I am by Cassie Liviero
As part of the 2025 STEPS Public Art Residency and in partnership with the Haldimand County Public Library in Caledonia, Ontario, STEPS Public Art collaborated with Cassie Liviero to bring her poetry off the page and into the public realm, transforming her written work into a vibrant public art exhibition.
Project at a glance
Location: Caledonia, Ontario
Artists: Cassie Liviero
Documentarians: Caledonia Public Library
Year: 2025
Services: Artist Capacity Building
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artist-in-residence
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text-based public artwork
About I am by Cassie Liviero
Unveiled in celebration of International Poetry Day on March 21, the installation invites visitors to experience her words in a new and engaging way, connecting literature with the everyday spaces of the community. The work will remain on display for the entirety of National Poetry Month in April, offering a month-long opportunity for reflection and inspiration. This project also marks a significant milestone—the artist’s debut in public art—bringing her creative voice to a wider audience for the first time.
“I personally have found great healing and power and poetry, and wanted to use my talent for writing poetry as a way to become visible and show how poetry as an art form can display disability justice and also acts as transformational healing… I learned that my passion for poetry can go as deep and as wide as I want it to go, and this has also given me insight to dive into other things I enjoy.”
About the Artist
Cassie Liviero
Cassie Liviero is a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, a poet, and a social worker whose work is deeply rooted in the human experience and disability lived experience. She amplifies the wants and desires essential for disabled individuals to access full and meaningful lives. Cassie takes a deep, critical look at the structures that disadvantage the disabled community, ensuring that person-first voices remain at the forefront of her work. She challenges ableist ways of living, including the lack of opportunities and inaccurate perceptions that fuel discrimination. Through poetry, advocacy, and social work, Cassie works to dismantle barriers and create spaces of empowerment and inclusion.
Partners
In partnership with Haldimand County Public Library
Funders
The 2025 STEPS Public Art Residency is made possible by support from TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment.
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