EmpowerHer: A Ripple Through Generations
“Mother-Dearest” (An Excerpt)
by Marcus Madelo
Persistence reveals the path. Each day, I greet the mirror with a humble “good morning” before sprinting barefoot on brimstone earth, palms brimming with sprouting seeds; Sampaguita pearls, magenta peonies atop ripened prairie lilies, and Kalinga weaves threaded with Wild Roses and banana leaves. I carry them close to my chest, maybe that’s why my lungs find safety beside soot. Persistence reveals the path. I wonder if I’m still the one who made that springtime playlist, or wrote that silly sentence that sounded so sweet. If I’m still the witness poet, or just another player in a plotline built for bruised knuckles. Some days, I believe I am the bouquet, blooming, vibrant; breathing. But I still cast myself as the vase: heavy, fragile; ornamental. Persistence reveals the path. Each morning, I greet my mother good morning, but together we mourn a girl I know only by memory. A daughter fractured from a family of ten by sea and circumstance. She stands barefoot in my home today, dreaming of crossing oceans with her smile, without her tsinelas. Persistence reveals the path. The ocean promised her more, but took her spine and left her floating. Yes, my mother is the ocean who refuses to let medrown, but she is also the typhoon who taught me to tuck my chin when I land. Persistence reveals the path.
Krystelle Celestino Wurtz
I am Krystelle Celestino Wurtz, a second-generation Filipino-Canadian visual artist, educator, and founder of Krystelle Creations; a community-rooted art hub where storytelling is transformed into vibrant, visual legacies. Based in Calgary, I blend over a decade of teaching experience with my deep love for culture, connection, and creativity to make art that speaks to the heart and spirit.
With gratitude, mutual respect, and reciprocity, I acknowledge that we live, work, and create on the traditional lands of the Treaty 7 signatories: the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai Nations, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Good Stoney Bands), and the Tsuut’ina Nation. Calgary, also known as Moh’kinstsis, is the homeland of the Northwest Métis and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. I honour the original caretakers of this land and recognize our shared responsibilities in the journey of Truth and Reconciliation.
My work is known for its intimate symbolism, rich textures, and collaborative nature; often involving community participation through live art events, storytelling workshops, and public art installations. Whether I’m painting murals that uplift the collective voice of a neighbourhood or creating deeply personal commissions, my goal is to help people feel seen, heard, and celebrated.
As a proud daughter of Filipino immigrants, I infuse my practice with meaning and memory by honoring my Filipino and Canadian traditions, family history, and intergenerational wisdom. I often use floral symbolism, such as the national flower, the sampaguita; as a bridge between cultural identity and visual narrative. I am exploring my identity as a second generation immigrant and what it means to raise and nurture our next generations.
One of my most beloved techniques is my signature fingerprint style, where I invite community members to add their fingerprints into florals and abstract forms. These fingerprints represent how we are connected to one another through stories, legacy, and culture.
Through Krystelle Creations, I offer live community paintings, personalized art experiences, creative workshops, commissioned pieces, and prints. My mission is to spark curiosity, foster connection, and build community through collaborative art-making.
“Together, we can create beautiful things.”- Krystelle Celestino Wurtz
Marcus Madelo
Marcus Madelo, a.k.a “Kindread the Poet” [kin-dred – the – poet] is a Filipino-Canadian artist who channels emotion, memory, and longing into vivid spoken word pieces that explore heritage, connection, and the complexities of being seen and heard.
