Samantha Jones is a visual artist and curator based in Kawartha Lakes, where she lives with her partner Bruce, daughter Mattea, and their two dogs, Sunny and Benny.

Based in Southern Ontario, Jess Spagnolo is a Canadian artist and graphic designer whose multidisciplinary practice includes murals, illustration, and digital design.

This exhibition prompted me to reflect deeply on how I wanted to communicate my message through art. Through these posters, I sought to explore the power of voice, and the role communication plays in creating more equitable and inclusive communities.

This series of posters responds to the withdrawal of a female candidate from a municipal political race after experiencing harassment. Drawing on the visual language of protest graphics, it uses bold typography and symbolic imagery to explore gender, power, public service, and civic participation.

For this series, I drew inspiration from traditional quilt patterns – an enduring symbol of creativity, connection, and community. Quilting has long brought women together to share stories, skills, and support, creating spaces where voices could be heard and relationships could flourish.

For this series, I struggled to find a style that felt right. While my work in oils could have easily suited the theme, the timeline pushed me to explore other approaches that could be completed and printed on schedule. After several unsuccessful attempts, I created the first piece, Silence Is Not Neutral.

For my posters I wanted the statements to stand out using bold cut out letters combined with line drawings of flowers and greenery. I often use floral and nature elements to my artwork and in these pieces, I feel the illustrations represent femininity, strength and resilience.