MICHELLE SMITH
Art Discipline(s)
- Multidisciplinary
- Visual Arts
Caraquet
Preferred School District(s)
- DSF North East
Preferred Grade Level(s)
- K-2
- 3-5
- 6-8
- 9-12
Can provide residency in
- English
- French
Indigenous Artist
- No
Completed Policy 701
- Yes
Space/Material Requirements
- Requirements vary depending on the project. For small projects, one desk per student and one table for me with sample materials are sufficient. For medium or large projects, larger tables are needed so that everyone can work comfortably and handle the materials. I can provide certain recycled or other materials, depending on what has been agreed upon for the project. Depending on the needs identified, I can also determine what purchases need to be made or take care of them myself.
Bio
Michelle Smith is a multidisciplinary artist who creates from the present moment. Inspired by a found object, an idea, or an atmosphere, she transforms recycled materials and fragments of everyday life into works that combine bright colors, raw textures, and intuitive poetry. Between figurative and abstract, her universe oscillates between joyful fantasy and intimate resonance. Active within Centr'Art and Quai des Artistes, she conceives of art as a living and collective link, a way of inhabiting the present and revealing beauty in the unpredictable.
Residency Project
For the exercise, I suggest a project, but I am open to much more than that! Almost anything is possible! Hehe!
The proposed project would take the form of a creative journal made from recycled materials. Each student would create their own artist's book, combining painting, drawing, collage, sewing, fabrics, and other recycled elements, with or without writing, depending on their inspiration.
This project invites students to explore materials and their imagination while promoting reuse and freedom of expression. Page after page, students would discover different techniques for transforming simple materials into expressive and unique surfaces.
This work encourages creativity, confidence, and ecological awareness, while leaving room for intuition and experimentation.
At the end of the course, the journals could be presented collectively in an installation or exhibition, like a tapestry of visual and sensory narratives, reflecting the journey each student has taken.
Teaching Experience
Since 2005, I have been leading art workshops in schools, where I encourage a free, intuitive, and inclusive approach to creation. I invite students to explore, feel, and transform their ideas into concrete actions, without fear of making mistakes. For me, teaching art means providing a space for expression and listening, where each student discovers their own creative voice. I adapt my projects to the age and interests of the group, always emphasizing collaboration, spontaneity, and the joy of creating together.
