Upon reflection, recent Quest University graduate and artist Marielle Rosky believes she’s found the perfect way to give back to the town she has called home for the past four years. Rosky’s final project in Squamish is a workshop, set to be held Aug. 15 and 16 at the Squamish Youth Centre from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The workshop is tailored toward female and non-gender binary youth between 13 to 18 years old, and will serve as an environment where participants can draw their own life story in the format of a comic-book zine.
The upcoming workshop has been, in-part, inspired by last year’s Teen Memoir workshop, which was hosted by Squamish Public Library and similarly allowed teens to bring their stories to life through art.
For Rosky, catering specifically to women and non-gender binary youth is of special significance. The product of Rosky’s final undergraduate thesis project was a semi-autobiographical graphic novel, which explored notions of girlhood, body-image and coming of age, a project that was later awarded the distinction of the university’s showcase.
“When I finished my comic book and first disseminated it into the world, I got a lot of responses from young women that overwhelmingly expressed validation, comradery and the feeling of being part of a larger community that we didn’t even realize we were a part of through our shared experiences and stories,” Rosky reflected. “I think that’s because young girls and women have not been taken seriously in the eyes of society or pop culture. Books and movies about young girls are not always representative of the experience of girlhood in all its diverse embodiments. We grow up consuming stories about us, but there’s something empowering about making your own story, having it honour your unique experience and being able to see yourself as a storyteller. It’s truly a powerful experience to see what sharing your stories can do,” she said.
Rosky has coordinated with both the Squamish Youth Centre and Public Library on art projects during her tenure as a student at Quest. Now, as she moves her career to new pastures, she hopes the workshop will be a fitting farewell to the Squamish community.
“I’m really excited to hear the stories of the young women who have lived and grown up here. Hopefully in the end they can continue to pursue it if they want, making more art and comics about their identity and future,” she said.
The workshop coincides with a larger pop-culture shift in focus on young girls’ narratives and voices, with recent art movements such as Rookie Magazine and the Instagram-famous School of Doodle also inspiring Rosky’s initiative to affect positive cultural change in the Squamish community.
“I want to create this experience for other girls, younger than I was when I had it. Art is a very helpful tool because it helps connect them with other girls and their stories,” she said.
The free two-day workshop will culminate in a finished zine which participants can take home with them. Food will also be provided. Any queries regarding the workshop can be forwarded via email to [email protected].
