MAX MAKERS
featuring : Maeve Hind // @mjh_art & Alexa Collette // @alexaacollettee
photography by Shay Donovan // @shay_dono
Collaboration is our way of existing. Maeve (she/her) is a queer, tea-drinking, sensitive soul who lives her most joyful moments with her dog Bella by her side. Alexa (she/her) is a gentle giant who speaks from the heart and has a serious sweet tooth. Both Maeve and Alexa have lived experiences with mental illness and are aware of the importance of sharing their stories with people through art and open discussion. While they both have individual art practices, there is something unique that arises when they collaborate.
Through leading workshops to facilitate discussion on the intersection of mental health and art-making as Outlet Collective they explore art-making as a form of therapy. Their interactions with community extends from hosting workshops for university students to running an art supplies drive and creating art activity bundles for a donation to Wyndham House, a local organization working to prevent and reduce youth homelessness.
They are broadening their impact within Guelph and are excited to continue creating connections through art. When they are feeling creative, they often work together on drawings and paintings using a variety of materials from crayons to acrylic paints. Modelling for each other and passing papers back and forth, their work comes to life.
They use this collaborative experience as a way to communicate with each other and the world around them. They find that it is the collaboration that ties them together as individuals and artists. It is from this that they have created Max Makers as a new space dedicated to documenting the art they create, and their ongoing collaboration in life and art. The overalls made by Double Dipped serve as their work uniforms and their life uniforms. When they’re on their bodies, they feel connected and ready to take on whatever project the day calls for.