STAFF
Cora-Rae Silk, Artistic Director (she/her)
Cora-Rae Silk was born and raised in Thunder Bay and is of Anishinaabe and mixed European ancestry. She studied Graphic Design at Algonquin College in Ottawa before moving to Vancouver where she worked in commercial artist representation for several years. In 2011, Cora-Rae re-located to Toronto and began a career in community arts at ArtBridges, a nation-wide network for community-engaged arts and arts for social change initiatives. Cora-Rae currently resides in Sudbury and is the Artistic Director at Myths and Mirrors Community Arts and co-founder of the Northern Indigenous Artist Alliance (NIAA), an emerging arts service organization for Indigenous artists living and working in northern Ontario.
Blaine Thornton, Program Coordinator (they/them)
Blaine Thornton is a non-binary community-based writer from Sudbury, Ontario. Their book, Here’s to Letting Go, was awarded the 2023 OCAD U Medal for Creative Writing. They are interested in how writing can be used as a tool for self-healing and creating vibrant artistic spaces for people to experiment in. During their degree, Blaine was the Managing Editor for the first edition of Pulse Literary Journal, and co-host of Friday Night on the Mic. They facilitate workshops surrounding how writing can be used to heal.
Nicole Poulin, Bookkeeper (she/her)
Nicole Poulin is a Franco-Ontarian and has resided in Sudbury all her life. She developed long term relationships with francophone artistic and cultural organizations. Since 1977, Nicole has worked as an Administrative Assistant within the charitable and the non-profit sector and is still involved with Myths and Mirrors Community Arts and La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario. In 2019, Nicole connected with ART Matters, an ad hoc group, who creates with local artists by making art accessible and building a stronger community.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Deniz Frik, President (she/her)
Deniz Frik, originating from Istanbul, Turkey, is a community and holistic health advocate who combines a background in public health and health sciences research with her desire to create a space for all. An accredited yoga teacher, Deniz can be found teaching donation-based classes for the community. Working with local arts organizations and festivals, Deniz’ volunteerism explores the ways she can foster and support the creation of a vibrant community in Sudbury. Deniz is a lover of the outdoors, animals, and is always prepared to enjoy a good meal!
Judith Duncan, Secretary (she/her)
Judith Duncan has evolved her art practice obliquely combining her career as a child life specialist and professor with formal studies in visual and expressive arts, mentorship from experienced creators, and inspiration acquired in the course of being alive. Judith takes part in a variety of group exhibitions showcasing her mixed media art.
A significant component of Judith’s practice is her commitment to community-engaged arts and cross-cultural collaborations. Judith continues to build community through her involvement with arts and health-based groups both locally and globally with the support of the Canada Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, AMS and NGO Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund. Judith is the co-founder of ART Matters, a group of artists promoting art-making as a process for making connections and building a stronger community.
Brydon King, Director (he/him)
Brydon King, of Wasauksing First Nation, is an artist and social justice advocate who believes in the power of being there for community. Brydon’s passions expand far beyond his work as the Indigenous Justice Coordinator at the Sudbury Community Legal Clinic, with interests including playing guitar and keyboards, restoring and collecting old synthesizers, and making hand drums and shakers. Brydon was the recipient of the Experimental Audio Award at the 2022 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival for his piece titled Sabikeshiinh.
blankhands.ca |Instagram: @blankhandsrecs
Elyse Portal, Director (she/her)
Elyse Portal is foraging, creating and living on the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation. Supported by the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts, Elyse continues to expand her knowledge of respectful foraging and paint making. Throughout COVID-19, she has been exhibiting ecological works at la GNO, Art Gallery of Sudbury, Creative People Leading Climate Action, Pigments Revealed Symposium, and distance between us. Her current work, How Far Back is Home (2022-23), centers Ukrainian diaspora, and is being made in consultation with Governor General Award winning artist, Sandra Semchuk.
elyseportal.com | Instagram: @elyseportal
Krishna Patel, Director (she/her)
Krishna Patel believes that community arts enhances the lives of all in our community. Gaining experience through volunteering with local non-profit and arts organizations such as River & Sky Arts in the Woods and Northern Lights Festival Boréal, Krishna has a strong understanding of organizational and event budgets. With an educational background from the Ivey School of Business, Krishna understands the impact of grant, sponsorship, and donation revenues for a not-for-profit organization’s financial sustainability and brings this knowledge to the Myths and Mirrors team.
Kaela Pelland, Director (she/her/they/them)
Kaela Pelland works as the Director of Peer Engagement for Réseau ACCESS Network, working on the frontlines of harm reduction and community outreach. Kaela has found great comfort, healing, and a sense of community in the arts as she navigates the extreme loss of life due to the drug toxicity crisis. As a social justice activist, Kaela’s approach to themes such as wellness, grief, and loss inform their beliefs in community arts and the way it brings folx together. Passionate about travel and absorbing as many wonders as possible, Kaela is also deeply connected to her community and continues to grow alongside it. They are known as an avid music and arts supporter around the Sudbury community.
