BRAMPTON — The night started with a warm ambience and a look into heartfelt conversations, as local artist and writer Angelica Candido reflected on how grief, love and art are interconnected and intersect in the healing process.
She traces her stories to her Philippine heritage, its history and the science to develop an understanding of the world around her. Candido also uses her poetry to create storytelling elements in her paintings.
“My artworks explore the inner-connectedness between us and the earth, the cycle of life, and my dreams," Candido said. "I’ve always had a strong connection to nature, always wanting to be outside, curious about the animals and plant life around me; a source of inspiration for my artworks and poems.
Candido was among about 10 poets who performed on March 21 at the Happy Hands Pottery in Brampton, which hosted a poetry open mic night on love and loss and had a place for creatives to inspire and tell their stories.
Happy Hands Pottery and Art Studio has made it their mission to be the catalyst for a thriving local artistic community.
"We are committed to providing a welcoming space where individuals of all ages and backgrounds can explore their creativity, develop artistic skills, and connect with like-minded individuals," the studio says on its website.
This particular mic night gave artists a chance to share vulnerable and raw pieces and the hosts opened the floor to anyone wanting to share writing passages and or music for the first time.
“At Happy Hands, we are passionate about supporting our local community and fostering creativity through our exciting range of services,” the studio's website said.
One poet at the show, author and designer Mehad Muhammad, told the audience about heart-break and grief from his perspectives.
He's a spoken word artist whose words weave together through themes of love, longing, and self-discovery.
Candido, an artist and a poet who works at the AC2 Art Studio, unveiled captivating perspectives of life and the whimsical nature of her creative expression.
The artist, who has experienced significant loss in recent years, shared her personal journey by using poetry, art, and journaling to process emotions.
“When we’re in pain, our art becomes a raw reflection of that moment. Sometimes, it feels like the only way to make sense of it all is to let the emotions spill out onto the page or canvas,” she said. Candido emphasized that pain can be a powerful creative outlet for expression.
Since this mic night gave creatives a chance to share vulnerable and raw pieces, the host opened the floor to anyone wanting to share writing passages and or music for the first time.
Candido said patience is important in creative endeavours.
“Last year, my word of the year was ‘patience,'” she said. “It’s a skill that helps you slow down, appreciate where you are, and not rush toward results.” This wisdom, honed over years of artistic exploration, is something she has learned to embrace in both their personal and creative lives.
“If you're not content with what you have now, it's a poem I wrote almost and aren't content with what you have now, then wanting more or better will not make your soul sing," Candido said.
In response to the idea of perfectionism in art, she shared a personal revelation: “Perfection is not always helpful. Creativity is about experimenting and finding what resonates with you, not about fitting into a perfect mould.”
She's realized “that perfection isn’t helpful in the creative process. It stifles growth. Creativity is about experimenting, trying new things, and embracing failure.
"Those moments are often where the breakthroughs happen,” Candido said. This idea is central to her creative journey, especially as she has come to terms with creative blocks and the importance of sitting with them.
“I feel like when you're creating and when you're doing art, you have to be able to sit down and just be present with yourself, be in the moment and try not to rush results," she said.
"Because when you try to force things to happen, it just won't happen. But when you sit where you are, and let things flow naturally at the natural pace, then things will eventually start flourishing,” she said.
Candido said It's like expecting a rose to bloom but it won't bloom until it's time to bloom.
Reflecting on their creative path, she shared a deeply personal story about how their perspective on life shifted after the loss of her brother.
“My brother’s passing made me realize that what I have is already enough and rather than striving for more, I learned to appreciate the present moment,” she said. This new outlook informed that her life and expression continue to evolve as a reflection of her experiences and what's happening internally and externally.
