Carlyn Rhamey • storyteller, performer, writer
““Being an artist in a pandemic” has looked different for everyone. For me, it was a lot of, not being an artist. I needed time, to retreat, grieve, process. The grief of what we’ve lost is so palpable. Then you have that fear: Am I still an artist if I’m not creating? But we didn’t give up. Whether we’ve been creating or stayed under our covers. I’ve learned that even when exhausted from working full-time in the group home, unable to write or submit, that I am STILL an artist. It’s the little things that feed my creative soul and even if I can’t do those things right now, trusting that I will again. We all will again, together. ”
Carlyn Rhamey (She/They) is a storyteller, advocate and multidisciplinary artist. Carlyn’s artistic practice often focuses on disability and mental health. Their solo show The ADHD Project has toured across Canada and presents in Ontario schools with Prologue Performing Arts. Carlyn’s series “Brains are Weird” showcased in the 2019 Hamilton Visual Fringe and this year they created the workshop “artUNHINGED” for AGH’s Sketchbook Summer, sharing a neurodiverse exploration as a creative healing practice. Recently Carlyn collaborated on Open Heart’s audio piece "Am I Helping?” and is currently involved in their Creative Workshop Series for those with lived experience of homelessness. Carlyn is also a support worker and dreams of becoming a therapeutic clown!