CREATIVES

Steven Paul Lansky is a novelist, musician, poet, radio DJ, and educator. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and since childhood, spends his summers on St. Joseph Island, Ontario. Steven is an author of seven books, two poetry chapbooks, an audio novel, a novella, a collection of vignettes and sketches, a memoir and a novel. Lansky’s singular, marvelously absurd, graphic, hybrid novella, Shoes has cutting-edge detailed, prose modeled on recanted reality. It moves like the doorway god Janus, who, upon the threshold, looks both outwards, and to the interior. Two faces, toggle facets of moments, the third eye drawn from both, or either, and between the front and back, the edge. Imaginary and real, fantastic and mundane, possibilities sublimely rendered in comedic instants tucked into the mind as way-posts.The novella shifts between places, a possible diagnosis, a change of heart, and/or venue, that keeps the reader in a rather delightful attempt to keep up with or abandon meaning in a literal sense. Take the rich detail and let the author’s sure hand move the narrative smartly back and forth through the doorway. Understand that the instrument of illustration is unnecessary for genuine pleasure in getting a little lost in the story and getting a little lost in the author, but the graphic element helps. There is a personal metaphor in all the mileage piled up, in the distance, from place to place recounted, time travel, from footnote to footnote.Steve Lansky has a unique perspective, from the doorward gaze, drawn either way, of the neurotypical, or the neuro-spectacular. Somewhere in between ambition, and accomplishment (something of a bipolarity itself, eh?). He starts a conversation with a version of himself, and flexes outward, as the reader becomes the most colorful of chameleons. Sure, there’s some shapeshifting here, and a relaxation of the serotonin guardrails, that order memory, and experience, to behave in a linear way, but it’s supposed to be fickle.I have no illusions.  I can tell when people are calling me out on my shit.  Or are they shaming?  One of my friends died intoxicated on opiates and marijuana, after living longer than any of his immediate family in his bloodline in any recent generation.  This he claimed while also defending his misery.  His last several years included divorce, the loss of most of his friendships, and a deterioration that he self-described as being shamed by others.This from a guy who had anchored an AA meeting, brought many angry people into the fold of MA as well.  Yeah, his reputation as a hard drinking, raucous hellraiser came up in nearly every conversation.  His family had had great artists, great thinkers, his wife had worked hard in the airline industry, was generous, outgoing and an outstanding friend.  What went wrong?  The government had every intention of helping a middle-class gent such as him.Let’s face it, no one likes a complainer.  He retired early, he had limitations brought on by medical conditions.  He had two mental illnesses, not to mention alcoholism.  And to this day acquaintances and some friends thought he needed to pull himself up and work a little harder.  You’re a difficult case, they told him.  You might think ill of him, or then again, you may think well of him, that he was a protected class, an elder, and early retired, at your expense.  There it is again, he cared what you thought.  What he really cared about is how well you thought of him, not how much.  I’m reminded of this statement, another old AA’er taught me: True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Does that give a fellow license to envy, point out that someone needs to do inventory, or insult the intelligence of a friend?  Stuck on this, he could have done more, and when you ask for help, know that he was your friend.

Jamie Hazelton, resident of Sault Ste Marie has written his first book, Light Of Dandelions, a pictorial and prose collage that applies to living, healing and recovery.Born, raised and come of age in Southern Ontario, Jamie Hazelton moved to British Columbia in the summer of 1988 with what he could fit in the trunk of his 1968 Plymouth Satellite convertible. The following summer, he travelled much of the west and southern United States. Liking the San Francisco Bay area the most, Jamie made that his home for the next +28 years.Writing became an increasingly beneficial pastime, beginning in 1994. Jamie used the medium and malleability of simply putting words on paper to learn how he felt, deep down, when stirred by life’s unpredictability. Then came the added bonus of humour, intrigue and awareness.Following traumatic events in 2018, it was necessary for Jamie to return to his place of origin and be with family for a long and difficult healing process. Writing proved an invaluable touchstone to help manage the complexities of trauma recovery.Jamie took pictures along the way and in 2021 he dreamed of a picture book with one to four lines of original prose inserted into each picture. Light of Dandelions became the title after an experience he had walking through a park and rounding a hedge. He was struck with the image of a field of dandelions gone to seed and waiting for the wind to carry their seeds onward. Late afternoon sun hit the soft circles in a magical way only nature can procure.A two-and-a-half-year resident of Sault Ste Marie, Jamie has spent the previous year engaged with new surroundings, interesting people and assembling this book enthusiastically.

"embodying the Ojibway principle of "Wnizhsid"Woodland Fashion is an Indigenous-led fashion house dedicated to uplifting and empowering Indigenous youth through fashion, mentorship, and cultural storytelling. We believe that fashion is more than just clothing—it’s a powerful medium for identity, creativity, and self-expression.Founded on the principles of tradition, innovation, and representation, our collective brings together Indigenous designers, artists, and creators to shape a future where Indigenous fashion is recognized, celebrated, and supported on a global scale.Mission StatementAt Ocean Kiana, our mission is to create elegant, sustainable clothing that blends beauty with practicality, reflecting the Ojibway value of "Wnizhsid"—good, fine, useful, and beautiful. Each garment is crafted to honor both the Earth and the individual, designed for those who seek timeless, eco-friendly fashion. We’re committed to moving away from fast fashion, instead offering high-quality, lasting pieces that let you build a wardrobe you truly love and feel good about.Vision StatementOur vision is a world where Indigenous-led, eco-conscious fashion inspires a more sustainable and intentional approach to style. At Ocean Kiana, we aim to empower individuals to express themselves through clothing that is as beautiful and practical as it is kind to the planet. Honoring our cultural roots and practicing mindful craftsmanship, we strive to pioneer sustainable fashion that respects heritage and elevates ethical style.About the DesignerOcean Kiana is a Nishinaabe designer and artist from Northwestern Ontario, whose heritage and culture are at the heart of her work. Raised in the communities of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Pic River First Nation) and Netmizaagamig Nishnaabeg (Pic Mobert First Nation), Ocean infuses her designs with the values and traditions of her ancestors. A member of the Wolf Clan and known by her Anishinaabe name, White Butterfly, she brings both Indigenous culture and sustainable innovation to each piece, creating fashion that embodies resilience, beauty, and respect for the Earth.https://oceankiana.com/https://woodlandfashion.ca/

I’m a Structural Designer, Civil & Architectural Technologist/draftsman that wants to work on your unique, cool, and interesting project. I’m very much into ecological and sustainable design. I can work from concept through to final design and fabrication. I'm an efficient communicator, team collaborator, mentor, and facilitator of design knowledge.(289)339-8910 manyfacesart@gmail.comthechristopherchamberlain@gmail.com

Todd “FLEET-O” Fleet has been a life long artist, creative and avid auto enthusiast and restorer. He has been creating private and commissioned artwork and tinkering with cars since he could hold a crayon and turn a wrench!FLEET-O spent most of his early artistic career creating works and exhibitions for various regional and international automotive shows, clubs and clients. While still creating his art, he spent the majority of his career (18+ years) in the broader arts, culture and heritage sector as an exhibit designer/builder, museum curator and municipal arts and culture coordinator.  Check CV/Bio section for more info!Artist’s Statement:Lighting Fires, Burning Tires! “Creature of the Wheel” represents the renewal of my personal artistic and creative fires. My subject matter acts as a perfect metaphor and parallel to my own artistic journey. As many of the subjects featured in these works were once kaleidoscopic, brightly clad and powerful dream machines with the ability to create impactful, lasting life experiences and grant personal freedom to their owners; and which over time, as the necessities and pursuits of familiar lives grew these machines often found themselves shut away in the dark recesses of garages and barns, occasionally to be looked at with thoughts of “someday”. And like these long dormant avatars, to be later, rediscovered by their owners and resurrected, restored, modified by time and experience - better than new - to roll into the light once more!”https://www.fleet-o.com/

Friends, I wrote a book… “Becoming Calla”Well, I wrote a novella; too short to be a novel, but too long to be a short story. “Becoming Calla” is Calla’s backstory, the character I created for the dance performance of the same name in the 2023 Fringe North Festival. “Beautiful, brave or brazen, bare. I couldn’t put it down.” -Jacob Maybe, Writer @jacob_maybe_mystery_books Partially funded by @artsandculturessm📸 Photography by Alyssa Eddy💄Makeup by Brittany Kennedy

Tracy Currie is a photo artist who uses digital manipulation to turn her photographs into stunning and unique artworks. Through a camera lens, Tracy explores her curiosity for the natural world.  She pushes the boundaries of visual expression with the use of digital tools.  Each art piece starts with a photograph, but through Tracy's creative touch, she transforms them into something truly remarkable.  She creates visual experiences that deeply resonate with viewers on an emotional level. PHANTASMAGORIA is her first solo exhibition.

I work with acrylics, and my favourite subject/genre is Aboriginal. My art is painted in the traditional Woodland style that reflects my Odawa-Ojibway heritage. The originality of my paintings is marked by a combination of everyday experiences around me and the traditional legends of my heritage.Also figuring heavily in my work is my own spiritual odyssey as a Christian. For a long time I was lost. I tried to blend into the dominant society but I never found a place when I felt good about myself. My Creator in His great love for me saw this and He opened up a way for me to get back in touch with who I am and where I come from. Today He is leading me gently back to my culture, my heritage, and my people. He has done this through my art. My art and faith have become integral parts of my self-discovery. When I paint, I pray. I find that I get very dissatisfied with myself when I do not paint, and so, if I am not painting, I am not praying.Today my husband Jim and I have made Bawating-the Rapids-Sault Ste. Marie our landing spot, our home. Together we have six grown children and many grandchildren. Jim is my greatest supporter. My family is very important to me. They have always believed in me, in my capabilities. They are part of my Sacred Circle – Gifts from God.I am from the OTTAWA NATION, WIKWEMIKONG UNCEDED INDIAN RESERVE on Manitoulin Island, ON.

​Maria Parrella-Ilaria is the Developer/Coordinator of the ArtSpeaks Project. Maria’s idea for the initiative began during her 7-year run as owner/operator of the Fireball Cafe, a barber shop turned espresso art bar in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, that has etched its way into local lore.The ArtSpeaks Project​ offers adults & youth impacted by trauma non-clinical art-as-therapy experiences via free-access community-based art-making.​ Self-expression through the arts offers a non-threatening way for folks to give voice to their lived experiences and conversely, make sense of often difficult and/or frightening emotions. ​Creative engagement helps to reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the body while also helping to foster new perspectives through the exploration of one’s symbolic mark-making process. Thus, by reducing stress and increasing self-knowledge, one experiences greater personal resilience and wellness.

Riley Drover is a cutting edge entrepreneur and innovator and the CEO/Owner Operator of Maker North. Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Riley is a graphic design graduate from Sault College 2015. He has worked hard to learn the necessary skills to adapt to the trade over the years.Riley’s enterprise Maker North Co. is providing clients with four basic services: design/education, prototype development, 3D printing and laser cutting. Their customers range from entrepreneurs who seek design and prototyping services to bring their own products to market to businesses and individuals who wish to purchase an available product that can be 3D print or laser cut. Maker North has already played an integral role in the design / prototyping of several products that were created and brought to market by their customers and continue to work with several others who are on the path to mass production of their own creations.

Sheri Minardi has had a love of the outdoors since she can remember, growing up hunting and fishing with her parents and two brothers. The knowledge gained and the skills she learned came in handy when she discovered the art of shooting with a camera. And it changed the way she expressed her love for the forest wildlife. Her photography hobby grew into a business while her passion for the life of being in the great outdoors has only grown deeper.

By her own admission, Rebeka Herron is a “complicated person.” Projects I am working on currently are Potluck Ladies – Season 1, which I am producing, and A Witch Named Agatha (I think it’s the first animation project for TV) which I am writer, director and producer on.Rebeka Herron is a Mixed Raced Latina filmmaker with over 15 years experience in the film and TV industry working as a line producer, production manager and producer. She is an alumna of Capilano University’s Motion Picture Program, Women in the Director’s Chair and the Producers’ Lab at the Canadian Film Centre. She is a member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). Her recent work includes writing for Anaana’s Tent Season 3 and Tundra Friends Season 1, directing for Kuluk Season 1 & 2, and producing 5 features during the pandemic, 1 of which she directed called Armchair Traveller. Rebeka’s latest project about the sport ringette was chosen out of 9,000 submissions to be developed by CBC through their Covid-19 CBC Relief Fund. Herron owns production company Rusty Halo Productions, co-owns 180 Sisterhood Productions, and is co-founder and co-director of the Sault Film Festival.

Amy Williams is an artist inspired by nature and based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.  In her unique style she focuses primarily on landscape paintings, house and business portraits, and offers a variety of prints depicting landscape scenes from the Algoma region, Canada, and beyond.  Amy will happily take on commissions in acrylics and watercolour and ink.Amy's hope is "that you find the same joy and happiness in my work that I feel when I make it."After years at home raising my beautiful children, I am finally blessed with the opportunity to chase my dream of becoming a full-time artist. 

Shannon Jondreau is a multi-media artist, true to her family's deep and wide creative roots. For over 20 years, Shannon has worked and taught the arts in the Ottawa region and now back in her hometown. Always excited about the challenges of something new, Shannon also gives classes in a variety of the disciplines at her work studio location in downtown Sault Ste. Marie at 504 Queen, the ART HUB At Spring.  I've been creating since I can remember. I'm pretty sure my Grandma has kept every drawing and painting i've ever done. I grew up in a creative family, my Mom was a very gifted artist, my Great Grandma was an artist and a potter, and my cousin Meagan is a very talented jewelry maker. So it just seemed to come naturally for me.I have been working as an artist, art teacher and photographer for over 20 years now. I lived and worked in Ottawa and the Ottawa valley doing all 3 things and also worked as a curator at 3 galleries as well as my own. While in Ottawa i shot 14 NHL weddings, did 3 books showcasing amazing businesses and entrepreneurs and did 2 calendars raising over $10,000 each for Ride For Dad and local hospitals. I was also commissioned to do 24 3ftx4ft paintings for (at the time) the only green daycare in Ontario, which was opened by the Governor general. I moved back to the Soo about 7 years ago to be closer to family. I'm so happy that the Soo is getting a lot more involved with the arts and has a lot of great spots now for artists and art lovers to show off and view their talents.I work primarily in acrylics and water colour. I do everything from animal portraits, landscapes, semi-representational paintings, mixed media and abstract. I also teach pottery and photography. I photograph weddings, newborn sessions, children, engagement and family sessions. I especially love working with and teaching children. I love to see how expressive and creative they are. I love teaching a painting to a room full of people and seeing how completely different each one is even though we are all working on the same thing, everyone has a different style, colour preference, technique etc and i love it!I teach drawing and cartooning, watercolour, acrylics, mixed media, sewing, crafting and much, much more. I offer classes for babies from 3 months of age all the way up to big kids ages 103 or more. I love art and everything about it. I love having a vision for a piece and seeing it come to life, or sometimes it ends up completely different from what i had originally envisioned but you just have to trust the process . "At LilyCreek Photography we strive for creative, dramatic and dynamic shots when shooting your wedding, special event or even just a family portrait.  We do everything from Pet Portraits, Weddings, Horse Shows, Maternity, Boudoir, Fine Art Black and Whites, and newborn baby photos.  We can shoot it in our beautiful studio or go to a location of your choice."

Penny Gabor is creating a career as an artist.  Her life has been mostly dedicated to raising her family, and helping it grow.  Now, Penny is at a time where she has the time, to make the art and still have her family life."I have a wonderful husband and 6 amazing kids - so it just took me a while to get here. My name - Penny - actually means Weaver or Creative Spirit, so I guess it's rather fitting that I have found myself in creating. Painting provides opportunity to continually push ideas and try new things and while this is both stimulating and exciting, I think I do it to reflect the light and goodness I see in the world. So far in this artistic journey for me, I want what I do to have an uplifting impact on the people who interact with it. Life has enough darkness and hardship - I want my work to feel life-giving and cheerful with a side of joy. So there you have it - I hope that my work brings something bright to your life!"MUSICMelody Moffatt - FlameNicholas Luck - ProphecyNicholas Luck - ConvictionNicholas Luck - RallyNicholas Luck - EmergedNicholas Luck - Through It AllNicholas Luck - Drowned SinesNicholas Luck - PlanesNicholas Luck - PreludeNicholas Luck - How I Learned To Love The BombNicholas Luck - BacchanalMelody Moffatt - Letters