'We Are All One' 2020. 8 ft. x 18 ft. Participation House, London, Ontario
This project started from a simple premise: that making something together reveals what we share — expanding ways in which we communicate.
Our Painted Responsibilities
How do we co-create with a shared sense of connection?
Forty participants with a range of physical and cognitive abilities came together to create a mural celebrating friendship, collaboration, and unity. Inspired by Henri Matisse’s Dance (1910), the figures have been reimagined to reflect different ways of being and moving in the world — each one distinct, each one part of the same circle.
Participants engaged through drop-in sessions, one-on-one conversations, and paired exchanges between community members and decision-makers. The process emphasized authentic expression and shared story — challenging assumptions about how we communicate and connect.
Facilitator: Denise McDonald
Social Artist Lead & Facilitator: Melanie Schambach
Partner Organization & Funder: Participation House
