Dozens of artists lined the lobby at the Eric Martin Pavilion on Thursday for the Craft for Kindness Bazaar.

Each artist had accessed mental health services with Island Health in some way, and the show gave them a chance to show off their products and practice their marketing techniques.

The main mandate in having the fair is to break the stigma surrounding mental health, said Fatima McCarthy, who is part of the occupational therapy team for mental health and substance use.

ALSO READ:

B次元官网网址淢ost of our clients cannot have nine-to-five jobs and this way they can work on their own time. They can develop projects,B次元官网网址� McCarthy said. B次元官网网址淭he objective of the fair is to give people some insight on marketing.B次元官网网址�

Judges went around and gave prizes for the best display and presentation of products.

Jeremy Aiyudurai received one of these awards for his abstract paintings.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about energy and light and music,B次元官网网址� Aiyudurai explained. B次元官网网址淥ne day I woke up and I felt like I needed to do art, and everyone told me I should do art. It felt like the whole universe was telling me to do art, so thatB次元官网网址檚 what IB次元官网网址檝e been doing.B次元官网网址�

Aiyudurai said his colourful creations give him something to look forward to each day. He also said that being able to present at the fair gave him an opportunity to grow.

B次元官网网址淚t makes me a bit nervous, but I need to get out there,B次元官网网址� he said.

ALSO READ:

For Veronica Barton, doing jewelry, silversmithing, beading and sewing is following her family tradition of creativity. SheB次元官网网址檚 been to the fair at least six times.

B次元官网网址淚 like the fact that itB次元官网网址檚 helping the community and the art people that I know in the city,B次元官网网址� Barton said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a venture towards self-employment.B次元官网网址�

Jessica Stepushyn is a visual artist who works in many mediums. While her most serious passion is in painting, at the craft fair she was selling Japanese-style crochet stuffed animals known as amigurumi.

B次元官网网址淚 kind of reached critical mass in my apartment where I had to get rid of them, Stepushyn said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 make them to sell. I make them because it deals with my anxiety and I guess selling them is the happy outcome.B次元官网网址�

Sharon Bryant only started coming to the craft fair recently but has been doing abstract drawings since she can remember.

B次元官网网址淓veryone asks where I get my ideas from and I donB次元官网网址檛 know,B次元官网网址� Bryant said. B次元官网网址淚 start with a line and I draw another line and it becomes what it becomes and people always see different things in it and thatB次元官网网址檚 what I like about it.B次元官网网址�

Bryant said doing this kind of art helps her stay more focused, mindful and calm.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 good because I donB次元官网网址檛 have to think, but IB次元官网网址檓 in the moment as well and then it just comes out,B次元官网网址� she said.

To see more of AiyuduraiB次元官网网址檚 work head to and to see more of StepushynB次元官网网址檚 work, head to .

Like us on and follow us on

nicole.crescenzi@vicnews.com