I especially worry about the ways Canadians can be glib about our supposed difference from the US in our "acceptance" of "diversity."

Children are receptive to talking about gender creativity, confirming the importance of the book as a means to instigate this dialogue at an early age.

I have always considered the aesthetic of a project, including press photos, as a means to further the message of the art itself.

I used singing as a safety measure. I would pay attention to what songs the popular girls liked, learn those songs from the radio or library cassettes, and then "accidentally" sing or hum these songs in class. This would impress the girls, who would then defend me from the boys.

I recently did a reading at an elementary school in Ottawa, and one of the children asked me if I was a girl. I said yes. Another child commented that I had a deep voice. I responded: "Can girls have deep voices?" There was a pause and then the group responded, "Yes!"

I tend to focus less on genre as a starting point and more on idea or intention and let the idea dictate genre.

As much as I believe in the capacity for art to create change, and as much as being an artist is physically and emotionally challenging, there is ultimately something a bit comfortable about making art in the comfort of your own home.