Post-Mortem Survey for Making Art Work 2020-21
Thank you for participating in the Making Art Work professional development workshop series co-presented by Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, Union Gallery, and Agnes Etherington Art Centre. We are looking for feedback from participants of the program to inform future professional development programs. The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Your answers will be anonymous. Thank you for your time!
Meet Our Team
Maddi Andrews (she/her)
Executive Director
Maddi Andrews is an Artist and Art Educator based in Katarokwi-Kingston. She is currently employed as the Executive Director of Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, where she seeks to create opportunities for community exchange, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and collective wellness. Maddi completed her Master’s in Art History at Queen’s University in 2021, and previously received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Art History and a Certificate of International Studies from Queen’s University in 2019.
​
​
​
Em Harmsen (she/her)
Digital Projects Coordinator
Em Harmsen is a Designer and Artist. She has a Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) from Toronto Metropolitan University and an MA focused on inclusive/accessible design from Queen's University. She is experienced in the areas of design, accessibility, and technology and runs a design studio (emske.ca) where she merges these skills and operates in a way that is inherently inclusive and eco-conscious to create products and provide services to clients. Currently, Em is continuing her studies surrounding user centred design through a PhD with the Cultural Studies department at Queen's. Em lives in Kingston with her husband and dog, where they enjoy working out of their shared downtown studio space.​
​
​
​
Shanique Peart (she/her)
Gallery Administrator
Shanique Peart is a Kingston based multi-disciplinary artist with a passion for creation, dance and photography. Shanique began her journey as a self-trained dancer exploring movement through hip-hop and freestyle dance. Over the years she has had the opportunity to train in a variety of settings that has allowed her to develop her skills in multiple dance styles, including Hip-Hop, Dancehall, Afro Fusion, Modern, and Urban Contemporary. This diverse background has influenced her journey as a multi-disciplinary artist, not only in exploring and creating through movement but intertwining dance and performance through film and photography. Outside of dance and photography, Shanique is moving into more creation-based and collaboration projects, both in and outside of Kingston, ON, as well as the theatre, education, and administrative space within the dance and arts community.​
​
​
​
Alyssa Vernon (she/her)
Program Administrator
Alyssa Vernon (she/her) is a Jamaican / Guyanese collage artist. A Queen's graduate with degrees in Gender Studies and Education, she's now a passionate Black and queer teacher integrating collage into education to blend creativity into learning. Alyssa is also Founder of the Queer Collage Collective, where she leads collage programming for learning, community building, healing, and strengthening mental health. Alyssa’s art centers on Black girlhood, (un)belonging, queer liberation, and community, drawing from Black histories to imagine liberatory futures while validating Black experiences, promoting healing, and fostering love.​
​
​
​
2024-2025
Board of Directors
Kyra Safar (she/her)
Chair
Kyra Safar is an economist by trade, but spends much of her free time working with the arts community in Kingston in a variety of capacities, from participating in classes and workshops to coordinating exhibitions and volunteering for boards. She believes strongly in the role of mutual support in art and has loved being part of the community here in Kingston. She is thrilled to be part of the Modern Fuel Board and excited to continue to support emerging and established artists!
Morgan Wedderspoon (she/her)
Co-Chair
Morgan Wedderspoon is an artist, educator, and arts administrator who is passionate about art practice in community and its potential for grassroots-led social transformation—both imagining and working toward a more just and livable future for all. She earned a Master of Fine Art in Printmaking from the University of Alberta and holds a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) from Queen’s University.
Grace Dixon (she/her)
Secretary
Grace Dixon is an illustrator, graphic designer, and musician with a specific fondness for experimental sound design and artistic collaboration. She has most recently been involved in co-writing an instrumental score for a Toronto-based documentary and finds tremendous beauty and power in pairing sound with visuals. Her visual art practice often includes digital illustrations or textured collage work alongside themes of deconstructing/rediscovering spirituality and leaving space for growth. Grace is honoured to be a part of the Modern Fuel Board and is looking forward to opportunities to contribute to, listen to, and support this community.
​
Kelsey Newman Reed (she/her)
Treasurer
Kelsey Newman Reed is an artist, published poet, and has always been passionate about the arts. She received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Art History (major) and Drama (minor) from Queen’s University in 2017 and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Interactive Marketing Communications from St. Lawrence College in 2019.
By day she works as a digital marketer and graphic designer, but in her art practice she has spent many years crafting poems and illustrations that tell stories of the trees, the moon, (our) hands, and the water.
Having worked at Modern Fuel for over 3 years, Kelsey is excited to bring her institutional knowledge and passion to the Board of Directors.
Baraa Abuzayed (she/her)
Board Director
Baraa Abuzayed is a Ph.D. student in Cultural Studies at Queen’s University. Through her artistic practice, she incorporates mixed media installation using textiles and film, where she explores themes of family, home, belongingness, identity, and storytelling. In the past, Baraa has served on several boards in the NGO sector. At Modern Fuel, Baraa hopes to help in the continued support of emerging artists and building community connections!
Luis Vega (he/him)
Ex-Officio Board Director
Luis Vega is a Colombian photographer and designer based in Kingston, Ontario. He is a fan of supporting artists, and evoking emotions with visual media. With a degree in Graphic Design from St. Lawrence College and 8 (and counting) years of experience in the creative arts, he’s very excited to be a part of the Modern Fuel Board.
About our Board and Committees
Modern Fuel is a member-driven organization that consists of a General Assembly, comprised of all members in good standing, and a working, hands-on Board of Directors. As an artist-run at its core, the majority of Modern Fuel’s board must self-identify as artists. The role of the Board of Directors is to provide stewardship, direction, and support to the organization in accordance with Modern Fuel’s vision, mandate, and values. The Board of Directors is elected by our membership at our Annual General Meeting. When necessary, additional Board Directors are recruited throughout the year, and join the Board in interim positions until they can be legally elected at the next AGM.
Our Board of Directors is a working board, in every sense of the way. Along with governance matters of ensuring by-laws and budgets are respected, they all play an active role in Modern Fuel’s programming, operations, and fundraising efforts. Directors dedicate 5 - 10 hours of work per month attending meetings, self-guided work, assisting staff, and other tasks as needed. If you are interested in getting involved as a Board Director, feel free to contact us at mfarcbodpres@modernfuel.org.​
​