For some individuals, a piece’s journey from artist to audience may not be straightforward.
While Queen’s students may be used to appreciating art as part of on-campus galleries and exhibitions, they may not be aware of the rich community of Kingston-based creatives that make up the city’s vibrant tapestry of visual art.
The Kingston Hidden Artists Collective (KHAC) emerged out of necessity, says Co-Founder Mara Fraser. Fraser and her co-founder, Ali Sheik, created KHAC in Aug., 2021 after witnessing a community need among under-resourced artists who struggled to share their work.
“We saw so many incredibly talented artists who were unable to advocate for themselves—often due to poverty, housing insecurity, disability, mental health struggles, or challenges related to addiction. Their voices and stories were going unheard”, Fraser said in a written statement for The Journal.
KHAC recognizes artists not for their formal training, but for their resilience and unique story given the barriers they face. “If someone has talent and a need for community and support, we want to amplify their voice,” Fraser said. “The arts community in Kingston extends beyond the walls of formal institutions or campus galleries. There is [an] often unseen, creative ecosystem of people [who are] frequently excluded from mainstream spaces.”
Through their website, KHAC markets, sells, and delivers prints and merchandise created by ‘hidden” artists in disadvantaged situations, with hidden artists receiving 100 per cent of online profits.
“We connect with artists primarily through word-of-mouth and referrals from local housing programs, shelters, street outreach workers, and social service agencies”, Fraser says. Reflecting on KHAC’s growth, she says her full-time work at Home Base Housing—a non-profit organization that provides a range of supportive housing programs in Kingston—has bolstered outreach.
“The frontline staff at Home Base [Housing] often refer individuals that they think might benefit from KHAC. It’s really about meeting people where they are—helping artists create on their own terms and in their own space,” says Fraser.
In addition to online sales, KHAC is a key contributor to arts-focused hubs of activity in Kingston, such as pop-up markets and fairs. On June 21, they appeared at the Princess St. Promenade and have artwork on display and for sale at City Hall.
“Selling art in person gives me the opportunity to share the stories behind the work. These in-person events build meaningful connections between the artists and the community,” Fraser said. “They’re often just as valuable as the sale itself.”
Georgina Morey, an artist whose profile is featured on KHAC’s website, started drawing six years ago. “I’m obsessed with it”, she says. “It’s a passion I didn’t know I had, to be honest.”
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Morey was forced to leave Verona and walk to Kingston with her dog, Kane. After struggling to find housing ,she eventually found sanctuary at HomeBase’s “In From the Cold” adult emergency shelter where she met Ali Sheik, co-founder of KHAC.
“[Ali] invited me to a showing and said, ‘Come whenever you want. It’s your night, after all.’ From then on, I was like, ‘Oh my god, I’m having a night!’ It gave me a lot of confidence,” Morey recalls.
Morey’s piece, Warm Travels, was inspired by a walk she took with Kane. “[Art] brings me a bit of peace. It puts me in a state where I kind of forget about everything.”
For Mara Fraser, the real purpose of KHAC is “To reduce isolation, foster pro-social engagement, and build community through accessible and inclusive arts programming. The opportunity to share these stories is something I take very seriously. It’s a privilege to do this work,” she said.
When asked how Queen’s community members can push their boundaries and explore arts initiatives like KHAC, Fraser keeps it simple: “start by showing up.”
“My biggest advice for young people—especially those unsure of their next steps—is [to] be useful. Find ways to be of service. You don’t have to have all the answers to make a meaningful impact.” Fraser admits it’s hard to be a young person finding your way in the world and it’s hard to be a person, period. “But we’re better when we show up for each other.”
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