Amy MacDonald
Bitter Bubblegum creates garments for the fun and fierce. We challenge the societal norm of suppressing one’s femininity and sensuality by designing clothing that will leave you feeling confident and empowered. Our designs are flirty and sexy with a contrasting, badass edge. Made from luxurious fabrics such as velvets and statins combined with dazzling jewels- our garments are sure to catch your eye. If you want to stand out of the crowd or be the life of the party, Bitter Bubblegum is the brand for you!
Audrey Arsenault
Audrey Arsenault, Aud Metal, is a Mi’gmaq silversmith and jeweller. Her work is influenced by her Wabanaki culture and its connection to nature and the mid-century modern design movement. Following graduation from the Advanced Studio Practice Program, Arsenault hopes to complete her Bachelor of Applied Arts at UNB this coming fall. Her goal is to become a teacher and work in her hometown of Campbellton, NB.
Ben Elder-Gomes
Ben Elder-Gomes is a mixed media visual artist. He is proud of his Indigenous heritage, being of the Yanomami people, a tribe native to Brazil. His interest in graphic design started at a young age, creating websites and designing their layouts. As he got older, his interest in fine art influenced the way he would approach graphic design. Using a style developed by his interest and taste in abstract art and collage, he seeks to create both problem-solving / functional and artistic/creative design. His emergence into the art world was the launch of his exhibit "My Life Is A Sick Joke" in 2015, featuring collage, photography and graphic design. His work has been shown in several art exhibits, and he has completed commissioned work since 2013, focusing on music-related design and fashion.
Jodi Haley
As a jeweller and artist, my mission is to create cherished, handcrafted jewellery and small housewares with traditional techniques. I often focus on memorial pieces such as talismans, ritual and altar works. These meaningful pieces connect us to the Earth and the Galaxy we are so graced to be a part of. Using ethically-sourced gemstones, recycled materials, and precious metals, I carefully curate these pieces with precision and compassion, to assure quality and longevity. I immerse myself into my practice, carefully moving the metal through every step, converting base materials into exquisite, memorable jewellery.
Lee McLean
My practice honours traditional quilting techniques while exploring innovative composition. I create contemporary textile art in layered fabric and thread. Inspired by the Dylan Thomas poem “Do not go gentle into that good night,” I have created pieces this year that explore the feeling of increasing invisibility in society and the shrinking of the individual’s world as we age. I purposely use the traditional form of the quilt, with its evocation of nurturing mothers’ and grandmothers’ hands, and of comfort, warmth and caring. When juxtaposed with the content of my work, the disruption provokes discomfort about the societal condition of the elderly.