fern dirossi-bird

human, builder, artist, poet,
certified expressive arts therapist, grief worker, & reclaiming Tessitore Magico

I am a white settler of Italian and Ukrainian ancestry that occupies the unceded ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, who have held a reciprocal relationship with the land, water, and animals for a very, very, very long time.

I’m a mulitply neurodivergent, chronically ill, queer, nonbinary, and reclaiming Italian folk Tessitore Magico that enjoys working with and for the community. Art-making has been my primary source of expression and healing since I was a child. I feel the most ~connected when I’m doodling, making idea webs, going for walks in the forest, building things, problem solving creatively, laughing til my sides ache with my partner, cooking for and/with others, being an auntie, collecting things, story-sharing, participating in ritual(s).

current special interest(s):
Orville Peck
nests
Our Flag Means Death
objects as symbols

Image Description: close up picture of Fern, a white non-binary human, they wear large brown tortoiseshell cat-framed glasses, they have hazel eyes, freckles on their face, a gold septum ring, a silver hoop on their right nostril, they have a beauty. mark on their upper right lip and a slight moustache, they wear purple/pink/yellow beaded fringe earrings, they have short brown hair and are wearing a blue and white gingham blouse with a burgundy velvet tank top over top, subtle cleavage is visible and shows the hint of a rose tattoo on their chest. The image has thick red pastel scribbles around it, the background is dark purple-blue distorted eyes against a light pink background.

“Here is an image of one of the sketchbook spreads I got to do in person with Heather at Central Park, BC. It features sparkly watercolours and a gesture sketch of Heather, with their iconic phrase “take your time,” embellished underneath. On the other page, there is a dried flower from that day and some paint strokes. I decided to include pages from an actual art therapy session to capture the safe space Heather builds every single session. In each session, Heather shows up as their fully authentic self. It’s something I am always encouraged and in awe of. Fully disabled, wholly queer, entirely lovely to learn from, and completely human.

With every video call, I am invited to simply be. Be present. Be flawed. Be the overwhelming amount of complexities that make up who you are. It always starts with them, and we are warmly welcomed into the place, no matter where or how we are. There have been so many themes which we have investigated. More importantly, though, there have been so many we have revisited. During our sessions, I never feel as if I am “wrong,” wrong for being stuck on something or someone, wrong for not being better, or wrong for hurting.

I am a mess, yes. But, I didn’t get into this mess by myself and so why should I ever expect to get out of it by myself? With Heather’s help, I’m learning how to heal, in all its full messiness. How thoroughly human. “ - T

  • “Heather's energy is akin to a garden; soil rich with kitchen scraps with strong, green stems bursting upwards to meet the sun. They are a warm, knowledgable, containing force with lively and reliable intuition. They wears many hats, and they wear them all well: therapist, facilitator, community member... In all of my time with Heather as my classmate, coworker, and friend, I have continued to see them grow, nourish their self and others, and develop an unmatched integrity when it comes to the practice of care. I cannot recommend them highly enough in all of the capacities they offer. Heather is entirely wonderful. “ - Sarah Thompson