Dan Sawatsky has been a bit of an icon to me since I was a young girl. Before moving to Comox, my family spent a brief time living at the Yarrow Ecovillage right next door to the most magical property outside of Disneyland. I remember watching the progress with curiosity. At this point I hadn’t been to Disneyland and had never seen anything like the cartoon-like structures Dan was building next door to us.
When COVID hit, I lost the opportunity to go on a German exchange program with my high school. I had raised the money needed and was really disappointed when it became apparent we weren’t ever going to go. Everything worked out in the end though, because when the opportunity to take a one-week professional level course with Imagination Corporation came up, I had the money I needed to sign up. Using Disney Imagineering as my North Star, I saw the opportunity to learn from Dan as a great next step in that direction.
I learned so much about using concrete to make art! Sculpture, texture building, wireframing, and a variety of painting techniques. I was challenged to try welding which I was surprisingly good at considering it was my first time. Mostly, I got to meet some incredible out-of-the-box creators and see what life looks like when you pursue your passion and put your whole heart into your work. I was the youngest participant by a long shot, but Dan and his crew were welcoming and willing to have me join them!
