Hi, my name is Quinn Smith-Windsor. I am a disabled artist, entrepreneur and advocate. I am a proud Indigenous woman of mixed ancestry, living in Treaty 6 territory in Elk Ridge, Saskatchewan. My disability is cerebral palsy, quadriplegia. My superpowers are confidence, kindness and bravery. In 2022 I was awarded the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award which is a four year scholarship awarded to university scholars who exemplify Terry’s attributes of courage, resilience and selflessness.
Currently, I am a 3rd year student at Toronto Metropolitan University working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Disability Studies. During the pandemic, I co-founded a small business called The PossAbility Shop so I could combine my passions as a painter and advocate while employing myself as an entrepreneur. My long term goal is to grow my small business into a comprehensive disability consultancy where I continue to create art and initiate advocacy projects that support inclusion and accessibility.
As a disabled artist, I believe that arts and entrepreneurship can create more inclusive communities. I have developed unique paint methods involving pouring, pressing and/or dragging string through wet fluid acrylic paint. I often use a fondue fork, silicone oil and a blow torch to create cells of colour. Sometimes, I use the movement of my wheelchair to create movement on the canvas. Other times, I let gravity take over and let the paint go where it wants to.
I specialize in animal and pet portraiture. I paint and sell (mostly) custom dog portraits and use the proceeds to help sponsor dog adoptions because I believe that every animal deserves a loving home. I have also had a number of solo art exhibitions that share my lived experiences as a person with disabilities. Journey (2021) was my first solo exhibit that explored what it’s like to thrive as a person with disabilities. Under My Skin (2022) was an interactive art and poetry exhibit that used my paintings and voice recordings to share my growing awareness of ableism and how it feels.
I am still learning how to identify and call out ableism in my everyday interactions and life. Sometimes art is just about sharing joy. My latest collection of animal portraits is called Bear Tales. This summer, The Black Spruce Gallery began to represent me and my artwork which has increased my visibility as an emerging artist in Saskatchewan. I create art to earn an income and to help pay for university. But, it’s more that. Through my art, I spread disability awareness, joy and pride.
I have always felt compelled to volunteer and give back to my local and global community whether it’s building wells to provide clean water to communities in Kenya, or planting milkweed to help sustain the Monarch butterfly population, or advocating for disability justice. I became involved with Disability Without Poverty when I traveled to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, in October of 2022 to participate in the rally for a Canada Disability Benefit.
As a young person who now relies on Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID), I wanted to share my voice about how the SAID benefit puts people like me on a pathway towards poverty, with no alternatives for a bright and secure future. I have served on the Disability Without Poverty Leadership Group and as a Field Team Member to engage the disability community in local advocacy to ensure that we have voice in shaping the Canada Disability Benefit. Obviously, there is still so much work to do to ensure the benefit is adequate.
This fall I have also been loud and proud in my home province about the systemic barriers that exist for Saskatchewan students with disabilities as they transition from high school to post-secondary. It’s been anything but easy to make this leap, but I hope that through visibility and advocacy, it’s going to be easier for the next person.
Find me through Social Media on my Community Ambassador page here.