"I asked the darkness of the night to press its face against mine...
not until then did I know the secret of light"
Artist... Explorer... Adventurer
Government tribute to Sally Wilson
Sally Wilson was honoured in the Nova Scotia provincial legislature in October, 2019, for her work with, and support for, the non-profit organization Chebucto Connections. Part of the work of the group is to help students in the Spryfield area reach high school graduation and equip them to pursue post-secondary education and/or a good job.
“When I was young I had a tumultuous childhood, so I relate to what the young people tell me. That’s a world that I know very well,” Sally said.
“The kids started wandering in to my studio. They loved the artwork and love that’s it’s abstract so they can be more open with it. We have great conversations.
“I feel like I’m useful by making beautiful art that people connect with, and I’m useful for having the wounds I have inside of me to know and have empathy for these young people.”
HALIFAX, N.S. —
You can’t tell that behind the explosions of colour, the swirls and blending of vivid oranges, reds and blues, is a story of healing and transformation.
Up the stairs and to the right at the Chebucto Connections office on Herring Cove Road is a white-walled room filled with natural light. It’s also filled with enormous canvases, paintings of abstract colour that burst into creation after the artist took a six-year hiatus. Sally Wilson had put down her brushes because she was too hurt to paint.