Art Facilitation
Creating art-making spaces for belonging and wellness for 15 years. We integrate from both experiential learning & teaching, mentorship, and scholar endeavors especially through Vero’s Masters of Decolonial Art Practice & Latinx Transformation and on-going artistic formation.
Sol Naciente believes art as a bridge to wellbeing. We work with all ages, children, youth, equity-seeking groups, utilizing creative processes to promote emotional regulation, self-discovery, and social connection. Our community empowerment programs ignite the inner voice, belonging, and foster dialogue through visual arts, storytelling, and earth-based arts.
Our Earth based approach
Welcome to a creative praxis that recognizes the Earth as a collaborator. Beyond the final art piece, we lead workshops that reconnect participants with Nature Teachings—the biological and systems intelligence of the land, plants, rivers, and seeds. This is art as environmental education, fostering a sense of stewardship in community spaces.
Art as Ancestral Ecology, is at the heart of our methodology which honours land based wisdom within a contemporary artistic framework. We invite you to connect with us to bring tactile, grounding, and restorative art-making suitable to your needs and for those you serve.
voice . belonging . wellbeing
Our Art Facilitation has a Methodological Foundation…
Ancestral Arts Method
Educates people to take care of themselves, each other, and all beings as we are interconnected and within an ecosystem.
Recognizes the power in connecting to our ancestral wisdom while acknowledging our own personal wisdom.
It is about Sovereignty, Collective Creation, Earth Based practices…
…our Ancestral Arts Method was cultivated with FLUYE Project
Fluye Project (Flow in Spanish) was a Painting, Performance, Poetry workshop series to connect artists and artisans belonging to 8 Rural Communities of COBAS : Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor, Costa Rica to the rivers, land-based art methods, and equity led art-making.
Fluye Project was Vero’s Master Thesis work at York University in their MES, Masters of Environmental Studies.
From 2013 to 2014 this long term project came to be along side her Decolonial Art Practice & Latinx Transformation Master’s focus.
A poetry and watercolour book was created and published. This tangible collective creation marked the birth of a network of artists and artisans aiming to foster personal and collective expression and advocacy through creativity.
“It was the first time I truly felt beautiful. I was able to create something from my own voice. I didn’t know it was possible.”
Art Collaborators
What Partnerships are saying…
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“I think she is amazing and would recommend her program to anyone who works with clients who marginalized and suffered trauma
Our clients loved Vero's program, they were able to relax and truly feel and see how the music makes them feel. She has a very relaxed presence and clients feel safe to express themselves.
In the field of mental health the word trauma informed care is used to help clients. This fits with our trauma informed care and recovery model”
Pam. Recreation Therapist, CAMH
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Our core values at HRH are caring, professionalism and respect. Vero, you display these qualities consistently when you facilitate the Therapeutic Art Program.
Vero is super creative, she accommodates the needs of the young patients and shows sincere interest in their development.
Her level of engagement with the patients is genuine and her group makes a positive difference for the patients on their journey toward health.
Vero goes the extra mile creating a learning environment that is supportive and fun, too
Nicole Sheppard
Richa Puri and Doris Galas, Manager, Clinical Programs
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“This was the best program. ”
“Before VIBE Arts, we focused on basic art skills. But with VIBE, led by the incredible Vero, our students were given endless opportunities to think outside the box,” Ms. Scher explained. “They were free to guide their own creative adventures, exploring their unique artistic voices.”
Students who might never have seen themselves as artists were blown away by their own creations. “They felt like celebrities when their work was published in a book or displayed on a school canvas,” Ms. Scher beamed.
For the Full Article Click below:
Wellness & Art Education
Children & Youth
On going - Therapeutic Art & Wellness Programs
for Humber River Hospital Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit
I have been creating art with young patients in the Humber River Hospital Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit for 3 years now. Together with VIBE arts Community Program Manager, and an Art Assistant we support young artists from 5 to 18 years of age to experience creative expression. They receive creative guidance and wellness arts with 4, 8 or 12 week programs. I contribute with programming, arts curriculum with my Ancestral Arts Method, mentorship to arts assistants for each program, and bring forth special projects like a permanent mural for the unit and a visual arts printed book.
Printed book from Therapeutic Art Program 2023, See pages below.
Mural, 3 year project in the making
Land & River Connection Mural for Humber River Hospital Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, 2025
Mural - making process, 2025
Storytelling program in Grenoble Public School TDSB
“At Grenoble, she led one of VIBE’s largest programs, developing five storybooks through a mixed-media storytelling program with second-graders—many of whom were newcomers, learning English and navigating challenging experiences. Through her workshops, students were given the tools to voice their stories and celebrate their own unique journeys.”
Read more about the program: Vibe’s Article
Printed Books with Collection of Written and Art Stories, 2024
Mixed Media & Watercolour Painting Process with Ancestral Arts Method
Printed Books with Collection of Art & Written Stories
ExpresArte Programs
Latinx Transformation
Summer Youth Multi -Arts Intensive for the Latine / Latinx Toronto Community
Co-lead and co-facilitated inter-disciplinary collective creative workshops from 2014-2017 for youth in the Latine, Latinx diaspora. The programs aimed at providing a safer space for young people who face challenges within the education system, with immigration, and healing from ancestral trauma. Latinx youth have the lowest graduation rates and research also shows invisibility, isolation, and alienation as main issues. They collectively express that they are often ignored and treated unfairly within the school system.Youth participating in the study told researchers they felt isolated without a strong sense of community; felt their cultures and values were overlooked; and perceived a lack of empathy or outright discrimination related to accent, culture and stereotypes. ExpresArte provided the opportunity for them to feel seen, be in community as they find their voice and share their stories in a meaningful way.
Parada, Henry; Escobar Olivo, Veronica; Bravo, Fabiola (2022). “I Just Want to Belong Somewhere”: Latinx Youth’s Experiences in the Education System in Ontario, Canada. Toronto Metropolitan University. 
Creative Writing & Painting Programs for TDSB
Grade 6 - SPARK Spoken Word Program, 2022
“My favourite thing about this program was the meditation because it makes me calm. It reminds me of sleeping, and I love sleeping...so its good. I liked thinking about the Ocean, cause it just makes my body feel so welcomed. I wouldn’t change anything. Everything is good.”
Adult Workshops
Art & Wellness
Adult Art-making as Wellness Programs, in the Addictions Program in CAMH 2022-2023
The Ancestral Arts Method fosters voice and expression through the empowering connection to our bodies, our senses, and Earth based methods rooted in wellness practices and Mexican artistic traditions.
Seniors Art-making Creative Conversations Program, in South Riverdale Community Health Centre, 2025
“The facilitators were creative, the time felt short because I was enjoying myself so much. The program was helpful for everybody, it was relaxing by sharing, it was calming. It was nice to be able to explain the meaning of the art. “
- Participant
This was a 2 day workshop designed for Muse Arts community in the summer of 2023. In gratitude for Paola’s mentorship and MUSE ARTS for making this possible!
Art Education
For All Ages
Art with Wellness Program, for Young Parents Connect Group, SKETCH
Led hands on workshops on Dia De Muertos Day of the Dead cultural traditions from 2019-2022. Facilitated art and wellness workshops in 2022, 2023, and 2024 for SKETCH. Became Lead Facilitator for 2024’s Summer’s Leadership program for Young Parents Connect. Supported artists and young parents through programming of Art and Wellness sessions.
Platform A, Pinhole Photography Workshop Series, 2015
In mentorship with Jumblies, Nirvan and Vero brought from conncept into reality an all ages pin-hole photography program for the The Ground Floor community. Made possible with MicroGrant Platform A, Toronto Arts Council