Janet Rigg

Putting a creative foot forward

Art &

Wellness

Janet Rigg, MA, CCC

SewnArt encapsulates all of my work. As an artist, I create sewn canvases. As a writer, I stitch together fictional and non-fictional narratives of the past, present and future. In therapy, we re-work and recreate our lived experience into one that helps us thrive rather than just survive. My Dj music threads one wicked, danceable house track into the next.

It’s all stitched together. It’s sometimes messy, sometimes crude, sometimes perfect - sometimes it sings and sometimes there’s tension. All of it, I believe, is beautiful.

It started with the canvas.

My SewnArt paintings are part sculpture, part painting.

Randomly sewn together pieces of canvas create a textured backdrop, which guides how the painting is expressed and propels my two-dimensional painting into three dimensions.

There is a tension in my paintings as a result of the rough stitching pulling the canvas together and the image thus created.

Beautiful, constrained, surprising, and unique, each painting is a one-of-a-kind original.

This artistic process of using what we have, accepting what is randomly created, and co-creating our existence is the basis of my wellness programming and therapeutic work.

Engage with my artist self, my writer self, or my therapist self - put your creative foot forward!

Creativity, Painting, Therapy, Workshops, Wellness Retreats, and more.

Artist

Original artwork for sale. Add an original piece to your home decor or office. Custom commissions available - mood, feel, colours can be suggested, but each piece is a collaboration with the canvas.

Writer

A Writer’s Book is the story of a writer who writes a book, and then the book starts to become true. Based on real experiences, a real book I wrote, A Writer’s Book will question how you perceive reality.

Therapist

Practicing clinical counselling for 20 years, I am a trained art therapist, trauma and grief counsellor, self-regulation practitioner and culturally safe for indigenous peoples. I offer individual and couples sessions that focus on somatic awareness, strong communication, and a belief that connection heals.

Wellness Programmer

Ts’uu Nee - Ts’uu Naay Red Cedar (Wood) House is a collective of Haida and allied mental health and wellness providers that come from Haida Gwaii. We are dedicated to offering highly effective healing retreats, psycho-educational workshops, and cultural connections, all grounded in Haida values and ways of being.

DJ Janet Planet!

Music that moves you, heals you. Ecstatic dance sets as well as funky house mixes are available on my Soundcloud account - or contact me to perform live!

Tension

· Belief

· Balance

· Tension · Belief · Balance ·

Tension between growth and stasis,

between existence and creation,

between event and memory.

Balance between canvas effect and paint effect,

between decoration and declaration,

between the real and the imagined.

Belief that the artwork speaks for itself

Let Your Art Out!

Creativity is;

Healing
Restorative
Generative

Frequently asked questions

SewnArt creations can be commissioned! We can discuss the general feel and colours you would like for your piece, however the final product is always a collaboration between the random folds of the canvas and the artist.
I am approved by the First nations Health Authority to provide services to status First Nations in BC. There is no cost to you.
Some business and private insurance now cover CCC designated therapists in BC. Check with your benefits provider.
Individual and couples sessions cost between $150-$175. Please see my pricing page for a more detailed menu of my services and offerings. I also love to work with uninsured clients on a sliding scale model, so please be sure to let me know and we can find a price that works for you!
Workshops vary but generally coast $90 for a half day workshop and $160 for a full day workshop.
For organizations wishing to offer a workshop, a three day workshop typically would cost $15K.
Wellness retreats vary depending on the location, and can range from $25k to $40K for a 3 to 5 day retreat.
First I was an Artist, then I was a Therapist.
I received my Masters in Creative Arts Therapies from Concordia University in 2004. Prior to that I did two years of Fine Arts courses also at Concordia in Montreal.
I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) from the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. I am also a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS).
I am a Certified Clinical Counsellor through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
I have been honoured to live, work and play on the traditional territory of the Haida People and offer culturally safe services.
Yes! Contact me!