Julie Baribeau is no stranger to indirectly supporting causes that are important to her. For most of her life, she’s been upcycling within her own artwork. As a multimedia artist, she’s used discarded and found materials experimentally to create expressive collages and paintings. She reaches for natural dyes in her artistry and mixes her own paints. Making, for her, functions as a way to build community and shift culture, or as she says, “heal our society and environment.” Now, Baribeau supports her causes more directly with an art benefit show supporting the Ottawa Food Bank.
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With the environment and social justice close to her heart, Baribeau says she’s been itching to use her artwork in fundraising for a long time. The Ottawa Food Bank seemed like a natural choice since she believes it’s one of the backbones of food security in the capital.
“I have worked for low wages, including in the farming and food sector, in the past and I know how hard farming can be financially,” she wrote in an email to Apt613. “I think we’re at a pivotal time as a society where we need to come to terms with what matters and get back to the basics. That means, in part, prioritizing building economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable food systems for all. Farmers and farm workers need more support to make this happen, in my opinion. After all, they provide much of the food we all depend on, including at food banks.”
Inspired by mystic traditions and her background in ecosystems science, Baribeau says she is drawn to sharing her love and awe for the natural world with others. As a result, the show includes roughly 20 experimental and mystical works on the themes of interaction between people and nature. Attendees can view various mixed media, pigment ink print on archival paper, acrylic, oil, digital prints on canvas and glazed cotton crochet thread on masonite.
Strong Shift by Julie Baribeau. Photo provided.
Guests of the show include DJs Eric Roberts and njunk, along with Enriched Bread Artists’ Maren Kathleen Elliott and Joyce Westrop. The DJs will spin each night, and refreshments will be available.
In 2021–2022, the Ottawa Food Bank and related agencies reported more than 400,000 visits, the highest number since its creation nearly 40 years ago. And in March 2022, Ottawa residents used the food bank at a rate that increased by nearly 40 percent from 2017. Baribeau says such statistics are especially telling.
“With numbers like these, I thought to lend a hand by using my art to raise awareness and donations. I’m hoping people will come enjoy some original art and donate to the Food Bank in return— give back to those who need it the most.”
She hopes to continue using art as a way to empower. Moving forward, the multimedia artist will host additional benefit art shows to continue supporting the community.
Julie Baribeau’s benefit art show for the Ottawa Food Bank will be on display at Enriched Bread Artists Studios, 2nd floor, on April 12 from 5–7pm, April 14 from 7–9pm, and April 15 from 1–5pm.
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