2025 Artist in Residence: Sharing the Stories of Abbotsford
The City of Abbotsford’s 2025 Artist in Residence program includes a partnership with Heritage Abbotsford Society to strengthen community appreciation of local heritage through art. Residents of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in free, fun, and accessible activities at venues and events across the City.
2025
-
Image
Vanessa Serroul is an artist from the Xwísten (Bridge River) community which is a part of the St'át'imc Nation, located along the Fraser River near Lillooet, BC. She has lived in Abbotsford since 1999, and now resides in the Máthxwi community, where she creates unique artworks for galleries, museums, and community events across the Fraser Valley and British Columbia. In 2002, Vanessa graduated from the University of the Fraser Valley’s fashion design program with additional studies in anthropology.
Her work incorporates a wide variety of mediums and provides a modern perspective on Indigenous art that incorporates inspiration from nature as well as her cultural traditions. Vanessa’s work aims to raise awareness around environmental conservation, and the revitalization of language and culture through art.
-
Vanessa’s residency runs from April to September, 2025. She will be working in partnership with Heritage Abbotsford Society to host a series of engaging community art activities across the City that focus on the Halq'eméylem language, environmental stewardship, and stories from the Máthxwi and Semá:th people, who have lived in this area since time immemorial. Engagements will include interactive art workshops, walking tours, storytelling, and presentations that incorporate the teachings of both Indigenous knowledge keepers, and local heritage experts. We invite you to learn about culture through fun, free, and interactive arts activities and events. Please see the below schedule for upcoming sessions and be sure to check back often as new dates will be added!
Date & Location Event Description May 3
9:30am - 12pm
Heritage Abbotsford Society
(2313 Ware St)
Indigenous Plants Walking Tour Join us for a walking tour around Mill Lake to learn about the Indigenous plants traditionally used by the Máthxwi and Semá:th peoples for medicines and food. The session will include storytelling and group drawing exercises. Free for all ages. Register here. May 15
11:30am - 1:30pm
Kariton Art Gallery
(2387 Ware St)
Beaver and Wolf Art Workshop Learn about the cultural significance of the beaver and wolf to the Máthxwi and Semá:th peoples as well as about endangered animals in the region. Participants will create artworks to reflect their learnings. Free for all ages. Register here. May 31
9:30am - 12pm
Eagle Mountain Park
(2570 Eagle Mountain Dr)
Indigenous Transformer Stories and Drawing Participate in artist-led art drawing exercises that reflect on stories related to local transformer sites. Free for all ages. Register here. June 8
11am - 4pm
Heritage Abbotsford Society
(2313 Ware St)
Selxwi:chel Arts & Culture Day: Community Artwork Contribute to a collaborative community artwork that reflects on Indigenous Heritage and the Halq'eméylem language. This activity is part of Selxwi:chel Arts & Culture Day. This event does not require registration. More Event info. June 26
3:30pm - 7:30pm
Mill Lake Park (Ware Street)
(339 Ware Street)
Go Play Outside: Natural Dyes As part of the City of Abbotsford’s Go Play Outside program, explore watercolour painting with pigments made from natural invasive species. This event does not require registration. Go Play Outside info. July 1
1pm - 5pm
Abbotsford Exhibition Park: Rotary Stadium
(32470 Haida Dr)
Canada Day Family Festival Contribute to a collaborative community artwork that reflects on Indigenous Heritage and the Halq'eméylem language. This activity is part of the Canada Day Family Festival. No registration required.
Previous Artist in Residence Programs
-
2023 Artist in Residence, Lexi Richards
Image
Local artist Lexi Richards was the City of Abbotsford’s 2023 Artist in Residence. Lexi’s central project “The Garden Studio at Mill Lake,” was produced in partnership with the City of Abbotsford’s Landscape and Horticulture section, and the Abbotsford Arts Council as a way to promote awareness and appreciation of horticulture in the community. The garden studio was installed at the Kariton Art Gallery, serving as the primary venue for delivering exciting, accessible, and participatory community art activities based around flowers, planting, gardening, and harvest. The garden became a gathering place for community and was essential in the delivery of public arts and culture programing.
Between May and October of 2023, Lexi facilitated twelve community art making sessions in the garden and adjoining Kariton Art Gallery. Over 1,000 participants attended the sessions, which provided a diverse range of inspiring activities including:
- Seed and annual planting
- Bouquet and posy arrangement
- Cyanotype photography
- Flower crowns
- Dried flower greeting cards
- Temporary floral art installations
- Floral poetry workshops
- Flower harvesting
- Reconciliation wall (for the National Day for truth and Reconciliation)
Image
-
2024 Artist in Residence, Molly Gray
Image
October marked the conclusion of the overwhelmingly successful 2024 Artist in Residence program with local artist, Molly Gray. Molly’s residency was produced in partnership with City of Abbotsford Community Services and successfully achieved the outcome of providing opportunities for community connection between older adults, youth, and families. The artist’s innovative use of public space and incorporation of community partnerships was essential in delivering these experiences. Program partners included Healthy Aging Abbotsford, Abbotsford Youth Commission, Replay Boardshop, and Clearbrook Library.
Between May and October of 2024, Molly facilitated sixteen community art making making sessions at locations around the City, and participated in City programs and events including Go Play Outside, Canada Day, and 55+ Learning Plus. Over 1,500 participants attended these sessions, which provided a diverse range of interactive activities including:
- Collaborative painting projects
- Personal storytelling and journaling
- Art and movement demonstrations
- Custom greeting card creation
- Watercolour painting
- Custom sticker making
- Button making
- Printmaking demonstrations
Image
