NEWS RELEASE | Special exhibit brings L’Arche and airport together

NEWS RELEASE | Special exhibit brings L’Arche and airport together

Jan. 29, 2025

SAINT JOHN, N.B. – Creativity takes flight this winter as L’Arche Saint John’s Creative Connections program unveils a vibrant new art exhibit at the Saint John Airport (YSJ).

YSJ: Home showcases a collection of inspiring works from 16 artists with intellectual disabilities exploring the meaning of home, belonging, and community.

The exhibit, which officially opens Friday with a public reception at 1 p.m., draws inspiration from Saint John’s iconic uptown neighbourhood, stunning harbour views, and the spaces that bring people together. Each piece is a celebration of creativity and the connections that define what home means to us all.

Among the works on display is Cranes and Gulls, a striking piece depicting a seagull soaring above the port. 

“Seagulls are a symbol of home for me,” says Patrick McGrath, one of the artists who contributed to the piece. “I see them standing on the rooftops in the harbour, hear them calling, and watch them flying in circles. It feels like Saint John.”

YSJ: Home exhibit is perfectly situated at the Saint John Airport – a place that connects locals and visitors to the people and places they care about. 

L’Arche Creative Connections provides an inclusive space where artists with and without intellectual disabilities create, share, and celebrate their unique talents. Through art, Creative Connections fosters community, belonging, and the celebration of diversity.

“We are thrilled to showcase the incredible talent of the Creative Connections program, celebrating the artistry and voices of individuals with intellectual disabilities. At L’Arche is a belief that everyone belongs, a value we deeply share,” says Lori Carle, Manager of Marketing, Public and Corporate Relations at the Saint John Airport. 

The media and the public are invited to the opening reception this Friday, Jan. 31, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Saint John Airport. Meet the artists behind the works, enjoy light refreshments and experience the heart of what makes Saint John home. 

YSJ: Home will remain on display until mid-April 2025, offering travellers and community members the opportunity to reflect on inclusion, connection, and the beauty of shared experiences.

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PHOTO CAPTION

Artists from L’Arche Saint John’s Creative Connections art program have been busy preparing for the grand opening of their art exhibit, YSJ: Home, at the Saint John Airport on Friday (Jan. 31) at 1 p.m. This special collection, inspired by iconic Saint John views and the essence of community, explores the meaning of home. From left are Krista Simmons, Adrian Morgan and Patrick McGrath, a few of the 16 artists that contributed to the exhibit. PHOTO: L’Arche Saint John.

Media contacts:
Matty Belyea
Community Development Coordinator, L’Arche Saint John
matty@larchesaintjohn.org | (506) 651-4560

Lori Carle
Manager of Marketing, Public and Corporate Relations, Saint John Airport (YSJ)
lcarle@ysjsaintjohn.ca | (506) 647-8898


L’Arche Saint John is a community of people with and without intellectual disabilities in Saint John. Founded in 2005, the non-profit operates McKim House on the city’s west side, the Creative Connections art studio and program at 95 Prince William St., and L’Arche Connects, a supported independent living program. L’Arche Saint John is part of an international federation creating homes and day programs with adults with intellectual disabilities. For more information, visit www.larchesaintjohn.org.

About Saint John Airport (YSJ) is a community-based, not-for-profit corporation serving the air travel needs of residents of southwestern New Brunswick. The airport (YSJ) is a key element in the social development of the Greater Saint John region and a vital gateway to economic growth in New Brunswick. The Saint John Airport reinvests all profits back into the airport and local communities. 

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