The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden

Shanda LaRamee-Jones is the provincial coordinator for the Read to Me! Nova Scotia Family Literacy Program. She has a passion for supporting early learning and has a Master of Education degree in literacy. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her husband and son.

Rachel Wada’s work is defined by heavy texture, bold color and intricate details that capture the nuances of people, places and ideas, real and surreal. Rachel’s identity as Japanese-Cantonese, an immigrant and a woman informs her artistic practice. She loves to put her own spin on traditional techniques, motifs and symbolism inspired by her cultural background. This duality of old and new is also apparent in her use of both traditional and digital mediums, and she draws inspiration from a variety of sources, from Japanese woodblock prints, Chinese pottery and ceramics, food packaging design to traditional folk art. She has a special love for the ocean, tea and noodles of all kinds. Rachel lives in Vancouver.