Habitando Nuestras Formas
Placemaking
At La Libélula Cooperative, we believe in the power of art to connect, heal, and transform. For some time, we had dreamed of creating more spaces for connection among us — and that dream came to life on October 11, 2025, with the placemaking event “Inhabiting Our Forms”, a day dedicated to collective creation, identity, and community.
The event featured Ari de la Mora, a visual artist whose practice focuses on the figurative representation of women and the visibility of minority communities. Ari led the workshop “From Emptiness to Fulfillment,” an artistic experience that reflects the emotional journey many women undergo — from moments of emptiness or invisibility to wholeness, healing, and self-expression.
Habitando Nuestras Formas / Inhabiting Our Forms
Each participant began by selecting a printed fabric image from Ari’s series Las Mujeres Vacías (The Empty Women).
From there, each figure was gradually “filled” with memories, emotions, symbols, and personal cultural references.
The creative process evolved into a collective act of reflection, authenticity, and celebration of identity, fostering a shared space for visibility, resilience, and artistic expression.
Throughout the session, participants explored mixed media techniques such as:
Collage
Color theory
Layered textures
The workshop was guided by Ari’s thoughtful and inclusive approach, fostering connection and creative exploration.
Community, art, and celebration
The day concluded with a community gathering filled with food, art, and conversation. In the afternoon, we hosted a free, open session of From Emptiness to Fulfillment for local women, who created their own artistic pieces to take home as a reflection of their personal journeys.
The artworks produced during the workshop culminated in a temporary public installation at South Cambie Rain Plaza (under the Cambie Bridge, near Olympic Village Station). The installation transformed the space into a vibrant site of color, memory, and connection.
“Habitando Nuestras Formas / Inhabiting Our Forms” was a celebration of art, community, and the strength of Latina migrant women — a reminder that public spaces can also become places of memory, expression, and belonging.
Project team
Ari de la Mora - Guest Artist
Ari is a Muralist and Artist from Mexico. Her art is deeply inspired by the tapestry of culture and community that surrounds her. Her work has been exhibited in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico; she has completed murals across Canada. Ari is also actively involved in community art projects and teaching art classes.
Fiorella Pinillos, Giuliana Lira, and Pamela Gutiérrez were integral parts of the team. On this occasion, Fiorella supported the curation, planning, and organization of the process, and Pamela supported audiovisual recording of the event. Together, we helped make the project as friendly and comfortable as possible for the participants.
La Libélula Members
Natalia is a Colombian photographer, visual artist, and researcher with 30 years of experience. Her work focuses on photojournalism and documentary projects about Forced Disappearance, victims of the Armed Conflict, and their families.
Natalia supported the logistics and installation of the Inhabiting Our Forms placemaking space. She joined us throughout the day, capturing through her lens — and her deep sensitivity — the warmth and shared joy of our community moments.