Featured artist at “The Body Electric”, a digital visual art show presented at the International Conference on Resident Education September 29-October 1, 2016 in Niagara Falls
Featured artist at “The Body Electric”, a digital visual art show presented at the International Conference on Resident Education October 22-24, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”147″ css_animation=”top-to-bottom” border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”500×620″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][ultimate_heading heading_tag=”h1″ alignment=”left” spacer=”no_spacer” spacer_position=”top” spacer_img_width=”48″ line_style=”solid” line_height=”1″ line_color=”#333333″ icon_type=”selector” icon_size=”32″ icon_style=”none” icon_color_border=”#333333″ icon_border_size=”1″ icon_border_radius=”500″ icon_border_spacing=”50″ img_width=”48″ line_icon_fixer=”10″ main_heading_color=”#8224e3″ sub_heading_style=”font-style:italic;” sub_heading_font_size=”48″ sub_heading_color=”#666666″ sub_heading_line_height=”72″ main_heading=”“The gifts that came out of my strokes have taken on a life of their own. My artwork is my passion. I’m so proud that my cards are available across Canada.”” main_heading_style=”font-style:italic;” main_heading_font_size=”48″ main_heading_line_height=”72″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][ultimate_heading main_heading=”PACE Consumer” heading_tag=”h2″ alignment=”left” spacer=”no_spacer” spacer_position=”top” spacer_img_width=”48″ line_style=”solid” line_height=”1″ line_color=”#333333″ icon_type=”selector” icon_size=”32″ icon_style=”none” icon_color_border=”#333333″ icon_border_size=”1″ icon_border_radius=”500″ icon_border_spacing=”50″ img_width=”48″ line_icon_fixer=”10″]
[/ultimate_heading][vc_column_text]Raven ran her own business and was a dance instructor for over 33 years. In 2010, she suffered multiple strokes which kept herin hospital and rehab forfive months – learning to walk and read again.During this time,Raven discovered “doodling” as a means of entertainment. Her friends encouraged her new pastime by bringing her art supplies. She quickly transformed her“doodles” into gifts for her fellow patients. Raven describes her artwork as “the gifts that came from my strokes”.
Raven has aphasia and as a result, she actively participates in a computer program at PACE’s Learning Network for people living with an acquired brain injury (ABI). She has been involved with PACE for the past four years.
Raven’s entrepreneurial spirit continues as she has created an online business selling her three colouring books and over sixty different greeting cards.
Despite the ongoing challenges that Raven faces, she has a positive outlook that keeps her going with a desire to fulfill another part of her journey. She sees things as “another stepping stone on her path” and she recognizes that it is empowering to have people to help along the way to fulfilling dreams.
How has PACE had an impact on your life?
Computer skills’ learning is critical for Raven and PACE is helping her with this. To have these learning options is very supporting to Raven. She describes them as “transformative” as they give her an opportunity to keep growing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Describe someone who inspires (d) you and why?
For Raven, it was her Chilean dance instructor that she met when she was 19 years old. At that time, Raven was very shy and withdrawn. The instructor saw the talent that Raven had and asked her to teach a two-hour class. With no previous teaching experience, Raven seized the opportunity and the rest was history as this was how her dance instructing began.
What is Raven most passionate about?
“The gifts that came out of my strokes have taken on a life of their own. My artwork is my passion. I’m so proud that my cards are available across Canada.”
When Raven has time for herself – what does she like to do?
Enjoy art and nature. She used to do a lot of drumming – but, that is currently on hold. And she used to sing. One day she would love to record a CD.
If PACE was a person – what words would you use to describe PACE?
Innovative, creative, motivating, desirable.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1445720703243{padding: 15px !important;background-color: #d8d8d8 !important;}”]What Is Aphasia?
Aphasia is an acquired disorder caused by an injury to the brain and affects a person’s ability to communicate. It is most often the result of stroke or head injury. An individual with aphasia may experience difficulty expressing themselves when speaking, difficulty understanding the speech of others, and difficulty reading and writing. Sadly, aphasia can mask a person’s intelligence and ability to communicate feelings, thoughts and emotions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]Source:
PACE Annual Report 2014 – 2015[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Raven Crow
Edited by S.V. Herrera
I freak out sometimes because I am not an artist. I am a doodler. I like to do my own art, my own way. I have always been that type of person. Once a teacher said I made a mistake on my painting. She told me to do something blue on my painting. I was offended. I cannot honour what is coming out in the art when someone is telling me what to do. It is a sacred gift that is coming out. I have to honour it as much as I can.
I understand self-doubt, especially if someone isn’t there to tell you not to have self-doubt. I tried to commit suicide many times. I was heavily into drinking and drugs too. I split my head on a train track and died when I was 18. I went to the spirit world and came back. At 19 people thought I was mute because I was shy: shy and introverted. I did not learn to read and write until I was 40 years old, and then when I was 52 years old, I lost it again. All I ever wanted was to get a degree and provide for myself.
Before I had the strokes, I was a dance instructor. I had my own business too. And I also led ceremonies for the community. I never asked for money. I did what I was supposed to do to help people. When I help people, I help myself. I was asked to leave after some time. I was heartbroken because these ceremonies were about helping the people. I needed that medicine. I carried the pipe but then those things stopped. I hoped it would come back.
I had gangrene twice. They were about to amputate my arm the first time. The second time I had gangrene was after I had a breast reduction. I am a diabetic and they didn’t take care of me properly. They were negligent. I was scared as hell. The smell of the infection was so rotten. The infections led to seizures and strokes. I could barely talk. I could barely say anything. I was told I have to be on medication for the rest of my life. people ask me, “do you think it is because you’re native?” Guaranteed.
If it were not for the strokes, though, I wouldn’t be doing this. At the hospital almost everybody lived in their room watching television. I could not afford it, so that’s why I started to draw. Things always happen for a reason and I’m okay with it. This is the path that Creator has made for me. That’s why Creator kicked my ass a couple times. “You’re not listening to me.” So Creator says it is time for us to get back together.
I never had an art lesson in my life. The art came out of the strokes. A year after my first stroke, I had another stroke again. I thought, “Oh, cool! More new gifts.” That’s the first thing I had in my mind after the stroke. What gifts are going to come my way? And then a year later another stroke, and I said to myself, more gifts are coming. I had six strokes in a row and multiple seizures. I have always been a positive person, but since the strokes I’m even more positive.
After the strokes, I had reading and writing problems. It improved dramatically with the help of the art. It’s interesting how things come out and things come in. With the strokes, the ceremony left and the dancing left, but the art came in. The only way I know how to help now is through my art. If I can help one person lift their spirit, I have accomplished what I need to do. So that is the way it is. At the end, it all created who I am today and I love it. I am perfect the way I am.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”32px”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”177″ css_animation=”top-to-bottom” border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Blue Morning Star is one of my spirit names. I made this for a friend of mine that lives in Sweden. We have been friends for 32 years and she’s always taking care of me and helping me out.
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”138″ css_animation=”top-to-bottom” border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
This bird is looking back to our ancestors and honouring our medicine people. To me, everyone is a medicine person, and we must honour those who have gone home to the spirit world. They are always there looking over us.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”32px”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”25″ css_animation=”top-to-bottom” border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]It took a long time for this painting to come and I didn’t realize right away what it was about. The spiky haired one on the left is a female and the one on the right is a male. The middle one is a TwoSpirit bird with the medicine wheels. By claiming their sacred identities, Two-Spirit people are restoring balance between the male and female genders and bringing balance to the world.
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”24″ css_animation=”top-to-bottom” border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
Another one of my spirit names is Bear Woman so I drew myself here. Like many of my paintings, this one has spikes. The spikes are a form of armour and protection for myself.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”32px”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”174″ css_animation=”top-to-bottom” border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]The Courage to Be Me I always felt like the ugly duckling and the black sheep. I never felt like I fit in with anyone. I never had a place to belong. This is me honouring my own uniqueness. There is a reason why the Creator created each one of us. The Creator wants us to be who we are. It’s about honouring who you are, and you are perfect. We are all perfect just the way we are.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Original Article:
Ars Medica – A Journal of Medicine, The Arts, and Humanities[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
It was such an honour to be part of this special day….but you may be wondering why I mention colouring books. Well I had the opportunity to speak with Raven Crow for a bit before the general public arrived for the Pow Wow. Both of us have rediscovered the joy and therapeutic value of colouring and colouring books during recovery from very serious illnesses. In Raven’s case it was after a series of strokes she had that she first began to draw, and she has developed a series of colouring books entitled The Gifts That Come From My “Strokes” She is a courageous and inspiring person and I was so happy to have met her and discovered her art. Please have a look at her wesite here. I purchased the third in her series and each drawing has its own story waiting for each of us to add to…..I think that is what I really love about them, that they have the power to heal through creative expression.