I am a multidisciplinary creator working at the intersection of technology, art, and community engagement. As a software developer, I specialize in crafting innovative solutions that leverage cutting-edge technologies like AR, VR, and robotics to deliver immersive, interactive experiences. My background in new media art drives my passion for exploring the convergence of technology and storytelling, often through installations that engage and inspire audiences.

As a musician and composer, I blend experimental electronic sounds with modular synthesis, creating atmospheric works that evoke deep emotional responses. My music has been featured at international festivals and conferences, where I’ve had the privilege of connecting with audiences across diverse platforms.

I am deeply committed to community involvement and collaboration. I work closely with local organizations and equity-deserving groups to design projects that amplify underrepresented voices, foster inclusivity, and create meaningful connections in public spaces. Whether developing tools for artists, mentoring emerging creatives, or leading workshops in generative visuals and sound art, I’m passionate about empowering others to harness the transformative potential of art and technology.

My work reflects a dedication to innovation, artistry, and community-driven values, and I bring this perspective to every project I undertake.

Hello, Christopher here. I’ve been a freelance artist and artistic director for 3 decades now, and really, it still feels weird to think of myself as either. The work that I’ve created, and the projects I’ve led, have always been about community, and creating opportunities for all of us to connect in positive and meaningful ways. Art just sort of happened, but with such wonderful results, I kept on doing it.

I am of settler ancestry, currently living on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Wendat, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

My freelance art and photography career started when I was 22 with a Minolta and the phone book. At 36, with two 8-year-old boys, and an awesome supportive partner, I got some official art education. A BA Studio Art from McMaster plus an MFA from Emily Carr University. My focus for those 7 years was on social practice and community interaction as a methodology for understanding our connection to the natural environment. Now, as a freelance artistic director, I’ve applied that methodology to 27 community engaged public art projects across Ontario with municipal culture, waste, and water departments. It’s interactive, collaborative, and is focused on bringing people together, building connections, sparking conversations, starting relationships, and exchanging knowledge. I’ve had the pleasure to work with many talented artists, municipal employees, and educators, and I always rejoice in their time, energy, and talent. BluHeron Interactive is born from this work, my partnership with Alex, and our passion for creating positive community focused experiences.

I’m Colina Phillips.   Pleased to meet you.

My creative energy has involved me in music, filmmaking and writing at a professional level over five decades.

My career began as a session singer,  jingles, backing top Canadian and international artists, earned a Gold Record with Sway, recorded jazz and currently creating as a solo artist.

I wrote, produced and directed two short films. Making Change, premiered at The Toronto International Film Festival and is included for discussion in: Black Like Who, Rinaldo Walcott, and, Re/visioning: Canadian Perspectives on the Education of Africans in the Late 20^th Century, D’Oyley/James. 

Leap Year Love Dance is a choreographed story and photo archive of  legendary Alberta rancher John Ware whose cattle are a foundation in Alberta’s beef industry. 

Good fortune brought an opportunity to work with BluHeron Interactive in two performance art productions, Our Home, Your Home, and, Jump Around, both adding a meaningful lens to my creative vision.

Research, film-script supervision, conflict resolution fill spaces between creative successes and work I am grateful to continue.

Kawennakon Bonnie Whitlow (Kanyen’kehaka, Bear Clan) is an artist, educator, and researcher whose work is rooted in Indigenous language revitalization, cultural resurgence, and decolonial education. She holds an M.A. in Social Justice & Community Engagement from Wilfrid Laurier University, where her thesis explored the Two Row Wampum metaphor as a framework for navigating Indigenous-settler relations.

With decades of experience in Indigenous education, curriculum development, and community advocacy, Kawennakon’s journey has been one of continuous evolution- from supporting students as a counsellor to shaping institutional change as an Indigenous special projects Officer, and now, as an Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy Specialist. She approaches her work with the precision of a well-aimed throw, always assessing the terrain ahead, adjusting her angle, and following through with intention. Her impact extends beyond policy and pedagogy; she has worked extensively in language immersion programs, cultural education, and community-driven research, always focused on centering Indigenous voices and lived experiences.

A published scholar and multidisciplinary artist, Kawennakon has contributed to academic books and peer reviewed journals on Indigenous education, research methodologies, and community-led arts initiatives. Her creative work spans performance, visual arts, and screenwriting, with contributions to documentary films, interactive media, and public art projects.

Beyond her impressive body of work, what sets Kawennakon apart is her ability to uplift and inspire. She has an unparalleled gift for making people feel seen, valued, and energized- whether in a classroom, a boardroom, or on the land.  She navigates challenges like reading the wind, adjusting her stance with care, and ensuring every effort lands with purpose. Through her laughter, wisdom and unwavering commitment, she creates spaces of belonging, where people don’t just learn but are moved to act. She doesn’t just teach- she transforms.

Contact info: [email protected]

Ǫ da gaho dḛ:s

https://www.odagahodhes.com

Chapter 14: Tentsitewatenronhste: We Will Become Friends Again, by Kawennakon Bonnie Whitlow and Vanessa Oliver

McGill University Press Degadohodhes

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780228012948-003/html
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780228012948-toc/html

Sage Journal Article

https://www.academia.edu/39317174/Taonsayontenhroseri_ye_ne_the_power_of_art_in_Indigenous_research_with_youth

Interview

https://voicesfromtheland.podbean.com/e/voices-from-the-land-indigenous-peoples-talk-language-revitalization-kawennakon-bonnie-whitlow

An explanation of the Words Before All Else

TV Projects

1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus

Art Projects

#TAG is an Indigenous-led research project, infused with the spiritual power of dreamtime, includes elements of prophecy (the Eagle and the Condor) and follows a path of practice that was governed by the Spirit World or Ancestors.

A collaboration with Dave Hind