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Exploring the arts and the people that create the arts in Sault Ste. Marie and from the Algoma district, and around the world. Guest artists in conversation with host, Marnie Stone.
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 Statement
At 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 Statement
Our 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 Designer
Ocean 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.com
thechristopherchamberlain@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.