ART INSTRUCTOR

Meaghan Sweeney (She/They) is queer contemporary mixed media artist and community arts organizer based in Windsor Essex. They have a strong passion for mental health advocacy and using art as a tool for connection, healing, and community building.

photo credit Ashely Cline, @incline.photography

ART INSTRUCTOR

Andrea Niven is a multi-disciplinary visual artist deeply inspired by the beauty and fragility of life. Her work explores metaphorical connections within the natural world, reflecting its delicate balance. Through her art, Andrea engages with the community to raise awareness about homelessness and environmental issues that threaten the planet. Her goal is to highlight resilience, inspire hope, and foster a greater understanding of our interconnectedness.​  Statement: Life is a constant state of transformation, shaped by both hardship and hope. I am drawn to the tension between resilience and decay—the way growth and loss coexist in both nature and human experience. My work explores this fragile balance, revealing how even in deterioration, there is potential for renewal. Deeply influenced by nature, I use the life cycle of the Monarch Butterfly as a metaphor for change, survival, and the cycles of life. Its metamorphosis and perseverance in the face of environmental threats mirror our own struggles, reminding us that beauty and strength often emerge from fragility. Through my art, I seek to inspire reflection, encourage action, and offer a sense of hope within the inevitability of transformation.

ART INSTRUCTOR

My work explores the tension between the personal and the universal, deconstructing spaces, objects, and narratives to disrupt and reimagine what feels familiar. I combine materials such as written words, illustrations, photography, repurposed clothing, and sonic samples to craft pieces that evoke unease, provoke reflection, and challenge perceptions.

Over the past two years, I have expanded my practice to include poetry by creating Pocket Poems. These hand-made, small, illustrated books combine hand-written poems with rhythmic and surreal drawings. My work explores grief, love, and lost histories through personal symbols and mythological elements. By reinterpreting silenced narratives through a queer lens, I reflect on resilience, identity, and cultural loss from a contemporary perspective.

As the host of TOAST Open Mic Poetry, I have embraced a more communal and accessible dimension to my art. Hosting and performing my Pocket Poems has allowed me to connect with audiences in unfiltered ways, creating spaces where poetry feels immediate and inclusive. Through prompts like "Amplified Alliteration," I encourage participants to engage with poetic devices and explore abstract themes, nurturing creativity and connection.

Performance is integral to my practice. In my visual art, I’ve used static gestures to evoke tension and confinement, contrasting with the dynamic, emotive presence I bring to my poetry readings. Whether visual or spoken, my work aims to evoke strong emotional reactions and inspire others to reflect on overlooked materials and histories. By weaving together personal narratives and cultural reflections, I invite audiences to reimagine how the past, present, and future intersect in transformative ways.