Zakary-Georges “Twisted Wind” Gagné is a transfeminine, non-binary, francophone, and Cree individual. As an artist, organizer, volunteer, and educator, she aims to create conversations about the wellbeing and realities of gender, sexual, and culturally diverse people in hope of building and supporting resilient communities.
She's been able to do this work on a national scene through public speaking, curriculum development, photography, illustrations, and collaging, while bringing forward topics she most cares about, including indigenization, gender disruption, and interconnectivity.
Alyssa is one of the founders and co-chairs of Queen's Collage Collectives. She is in her final year of study at Queen's in the Concurrent Education program. For her undergrad, Alyssa majored in Gender Studies with History and English teachable. Alyssa is a collage artist and teacher candidate who advocates for marginalized students and believes in the power of art as resistance and anti-oppressive education.
Queer Collage Collective's events are for healing, expression and the strengthening of mental health through creating art. They aim to provide an accountable space to facilitate anti-oppressive conversation.
Melanie graduated from Queen’s University in 2016 with a BAH in Art History and Indigenous Studies. She went on to complete her graduate program at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute where she graduated in 2018. Her thesis was titled The Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen Project: Introducing Art Therapy to Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory using the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. As an Indigenous Art Therapist, Melanie continues to be grounded in her Haudenosaunee culture and uses this understanding in her art healing practice.
BIPOC Talk is a confidential, non-judgemental peer support service and safe space for BIPOC students. They provide holistically safe healing spaces for BIPOC students to work through their experiences while being supported by peers, as well as creating opportunities for BIPOC students to connect with one another and build community.
Yashfeen Afzaal, PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Yashfeen is in her third-year at Queen’s University and is currently pursuing her BAH in Art History. She was born and raised in Markham, Ontario and has always had a deep fascination for art. She loves going to different museums and art galleries in whatever city she is visiting and learning something she may have never known before. Her favourite art movement is impressionism as it always seems to wonderfully capture a fleeting moment in time. In her free time you can catch her attempting to knit the scarf that she has been working on for months.
SPECIAL THANKS
Union Gallery thanks the Inclusive Community Fund through Office of the Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity and Inclusion) at Queen's University for supporting the Beyond Words program.
