Activism Through Art
Suzanne Ouimet-Fernandez
Art has always been more than a creative practice for me. It is also a way to bear witness.
Throughout history, artists have responded to injustice, suffering, and historical trauma by creating works that preserve memory and invite reflection. My activism series grows out of that tradition. Through encaustic and mixed-media painting, I explore subjects that call for remembrance, compassion, and moral awareness.
Some of these works address the suffering of children during the Holocaust and the enduring impact of the Residential School system on Indigenous communities. These paintings are created with deep respect for the lives and histories they represent, and with the hope that art can help keep memory alive where silence or forgetting might otherwise take hold.
My own life has shaped the sensitivity I bring to these subjects. As a survivor of severe childhood abuse, I carry a deep awareness of the vulnerability of children and the lasting effects of trauma. That personal history has given me a profound compassion for those whose suffering has been overlooked, denied, or forgotten. Through my artwork, I seek to acknowledge these stories and give them space to be seen.
The works presented in this section are part of a not-for-profit activism initiative within my artistic practice. While original works and archival prints may be acquired, the proceeds are directed toward charitable organizations connected to the subject of each series.
For example, works addressing Holocaust remembrance help support organizations dedicated to education, historical memory, and the ongoing work of confronting antisemitism, including the Toronto Holocaust Museum. Works connected to Indigenous remembrance—including imagery such as the orange cross—are intended to support initiatives that assist Indigenous communities in healing, education, and cultural restoration.
In this way, each painting becomes more than an image. It becomes a small act of remembrance and solidarity.
I believe art can serve as a bridge between memory and action. By supporting or collecting these works, viewers participate in the shared responsibility to remember, to acknowledge truth, and to stand alongside communities whose histories must never be forgotten.
​
A Personal Reflection from the Artist
​
My commitment to these subjects is also deeply personal.
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and other forms of trauma—including neglect and emotional and physical abuse—I feel a profound connection to children who have suffered. My life experiences have shaped the compassion that guides my work, and they continue to inform my desire to acknowledge the stories of those whose pain has too often been overlooked or silenced.
Over time, I have discovered that even in adversity, there can be unexpected sources of strength and insight. The writings and testimonies of others who endured great suffering have been a source of comfort and inspiration to me. Among those who have deeply influenced my thinking are Dr. Edith Eva Eger, Gabor Maté, and Dr. Viktor Frankl—individuals whose reflections on trauma, resilience, and the search for meaning have helped illuminate a path toward hope.
Much of my artwork engages the tension between tragedy and hope. Some of the photographic images I work with begin in black and white, reflecting moments of sorrow or historical darkness. Through color, texture, and layered imagery, I seek to bring warmth and vitality back into these scenes—allowing the images to speak with renewed life and emotional presence.
My intention is to awaken awareness and empathy. By transforming these images through art, I hope viewers will encounter the emotional weight of these histories in a deeper way—one that encourages compassion and a renewed commitment to protecting the vulnerable.
Because I know firsthand how profound and long-lasting the effects of childhood trauma can be, I feel called to contribute to greater awareness and healing. My hope is that through these works, viewers may find both acknowledgment of suffering and the possibility that light and hope can emerge even from the darkest places.
​
Caring must begin somewhere. It is my hope that as you encounter these works and learn more about the stories behind them, a deeper awareness and compassion will grow—encouraging all of us to help build a world where children are protected, valued, and loved.
​
​
​
Holocaust Encaustic Artwork Series
​
​
​
Holocaust Remembrance Series – Mixed Media Assemblages
Residential School Legacy Series
The Orange Cross Project
In these images, students and community participants place written prayers, reflections, and messages of remembrance onto a large orange cross created as part of Suzanne Ouimet-Fernandez’s art and teaching practice. The orange cross has emerged as a symbol of remembrance for Indigenous children who were taken from their families and placed in residential schools. Through this participatory artwork, students were invited to reflect on the importance of memory, compassion, and reconciliation.
Exhibition and Community Reflection
These images document an exhibition of the Residential School Legacy Series presented on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. The exhibition brought together artwork, reflection, and community participation to acknowledge this history and to encourage continued dialogue about remembrance and reconciliation.
Local Pieces Art Gallery National Day forTruth & Reconcilliation Exhibition - Furgus, Ontario
Artist Statement
Suzanne Ouimet-Fernandez
Local Pieces Gallery, Fergus, Ontario – September 2025
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
​
As the primary artist of this exhibition, I felt it was important to include a few works by my husband, Tomás J. Fernández. He is my partner not only in life but also in spirit and creative vision. His works do not simply complement this exhibition; they deepen the themes explored here and broaden the reflection on humanity, creation, and justice.
My heart has long been drawn toward the stories of First Nations peoples, and I hope this exhibition represents the first of many opportunities to listen, learn, and engage with their histories. I feel a particular connection to the people of the Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk Nation).
My own personal story carries echoes of intergenerational trauma. My mother was taken from her family as a child and grew up never knowing her parents. The pain of that loss followed her throughout her life. In my own experience, I too was separated from my family, and later in life my own children were taken from me. The wounds carried through generations can run deep.
Though I am only one voice, I carry a deep compassion for the children and families who endured unimaginable suffering through systems that separated them from their culture, identity, and loved ones. This exhibition is my way of honoring them—bringing hidden wounds into the light so that healing may begin.
The Central Work
At the center of the exhibition stands a large cradle-board window piece composed of symbolic multimedia elements. The structure evokes the form of a church window—an opening through which viewers are invited to look inward as well as outward. Within this window appears the spirit of the Thunderbird, a powerful symbol in many Indigenous traditions.
Lightning forms within the piece through mirrored elements that reflect the viewer’s own image. As one gazes into the work, the mirror draws the viewer into the experience, inviting reflection upon our own hearts and our relationship to the wounds of the past.
Within the Thunderbird are circular forms representing wounds—each containing photographic images drawn from history. These images speak silently but powerfully, telling stories that words alone cannot fully express.
Authentic cradle boards frame the piece, entwined with red dogwood branches—symbols of suffering, endurance, and the scars left by injustice. Forged arrows pierce through the structure, expressing both the pain of the past and a fiery determination to confront darkness. The woven elements transform the cradle into something more than an object; it becomes a spiritual vessel pointing toward healing beyond this world.
Surrounding Works
Seven framed works surrounding the central piece portray memories of loss and separation through color and form. In these works, I sought to contrast the tenderness of a mother’s embrace with the brutal severing of that bond—revealing both the deep grief of separation and the sacred connection between mother and child that should never be broken.
One illuminated eagle collage reflects the abduction of Indigenous children while also reminding us of God's watchful presence. The piece draws inspiration from Isaiah 40:31:
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not faint."
For me, this image stands as a testimony that hope can rise even through sorrow.
Another assemblage piece features a wooden door conceived as a symbolic portal. Inspired by dreamcatchers and lilies climbing heavenward, the work suggests a passage toward truth and renewal. A vivid orange line runs through the composition, echoing the color associated with remembrance of residential school children and underscoring the urgent call to teach truth to future generations.
Facing history honestly is essential if we hope to ensure that racism, injustice, and cultural erasure are never repeated.
A Shared Artistic Voice
The works of my husband, Tomás J. Fernández, woven into this exhibition, offer a wider reflection on creation and the human condition. His images of horses running freely beneath vast skies remind us that while the natural world reflects beauty and freedom, human history has often been marked by injustice.
Yet just as the eagle soars high above the earth, our Creator sees all. No wound, no injustice, and no hidden sorrow escapes His sight. Though we may not see complete justice within this life, there will come a time when truth is revealed, and justice is restored.
This exhibition stands as both remembrance and prayer—an invitation to acknowledge painful history while holding hope for healing, reconciliation, and renewal.