In the Spring of 2025, the MacLaren opened the PIE Education Centre to community members of all ages from the Barrie Native Friendship Centre. In bi-monthly artist talks led by local artist Bruno Smoky, and Indigenous artists Shelley Genereaux, Cedar-Eve Peters, and Lucia Laford, this small group of emerging artists learned from professionals and worked together to bring their creations to life.
Using a wide range of mediums, from beadwork to paintings, the emerging artists have grown their portfolios while creating an exhibition that honors the land we live on, celebrates ceremony, and acknowledges the survivance of our Urban Indigenous Community. Embedded in the creative sessions were opportunities to build confidence in their voices as artists and to uncover shared threads of experience and expression, which quietly revealed themselves through dialogue and making.
Contributing artists include Caleigh Bailey, Nellie Bishop, Eugene Corbeil, Reid Posine, and Blake Riggs.
Special thanks to the artist mentors, and Petranella Brisco, Josie Fiegehen, January Paige, Carrie Ann Restoule, and Paige Russel from the Barrie Native Friendship Centre for their program support.
Meet the Artist Mentors
The artist Bruno, also known as “Smoky”, dedicated his life to visual art. Since childhood, drawing and creativity was always part of his daily routine. In 2004, he began painting on walls with spraypaint in Brasilandia where he grew up, a precarious neighborhood of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Smoky has gained international and professional recognition through his artistic journeys though out Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, Sweden, USA, England, Amsterdam, Berlin and Canada. He is always in search of artistic exchanges, learning and teaching art is part of his lifestyle. He has worked in various organizations and NGOs teaching the history of graffiti and its role in society to at risk youth. He is the coordinator for the Essencia Arts Collective, and a founding member of the Clandestinos Crew. Smoky has moved to Canada together with his wife and artistic collaborator, Shalak, and continues his art practice.
Shelly Genereaux is an Anishnaabe woman who is a member of the Saugeen First Nation #29, which is located on the shores of Lake Huron. She holds a B.A in Psychology and a B.Ed. from York University. Shelly considers herself a life-long learner as her next aspiration is to earn a master’s degree. Currently she is working as the Restorative Justice Coordinator at the Barrie Native Friendship Centre. In this position, Shelly is using art-based projects to help clients to reconnect with their Indigenous identities. Genereaux works with community members to achieve their potential, which she finds fulfilling at this stage in her life. She aspires to find ways to engage and promote a culturally accepting society. One project in particular is Awenen Giin: Who are You. This project connects Indigenous people to their Indigenous culture and histories, whom all share a common loss and story as a result of the Residential school system.
CEDAR EVE is a multidisciplinary artist currently based between Montreal and Toronto. She is Anishinaabe (Ojibway), from Saugeen First Nation and Wikwemikong Unceded Territory, but born and raised in Toronto. She graduated from Concordia University in 2012 from Studio Arts, where her focus was primarily on painting. She is a full-time bead artist and muralist. She has painted murals in Peru, Arizona, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Alberta and Winnipeg. Her company Cedar Eve Creations focuses on beaded jewellery and limited edition screen printed clothing. During the school year, she works with Cree youth in James Bay (Northern Quebec) teaching art.
Through her paintings she explores her world-view and identity while also being inspired by the idea of shapeshifters—creatures on the border between human and animal are painted in bright, bold colours. Communication, and symbiotic energies are prevalent within her work. She has come to view these creatures as her spirit beings or guides. They are inspired by the stories she has heard growing up, her dreamworld and her need to remember her ancestors. She works intuitively, free-handing her designs when she can. She uses house-paint and spray paint within her large-scale murals and often chooses her colours based on mood. She believes that colour can be healing; brightening up a space and allowing for new energies to be felt. She uses colour as a way to take up space, to create high visibility paintings that are hard to ignore. Her work is meant to question the viewer about what they know about First Nations culture. The language of art allows for communication by non-verbal means and is integral to keeping First Nations cultures alive.
Lucia Laford (Waawaaskone Kwe) is an award winning Anishinaabe and Irish artist born in Baawaating, ON. She is a proud two-spirit Ojibwe Kwe and a member of M’Chigeeng First Nation. Lucia paints in a Woodland style that has been passed down to her by her father. Her style is vivid and bright with crisp line work. Lucia has a spiritual connection to her work that has been established through her own healing path. She is a passionate Indigenous Arts Educator and loves working with everyone from youth to the elderly and especially enjoys working with First Nation Communities. Lucia has ongoing workshops and classes year-round that teach Woodland and floral painting, drawing, and leatherwork. Lucia is a part-time Instructor at Algoma University, where she teaches Indigenous Art courses. Lucia is on the lifelong journey of reclaiming her culture and learning Anishinaabemowin.
