On December 25, 2011, my life changed in a car accident caused by a distracted driver and icy road conditions. My mother was lost that night, and with her passing, I began a long journey of healing—physically and spiritually—trying to recover from the trauma and grief that followed. This experience prompted me to explore performance as a means to transcend grief and loss, which resulted in a series (documented here through photography) titled “Soul and Ocean.”
Water as a symbol of healing
The following words accompany the work:
In the accident, you were sitting behind me. You were gone in an instant, without even a chance to say goodbye. The impact was swift and merciless—a broken neck, your life taken in a single moment. It felt as though you ran into me, colliding into the seat where I sat, your seat. In that instant, I wonder if you passed me the torch, as though we were in a relay race. A second lap. A second chance, as they say.
Is it possible that people find comfort in water because it’s the first element we encounter, even before birth?
The sea calms me. It refocuses my will and gives me the strength to move forward. It fills me, making me more aware of my body, my life, and my mind. In many ways, it has healed me.”
Transforming loss into purpose through art
My experience of navigating trauma and grief also led me to question how I could give back to society. With my passionate advocacy for printmaking, and as a dedicated educator, over the last 20 years, I have taught at institutions such as the Ontario College of Art and Design University and North Island College. In 2017, I purchased a school bus and converted it into a mobile printmaking studio, allowing me to foster engagement with diverse communities. After travelling across North America offering workshops, I settled on Vancouver Island in 2018.
In 2019, I became the Creative Director of “Walk With Me,” a community-engaged research project in the Comox Valley and Strathcona region that addresses the toxic drug crisis through storytelling. Currently, I facilitate the Art Hive at the Campbell River Art Gallery, which provides a safe and inclusive studio space for individuals struggling with mental health challenges, housing instability, and substance use—issues often rooted in intergenerational trauma. For the past three winters, I have also travelled to Nunavik (the northern part of Québec) to teach and mentor young Inuit artists in printmaking. Through my many experiences, teaching, and collaborations I have realized one common thread: art is a powerful tool in the process of healing.
Nadine Bariteau, born in Montréal (Tiohtià:ke), is a queer multi-disciplinary artist whose practice is rooted in printmaking, installation, performance, video, sound, and community-based research. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.
