Lost and Found: Stories from the Shore

Making a mixed media artwork using fabric and beach finds.

This workshop will entail making a mixed media artwork using fabric and beach finds. It is focused on sustainable art practices and will explore themes of responsible consumption, environmental awareness, and creative reuse of materials to empower participants to think critically about their relationship with materials and to approach art-making in harmony with nature.

👩🏽‍🎨 About the Facilitator - Aigerim Svanbayeva  (Aya) is a visual artist from Central Asia deeply inspired by its ethnic art and cultural heritage. She creates mixed media pieces that draw on the sincerity of primitive expression.

Nature is another central influence in her work. Living near Lake Ontario has shaped Aya’s creative process. The lake acts as both a source of material and a conceptual collaborator.  Committed to sustainability, she reuses and upcycles materials whenever possible, integrating fabric and found objects into layered, multidimensional pieces. 

Mosaic is one of Aya’s favorite techniques. It carries symbolic meaning allowing her to bring together fragments and transform them into cohesive compositions. 

Aya also enjoys making art with her three sons and, being right-handed, painting with her left hand to explore a different sense of expression. For her, art is a primary language of engaging with the world. A sense of wonder drives Aya’s practice and sustains her curiosity.

🎉 About HAPPENING Multicultural Festival

HAPPENING Multicultural Festival is a celebration of immigrant, refugee, and newcomer artists in Toronto. Organized by MUSE Arts, the festival brings together diverse voices through interactive workshops, exhibitions, performances, and community gatherings. It is a joyful, inclusive space where creativity thrives, stories are shared, and communities are strengthened through the arts. The festival’s mission is to amplify underrepresented voices and build bridges across cultures using the power of art.