Join us for a thought provoking panel discussion exploring the impact of artists with developmental disabilities on the Yukon arts scene, held in conjunction with Abundance in the Community Gallery. Radical Connection brings together five leaders whose work demonstrates the invaluable role of disabled artists in building a more inclusive, vibrant, and enriched arts community in the Yukon. Through their unique perspectives, these panelists reveal how art can bridge communities, foster cultural change, and create pathways for people of all abilities.
The discussion will include insights into the Yukon Permanent Art Collection’s historic acquisition of a work by an artist with a developmental disability—marking an important milestone in public art collection and representation.
In partnership with Teegatha’Oh Zheh, Yukon Government and FOYPAC.
Artwork in image by Ernest Chua, titled Diamonds.
THE SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Dacko-Brink has led Teegatha’Oh Zheh as Executive Director since 2021, bringing lifelong experience in the arts and disability sector. A committed leader in the disability movement, Rebecca believes in the transformative power of art to inspire cultural change and foster citizenship. Under her leadership, the organization has launched art initiatives that remove barriers to inclusion and encourage access for people with disabilities in the arts. Rebecca is dedicated to exploring the intersection of art and disability, collaborating with the Yukon artist community to create meaningful work that resonates with all Yukoners.
Theresa Roberts is an artist from Whitehorse, YT. She has been married into the Carcross Tagish first nation for 20 years. She has been making art since childhood, and is deeply influenced by her observations of the natural world and its colors. Roberts has a gentle effect and a calming influence on those around her, including animals. Animals frequently approach her, and Roberts talks to them, names them and represents them in her art. Roberts was the January 2024 Jenni House Artist in Residence.In 2024, Her drawing, “Lots of Moons” was shortlisted for the YG Permanent Art Collection. Her art practice is supported by the Teegatha’Oh Zheh Progressive Art Studio.
Phoebe Gonzales Rohrbacher is a visual artist specializing in Northern New Mexican Colcha Embroidery. Since 2007, she has worked in the field of art and disability, holding roles such as support worker, studio assistant, and curator. As Art Studio Coordinator, Phoebe leads Teegatha’Oh Zheh’s Progressive Art Studio, introducing an innovative model in the Yukon that creates professional pathways for artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Her work fosters connections between the disability sector and the broader arts community, empowering artists to develop their practice and establish valued roles as professional artists. In 2024, the Yukon Government Permanent Collection acquired one of her pieces, along with a work by Teegatha’Oh Zheh studio artist Ernest Chua.
Geneviève Gagnon has been a member of the Friends of Yukon Permanent Art Collection since 2020 and the organization’s President for the past three years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University and went on to study at the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. Since moving to the Yukon in 2011, she has worked within the Francophone community, in the arts and culture sector and, more recently, in the fields of harm reduction and mental health. Gen feels fortunate to work and learn alongside others by sharing her art therapy practice in various settings including one-on-one counselling, therapeutic groups, community spaces, and land-based healing. In keeping with her settler responsibilities, Gen is committed to decolonization and anti-oppressive practice; arts empowerment and equity; the intersections of climate change and wellness; and community-building through creative and intentional gatherings.
Garnet Muething is the Art Curator for the Government of Yukon, Department of Tourism and Culture. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a specialization in Studio Art from Concordia University and a Post Graduate Certificate in Museum Management and Curatorship focusing on preventive conservation from Fleming College. Garnet has been working in museums and galleries for more than 23 years, and with the Yukon government since 2009. She curates and manages the government’s art collections, including the Yukon Permanent Art Collection, oversees professional development supports for visual artists and works on special projects and art commissions. In addition to being a curator, Garnet is a mother, runner and lifelong lover of the wild world of art.
