Invisible Suitcase: What We Carry Within

A Participatory Art Workshop on Peace, Memory & Belonging

This participatory workshop invites individuals from diverse backgrounds to explore the emotional and cultural layers of migration, identity, and belonging through art-making.

Participants will create their own “invisible suitcase” using textile, felt, and mixed media materials. Within these symbolic suitcases, they will carry what they hold—memories, values, fears, traditions, dreams, and fragments of home.

Guided by gentle prompts, participants will reflect on questions such as:

• What did I bring with me that cannot be seen? 
• What have I left behind? 
• What do I want to carry forward? 

The session concludes with an optional sharing circle and a collective installation that transforms individual stories into a powerful visual narrative of peace and legacy.

This workshop is designed as a safe, inclusive, and emotionally supportive space, particularly meaningful for newcomers and individuals navigating identity and transition

👩‍🎨 About the Facilitator: Perihan Kucukosman

Perihan Kucukosman is a multidisciplinary artist and art educator from Turkey, with over 25 years of experience sharing her passion for creativity. She holds a degree from Uludag University’s Faculty of Education in Art Teaching. Since relocating to Canada, she has embraced community-engaged art practices and recently completed a Postgraduate Program in Art Education and Community Engagement. Her work is rooted in the belief that art holds healing power and serves as a bridge for meaningful connections. Perihan continues to collaborate with Canadian organizations, nurturing creativity and a strong sense of belonging.

🌍 About HAPPENING Multicultural Festival

HAPPENING is an annual celebration of immigrant, refugee, and newcomer artists in Toronto. Through performances, exhibitions, and workshops, the festival amplifies diverse voices and promotes the power of creativity to build inclusive communities. Hosted by MUSE Arts, HAPPENING offers a platform for connection, learning, and joy.

🎟️ Free workshop – registration required
🔗 More info at www.musearts.ca