Michelle Petersen

Michelle has been involved with the Lumière Festival since its first year with the CCCC. With a background in counseling and art therapy, she strongly believes in the power of art to convey a message, provoke change and create positive transformation. This year she will be creating two installations : a garden of white roses and a series of haunted tree masks. Michelle aims to re-use materials to reduce the ecological impact of her work. Those viewing her work will be enticed to think outside the box and have their perceptions challenged. She hopes that the viewer might consider new ways to approach day to day activities which might make them - and the planet - healthier and happier.

Past work:

In past years with Lumière, Michelle has collaborated with fellow Lumière artist, Manon Doran, in making the Buddha Sun, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat. As the 2008 Outreach Coordinator, Michelle worked with community groups and lead them in the creation of pieces which illustrated the festival's poster, such as the Green Goblin Girl, a collection of flowers and cube lanterns.

Outside of Lumière, Michelle's artistic focus still remains on re-using materials to "paint" human and animal portraits, as well as landscapes - mainly with brush strokes of used discarded paper of all sorts. As an artist, psychotherapist and yoga instructor she also offers a variety of creative classes and workshops.

Phone number:613-265-7955
Email address: michelle.est.la@gmail.com