Abstract artist brings healing through lines to Makerspace in June

Angelina Brendalee Phage, a community-based practitioner, advocate, and multidisciplinary artist, is Makerspace YK’s June artist in residence.

Phage said her art style is inspired by her mother, who is Indigenous to the Philippines, and through her professional life using art as therapy.

“Growing up, I was introduced to a lot of colours and fine line work and piecing little lines [together] to make one bigger picture,” said Phage.

“Fine line drawing became my own pathway to reflection and peace. What begins as a single line gradually grows into a complete image a reminder that healing often happens the same way: one step, one breath, one moment at a time.”

Phage said her experiences working with the Lumad community in the Philippines, marginalized and vulnerable populations in Calgary, Alberta, and northern Indigenous communities in British Columbia taught her how powerful creativity can be for healing.

“Throughout my life and career working in mental health, social justice, community outreach, and Indigenous justice, I have witnessed both the weight of trauma and the incredible resilience of the human spirit,” she said.

Phage facilitated art therapy sessions during her psychiatric clinical internship in the Philippines and wants to see it used more in the NWT, where she now lives.

“There’s no goal for perfection, but there’s that goal of restoring oneself and being able to achieve what they see as beautiful for themselves,” said Phage.

As part of her artist residency at Makerspace, Phage led a fine line healing workshop on Wednesday. Still to come is a visual storytelling workshop on June 16.

She hopes these workshops will be a space for healing.

“I believe art has the power to hold grief, celebrate resilience, spark meaningful conversations, and build bridges between people and cultures,” Phage said.

“If my work can help someone find a moment of calm, courage, hope, or healing, then I have accomplished what I set out to do, creating possibilities for connection, reflection, and growth, one line at a time.”

At the end of her residency, she wants to create a mural or collage that includes all the participants’ drawings.

“I’m going to be having people just sit down and talk about how they’re feeling, their goals, what’s going on,” said Phage.

“Having a safe space for folks to just talk and discuss, and then throw it all on a canvas and paper.”

Second cohort planned

In a separate news release this week, Makerspace YK said it is planning a second cohort of its Making Space artist-in-residency program from September 2026 to March 2027.

Applications for one-month residencies have opened. The program plans to accept two artists from the Yellowknife area, two from the broader NWT and two from across the country.

Each artist has access to Makerspace YK tools, equipment and expertise through a subsidized one-month membership and is expected to deliver two fully funded workshops.

The deadline to apply is June 30, 2026.

Jasmine Nasogaluak contributed reporting.