My hands made these gloves. Jen Merritt photo.

A Creative Life by Jen Merritt

Shortly after completing my degree in Social Work in 2006, I returned to my hometown (Chatham) and sought out employment related to my field of study. I worked in Mental Health for a brief period of time, and then secured a position working with child and youth witnesses of relationship violence, at the Chatham Kent Women’s Centre. Working with this agency offered me the chance to grow professionally (through work experience), personally (by learning about a variety of issues related to a woman’s experience of the world) and artistically, as the Chatham Kent Women’s Centre was supportive of my use of Expressive Arts when offering psycho-educational services to the community.

The Chatham Kent Women’s Centre also offered me my first chance to display my textile work in a public space. I wrote about the event in this blog entry from 2007. I displayed a scarf that I had made for my Etsy shop, the Babette blanket that I made for my best friend, and the quilt that I made for myself from my great Gran’s stained linens. It sits on my bed to this date. The event went off without a hitch. Local singer Sarah Hiltz performed and the room was packed. I was asked to make a custom scarf for another local artist, and I had a really great night.

Flash forward to 2010. In honor of International Women’s Day, the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre is once again presenting Through Women’s Hands art show and sale.  This show will feature female artisans throughout Chatham-Kent in many different mediums. If you are looking for that special piece of art created by one of our local artists, join the Chatham Kent Women’s Centre on Monday March 8^th at the Portuguese Canadian Social Club at 346 Grand Ave.  Hors d’oeuvres will be served along with a cash bar.  Tickets $20 each with a $10 tax receipt and are available by calling CKWC at 519-351-9144 ext 0

“Chatham-Kent is fortunate to have a large group of female artisans, and this event profiles  their expertise in many different mediums with the opportunity to sell their pieces”, states Patricia Arango, Executive Director of the Chatham Kent Women’s Centre.

Proceeds from this event will remain in Chatham-Kent to support the Community Outreach Program which provides both individual and group counseling to women and children throughout Chatham-Kent.  Presently, offices are located in Chatham, Wallaceburg, Dresden, Moraviantown, Ridgetown, Blenheim and Tilbury.

For information regarding ticket sales or participation as a female artist, call the  Chatham Kent Women’s Centre at 519-351-9144, ext 224 or go online at www.ckwc.org.