Healing Canvas

I created this project for a Christmas market in 2024. It’s an illustration of a peaceful Christmas night in western Ukraine — snow-covered streets, a cathedral, and cozy houses glowing in the dark.

At first glance, it looks like an advent calendar. I made small tears in the illustration, like windows you can open. But the similarity ends there.

Behind each window is a photo of a place in Ukraine that has been bombed since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. These aren’t just random images — they’re places I personally care about.

• A house just 600 feet from my parents’ home.
• A subway station I used to ride to work.
• A park where I used to walk my dog.

The most recent photo was taken just a few months before the Christmas market in Airdrie I was taking part in.

I invited each person to open one of the windows and face the reality of the war still happening in Ukraine. Then, they could place a small band-aid over the opening — symbolically helping to ‘heal’ that part of the image.

Part of the proceeds from that weekend were donated to volunteers working in Ukrainian war zone. And I made sure every person who interacted with the piece knew they were contributing to that effort.

I truly believe awareness brings us closer to ending this war. Even if you can’t give money, keeping your eyes and heart open to what’s happening is a powerful act.

Of course, the war won’t end with a few band-aids on a painting. But the way people connected with this project reassured me that art can heal — and that it can bring people together.