think you would make it past your 18th?” “Remember when you were lost?”
Depicted is Ada’s moment from school, Lian’s certificate, Aidan’s first car and his door lock, and my car keys. Audio snippets from the CYICD video by OACAS.
The sixth and final piece is about belonging, from snaps that were taken from the young people and shows a little of those funny every day candid moments. Food and friends was a reoccuring theme that I found; and while it seems small and mundane, those are the times we’re going to miss the most!
Depicted is Christina having a meal with her best friend, Ezekiel, Damian and Lian hanging out, Ada walking on the beach, Sadeqah’s contribution is items from her fridge and Aidan’s youtube channel.