Leveraging community-arts for immigrant integration: Blog 1
Finding Home Through Thread and Needle: A Visit to MABELLE Arts Crafternoon Workshop
By: Karian Chen
January 31, 2025
What follows is a reflection on my recent visit to MABELLE Arts' Crafternoon workshop, where I participated as part of the cross-sectoral research project between CERC Migration and Mabelle Arts.
A participant's textile art showing three small embroidered houses—their personal interpretation of “home.”
On a chilly, rainy afternoon, I made my first visit to Mabelle Avenue, a historically underserved, high-density, low-income inner-suburban neighbourhood in Central Etobicoke. I was not sure what to expect as I walked through the rain toward the MABELLE Arts centre, passing rows of rental apartments that seemed oddly quiet in the gloomy weather. As part of my ongoing research project with Dr Kumar, Dr Zhuang, and my colleagues, Asra and Dorian (all part of the research team on this project), I attended their “Crafternoon” workshop—a community-driven initiative that explores the concept of home through textile art.
The contrast between the gloomy weather outside and the warmth inside the centre was striking. Upon entering, I was immediately enveloped by the sound of laughter and animated conversations, with the space brightened by warm yellow lighting and tables adorned with crafty tablecloths, snacks, and an array of textile materials.
A snack table at the workshop, set with fresh fruits, crackers, and hummus on a vibrant print tablecloth.
Annie, the Program Manager, welcomed me with a personalized hand-drawn name tag—a thoughtful touch that I noticed was extended to every participant. The workshop’s primary goal was to create textile pieces inspired by personal interpretations of “home,” which would ultimately contribute to a larger collaborative project. Interestingly, we were not the only researchers present; a furniture design student from Sheridan College was also there, participating in the workshop while gathering community input for redesigning the concrete benches in MABELLEpark.
The Sheridan College furniture design student shared bench design sketches and invited workshop participants to draw their own ideas for the community park benches.
As someone completely new to textile arts, I found myself staring at the wooden embroidery hoops, sewing kits, and fabric varieties with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. However, the workshop’s collaborative spirit quickly emerged when a participant across from me noticed my hesitation and walked me to the craft station and kindly guided me through the basics.
The workshop table is laid out with embroidery hoops, colorful fabric scraps, and textile art supplies for participants to use.
What made the session particularly meaningful was how each piece of art became a gateway to personal stories. One participant stitched a house with a palm tree, sharing how it represented her Portuguese heritage despite growing up in the Caribbean. Another stitched a willow tree that was in the rear of her apartment building nearby, a familiar item that was immediately recognized by others from the same building. Other than conventional symbols, one participant created an embroidery of a blue car, the first car she drove as a teenager, which evolved into a storytime of her memories of childhood. The woman who had helped me earlier also shared her work—an embroidered apartment building inspired by the view from our workshop window. As she explained her piece, she gestured toward the building outside, describing how its familiar silhouette had caught her eye while she worked and reminded her of what home meant in her current life.
The participant's textile art inspired by the view from the workshop window—an embroidered apartment building.
The view from the crafting room window.
Between stitches and stories, I caught glimpses of what makes this space special. A former program participant, now finishing her internship as a program assistant, was celebrating her upcoming job with the City of Toronto.
As I worked on my own piece, memories of watching my grandma mend my clothes when I was younger surfaced. I found myself wishing I had learned at least a trick or two from her—perhaps something to remedy on my next visit. Yet sitting there, among neighbours sharing stories while creating together, I understood something profound about how communities are stitched together, one story at a time.
This is my first attempt at textile art—a vase inspired by another participant's work. Nothing extraordinary, just practice through imitation.
Walking back to the subway, I took another look at MABELLEpark. What I had initially seen as just another neighbourhood park now held new meaning. This was the first park in Canada designed with direct input from a low-income, racialized community, as mentioned by MABELLE Arts’ Executive Director Leah Houston in an interview with CBC at MABELLEpark’s grand opening. After spending an afternoon watching neighbours create and share stories through simple stitches, this fact resonated differently. It reminded me of the insights from one of our research interviews with a Settlement Counsellor, who noted that many of her clients attend these workshops simply seeking community and moments of peace. Now I understand why. Community arts here is not about creating masterpieces or achieving artistic perfection—it is about creating a space where people feel welcomed, where they can relax, chat, discover some talents or interests that they did not know they had, or just simply be present. For these participants, these workshops offer something precious: a chance to belong, to connect, and to find moments of joy together, even on the gloomiest December afternoon.
To understand the broader context of MABELLEarts' work in the community, check out this interview with their Executive Director, Leah Houston, who shares valuable insights into their programs and initiatives.