Opera Mariposa

Benefit + Awareness Month Art Showcase In these pieces, multidisciplinary artists with ME and Fibromyalgia fuse art and advocacy to illuminate life with “invisible” illnesses, and the hidden challenges faced by the chronic illness…

"In these pieces, multidisciplinary #artists with #MECFS, #LongCovid and #Fibromyalgia have done just that – fusing #art and #advocacy to reveal life with invisible and invisibilized illnesses.": buff.ly/lP9G9zB

via @operamariposa.bsky.social

ArtsAbly in Conversation #50 - Special episode - Live online discussion Let's celebrate episode 50 with talented artists at ArtsAbly in Conversation - an online event celebrating creativity and inspiration!

Catch Mariposa co-founder Robin Hahn on a special 50th episode edition of the @artsably.com podcast! Coming June 13th - more info at www.eventbrite.ca/e/artsably-i...

Access: Live on Zoom & recorded. Captions & transcript. Audience members can join w/ camera & mic off. Includes Q&A.

Opera Mariposa's 2025 Benefit + Awareness Prize Draw Join me in supporting Opera Mariposa: https://operamariposa.rallyup.com/may2025

If you haven’t checked it out yet, don’t miss your chance to enter to win over $3k in prizes for a great cause! Head over to prizedraw.operamariposa.com today - then be sure to check out all the other music, art, merch and more in support of the chronic illness community!

Across and blue and purple graphic is a yellow diagonal banner with all caps text reading, Last chance to enter! Below that can be seen an artistic portrait of a woman in side profile from the chest up. Her figure is partly hidden by thick, cloud-like haze, and her silhouette includes images of tall wild grass and evergreen trees. Overlaid text reads: “Opera Mariposa’s Benefit + Awareness Month for the ME | FM Society of BC. May 1–June 1, 2025. Enter to win $3,000 in prizes for charity for ME/CFS | Long COVID | Fibromyalgia. benefit.operamariposa.com. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Learn more: prizedraw.operamariposa.com.” The image also includes two butterfly logos: a red one for Opera Mariposa, and a blue, purple, and teal one for the ME | FM Society of BC. Other details note that the event is online, closed-captioned in English, self-paced, by donation and free to attend, with support up to $3,000 being triple matched.

Tomorrow (June 1) is the last chance to enter our Benefit + Awareness prize draw! We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has joined us so far in support of @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social and the rising number of people affected by #MECFS, #LongCovid, and #fibromyalgia.

Against a light blue background is a matted print of a Raymond Chow ink drawing of the Chinatown arch. Scattered next to it are a set of six chopsticks wrapped in colourful brocade, and a Kam Wai Dim Sum gift card with an image of pork buns.

Enjoy a dim sum feast alongside other Chinatown highlights incl. an art print by the world-renowned Raymond Chow & a beautiful set of chopsticks 🥟🥢

Our #BAMonth2025 ends June 1, so #EnterToWin ASAP to support the #ChronicIllness community & @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social: prizedraw.operamariposa.com

Closeup of some plump dumplings on a red plate inside a bamboo steamer basket, with a pair of chopsticks resting on them. Other dim sum delicacies can be glimpsed laid out on the surrounding table.

Closeup of wonton dumplings and green onions in broth, in a blue bowl on a red background

Huge thanks to Chinatown's Kam Wai Dim Sum 金 威 點 心, who is supporting our Benefit + Awareness Month for another year! This family-run company is donating $100 in gift cards for ready-to-eat takeaway or dim sum classics you can prepare at home.

Opera Mariposa's 2025 Benefit + Awareness Prize Draw Join me in supporting Opera Mariposa: https://operamariposa.rallyup.com/may2025

We also know not everyone is in the position to donate at this time, and that there are many different ways to support a great cause. If you want to get a free entry, be sure to scroll down on the prize draw page to find that option too! prizedraw.operamariposa.com

Orange Skip gift card with white text, superimposed over platters of colourful vegetarian food

Blue Lee Valley gift card with the words woodworking, gardening, hardware, home under the yellow Lee Valley logo. The card is superimposed over a light blue table surface with gardening tools scattered across it.

Our #BAMonth2025 prize draw features over $1,000 in gift cards & gift certificates - included from Canadian food delivery service Skip (previously Skip The Dishes) and Lee Valley Tools!

Check out all the prizes at prizedraw.operamariposa.com, then #EnterToWin til June 1 in support of charity.

Closeup of a white woman's hands typing on a laptop, her arms clothed in yellow sleeves.

Many thanks to Tesla Adrianne for joining us for #BAMonth2025! There are just 5 days left to #EnterToWin over $3k in amazing prizes in support of @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social, including a consultation + 2 hours of remote administrative support from Tesla: prizedraw.operamariposa.com

How does Long Covid affect an opera singer? @skylarcameron5123 shared their story with us for Opera Mariposa’s 2025 Benefit + Awareness Month. Sky also adde... How does Long Covid affect an opera singer? | Sky Cameron

NOW ON YOUTUBE ▶️ In honour of #BAMonth2025, join opera artist & researcher @skycameron.bsky.social as they discuss how developing #LongCovid has transformed their artistic practice and their relationship to the opera industry. Check it out: youtu.be/jxFitb1nxyw?...

How does Long Covid affect an opera singer? @skylarcameron5123 shared their story with us for Opera Mariposa’s 2025 Benefit + Awareness Month. Sky also adde... How does Long Covid affect an opera singer? | Sky Cameron

How does #LongCovid affect an opera singer? Opera artist, educator, researcher, & community care worker @skycameron.bsky.social shares their story with us for our 2025 Benefit + Awareness Month - catch the video premiere tomorrow, May 27, at 12 pm PT / 3 pm ET: youtu.be/jxFitb1nxyw?...

Opera Mariposa's 2025 Benefit + Awareness Prize Draw Join me in supporting Opera Mariposa: https://operamariposa.rallyup.com/may2025

Then #EnterToWin over $3k in prizes (including stickers from international art-activist collective @berlin-buyers-club.bsky.social, who themselves have Long Covid) in support of #LongHaulers and @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social til June 1: PrizeDraw.OperaMariposa.com

Teal and white graphic with a soft cloud pattern and text reading, "What is Long Covid? Long Covid (LC) refers to persistent symptoms or new health issues following a COVID-19 infection. Symptoms can emerge weeks, months, or even years later, potentially leading to lifelong conditions like ME/CFS." At the bottom is the blue, purple and teal butterfly logo for the ME | FM Society of BC and the red butterfly logo for Opera Mariposa.

Teal and white graphic with a soft cloud pattern and text reading, "Who is affected? All ages and genders can develop Long Covid. Can affect previously healthy individuals, including vaccinated people and those with mild cases. An estimated 10-30% of non-hospitalized cases and up to 80% of hospitalized cases result in Long Covid. As of 2024, at least 1 in 9 Canadian adults and 400 million people worldwide are affected." At the bottom is the blue, purple and teal butterfly logo for the ME | FM Society of BC and the red butterfly logo for Opera Mariposa.

Teal and white graphic with a soft cloud pattern and text reading, "Symptoms and impact: Long Covid can cause over 200 symptoms, including: debilitating fatigue. Breathing and heart problems. Immune system damage. Neurological issues like memory loss. Many patients must reduce their work or school hours, with the government referring to it as a 'potential mass- disabling event.'" At the bottom is the blue, purple and teal butterfly logo for the ME | FM Society of BC and the red butterfly logo for Opera Mariposa.

Did you know? Our charitable partner @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social is run by & for people with #MECFS, #Fibro, & now #LongCovid as well. Long Covid is an umbrella term for the complex suites of symptoms that can persist or develop after a Covid infection. Learn more: www.mefm.bc.ca/what-is-me-w...

Headshot of Sky, a white freckled person with medium length red hair and brown eyes. They're wearing a blue dress and smiling

As part of our 2025 Benefit + Awareness Month, we’re thrilled to feature opera artist, researcher, & longhauler @skycameron.bsky.social. They’ll be sharing how their experiences with #LongCovid have been shaping their artistic practice. Learn more about Sky at operamariposa.com/artists/#sky...

Collage featuring the graphic design for Opera Mariposa's 2025 Benefit + Awareness Month for the ME | FM Society of BC, featuring a blue and purple artistic portrait of a woman's face in side profile, partly hidden by mist, her silhouette containing images of tall wild grass and evergreen trees. Below that is a pinkish cream torn paper strip with words, "Enter to win household streaming passes to December and Etiquette until June 1, 2025! PrizeDraw.OperaMariposa.com", alongside the red and black logos for Essential Opera and Opera Mariposa. At the bottom are two production stills. In the first, soprano Erin Bardua performs as Julia wearing glasses and a teal top, looking downward and smiling, while an inset image showing Danielle Buonaiuto as Natasha joining via video call. In the second, Maureen Batt performers as a customer service representative seated in front of a computer wearing a headset and dark suit jacket with a smile on her face.

We're also thrilled to offer household streaming passes for @essentialopera.bsky.social's digital opera films 'December' & 'Etiquette'! #EnterToWin an opera experience you can enjoy from home at prizedraw.operamariposa.com til June 1. Proceeds support charity via @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social!

Collage featuring the dark teal title design for December: a new opera by Monica Pierce, with a rainbow illustration. Below that is a pinkish cream torn paper strip with the Essential Opera logo and the quote, "December was recorded, filmed, and released in November–December 2020. This digital creation was partly a product of necessity, but enabled us to make something fun and beautiful at a time when many artists had to stop creating entirely. Thanks to engineering magic, we simul-recorded vocalist Danielle Buonaiuto from a studio in NYC while the rest of the team played and sang in alternating groups in Halifax. We filmed on location in the deserted US area of the Halifax Airport. And we kept each other safe while doing it.” At the bottom is a behind-the-scenes shot from 'December' with videographer Claire Fraser in a red headstrap mask, brown hair in a ponytail. Claire is filming Erin Bardua, who's speaking on a phone in front of interior set decor, in a deserted airport.

Collage of a peach-coloured title design reading, Essential Opera presents Etiquette, a short opera film, alongside a vintage illustration of partygoers behind a blue typewriter. Below that is a torn paper strip with the Essential Opera logo and the quote, "Etiquette was recorded in April 2022, filmed in February 2023, and released in March 2024. We love being able to use our experiences making these films to shape our approach to recording, filming, and performing with immuno-inclusivity in mind. As producers, our aim is to achieve all our projects while avoiding cancellations, delays, or asking anyone to take unnecessary risks. Through planning & community agreements, we can create an accessible & inclusive working environment for everyone.” At the bottom are shots from 'Etiquette' with soprano Maureen Batt as Dorothy Parker. On the left she's behind a stack of books & a candle; on the right she wears a red scarf and extends a hand to the shadowy silhouette of an imaginary gentleman.

While specific practices keep evolving, the EO team says: "our aim is to achieve all our projects while avoiding cancellations, delays, or asking anyone to take unnecessary risks. Through planning & community agreements, we can create an accessible & inclusive working environment for everyone.”

Photo collage of production stills from the opera films 'December' and 'Etiquette',overlaid with a pinkish cream torn paper strip featuring black serif text that reads, Behind the scenes: Immuno-inclusivity in Essential Opera's Digital Opera Films. The collage includes images of soprano Danielle Buonaiuto as the character Natasha, soprano Maureen Batt as a headset-wearing customer service agent and a tipsy Dorothy Parker, soprano Erin Bardua as Julia, and Claire Fraser seen from behind wearing a headstrap mask and operating a camera.

After yesterday's announcement about our project on immuno-inclusivity in opera (and beyond!), we thought we'd spotlight some of the ways that @essentialopera.bsky.social has prioritized immuno-inclusivity in their digital opera productions 🎶

#MakingOperaAccessible

Stay tuned for updates - and make sure you're connected with @essentialopera.bsky.social and @operamariposa.bsky.social via newsletter and socials if you aren't already!

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

#MakingOperaAccessible #BringingTheArtsToLife #OperaInCanada

Over the coming months we’ll be:
🎭 Learning from the experiences of artists & arts workers
💡 Exploring innovations & best practices to create more inclusive spaces
🧑‍🔬 Collaborating with subject matter experts
📋 Debuting new resources to support our community with tools for advocacy & accessibility

A soft rainbow gradient features a pinkish cream torn paper strip across the middle, with italic text reading, Big News! Smaller sans serif text reads, Essential Opera, Opera Mariposa, and a group of Canadian artists and researchers have formed a coalition for an exciting new project... Coming soon. At the top are black and red logos for Essential Opera and Opera Mariposa, and at the bottom is a black logo for Canada Council for the Arts / Conseil des arts du Canada.

Big news 📢 @essentialopera.bsky.social, @operamariposa.bsky.social, and a group of Canadian artists and researchers have formed a coalition for an exciting new project.

We’re developing a resource on immuno-inclusivity in opera spaces (and beyond!), supported by the Canada Council for the Arts!

Opera Mariposa Benefit 2025 | Lia Pas I’ve been dealing with some recurrent liver issues the past few months so haven’t been able to write and post as much as I like, but ME Awareness Month is almost over so here is information for this year’s benefit!I’m excited to announce that I’m once again a featured artist in Opera Mariposa’s 2024 Benefit + Awareness Month! 🦋 I’m honoured to share both art and music to support the ME | FM Society of BC and raise awareness for those affected by ME/CFS, Long Covid, and Fibromyalgia. Join me for this all-online charity extravaganza at Benefit.OperaMariposa.com from May 1 – June 1, 2025. There’s music, art, over $3,000 in prizes and more – and it’s all for a great cause!

I wrote about how I'm participating in this year's ME Awareness & Benefit Month with @operamariposa.bsky.social with some of my #SciArt #embroidery and music! #BAMonth2025 #MECFS #MEAwarenessMonth

liapas.com/2025/05/20/o...

Opera Mariposa's 2025 Benefit + Awareness Prize Draw Join me in supporting Opera Mariposa: https://operamariposa.rallyup.com/may2025

#EnterToWin until June 1 at PrizeDraw.OperaMariposa.com to help us support the #ChronicIllness community & @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social. And watch this space, because we have another announcement involving @essentialopera.bsky.social, coming soon… 👀

#IndieOpera #MakingOperaAccessible #OperaInCanada

Teal graphic with an illustration of a winter cabin, and a rainbow radiating star rates. Text reads, Essential Opera presents December, a new opera by Monica Pearce. Cast: Erin Bardua, Maureen Batt, Danielle Buonaiuto. Directed by Halley Davies, conducted by Tara Scott. www.EssentialOpera.com Logos at the bottom for SOCAN Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, and Arts Nova Scotia

Vintage style illustration with a peach background featuring a crowd of elegantly dressed people in 1920s evening wear, behind a typewriter and a martini glass. Text reads, Essential Opera presents Etiquette by Monica Pearce. A short opera film. Enter to win a household streaming pass!

Big thanks to @essentialopera.bsky.social for supporting our Benefit + Awareness Month for the second year in a row! Two lucky winners will each snag a Skip food delivery gift card, alongside a household pass to stream one of Essential Opera's digital opera films, 'Etiquette' or 'December'.

Against an aqua background is a woven grey gift basket containing noise cancelling headphones, a grey and white plushie shaped like a shiba inu, a colouring book, pot-it fidget toy journal, moon light, fairy light photo clips, lavender heat pack, and aqua migraine ice cap.

Against a light blue background is a rustic chicken wire gift basket filled with bath and beauty items, including an eco-friendly cleansing set, soothing face masks, microfibre face towel, blue rose candle holder with tealight, bath puff, silicon scalp brush, artisanal soap, gua shah, face roller, vegan lip balm, acupressure balls, sleep mask, Raymond Chow art print, and a bottle of bath salts.

In front of a light blue backdrop is an aqua suede tray, filled with a set of bath and body items by Beauty Concepts. Items include a hair turban, plush socks, and vanilla shea shower steamers, hand cream, body oil and body lotion. The entire set is decorated with silver and gold rose designs.

Against a light purple backdrop is a flatlay of a large black zipped tote embroidered with purple, green and teal bird and rose designs; bejewelled purple butterfly sunglasses; Powecom KN95 masks in a rainbow of colours; a stainless steel water bottle; a glitter ring phone kick stand; blue and beaded gunmetal headbands; a small card with a purple butterfly necklace; patterned pink and black socks with birds and cherry blossoms; and an "immunikey" keychain multitool.

Our Benefit + Awareness prize draw features gift baskets & prize packs galore 🌟 Which one’s your fave?

Don’t miss your chance to enter to win these & many more prizes, while benefiting @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social & the #ChronicIllness community. Head over to prizedraw.operamariposa.com til June 1!

Against a wooden surface, two pearl earring drops are caged in interwoven pink chainmail rings, hanging from a glass vase. In front of that is a necklace that looks like it's made of intricate pink and gold alternating beads, but each bead is woven out of chainmail rings.

Closeup of the Sweetpea necklace against a wooden surface, featuring alternating pink and gold "beads" woven out of chainmail rings.

Closeup of Artemis earrings hanging from a glass vase, featuring pearl drops caged within interlocked pink chainmail rings.

Celebrate our #BAMonth2025 in style ✨ One lucky winner will receive a 'Sweet Pea' necklace & 'Artemis' earrings from our charity prize draw, handcrafted by chainmail jewelry designer Donald McKillican.

#EnterToWin at prizedraw.operamariposa.com til June 1 in support of @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social!

Screen cap of a Zoom meeting featuring people of all ages and genders, some with cameras on and some with cameras off. Those with cameras on are raising mugs of tea or coffee with smiles on their faces, many of them wearing blue.

Thanks you so much for joining us for today's #BlueSunday2025 #TeaPartyForME2025. However you participated - whether you joined the Zoom, hung out in blue PJs, or treated yourself to a nice cuppa tea - we hope you've felt the strength &joy of being in community today 💙 @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social

Closeup of nine buttercream-frosted chocolate cupcakes from Maya's Cupcake Bouquets. They're decorated to look like elaborate flowers, including a variety of blue roses and dainty clusters of purple blossoms. The cupcakes sit on a porcelain rose-pattern plate, on a blue tablecloth with a faint butterfly pattern. In the background can be glimpsed some out-of-focus scones and a plate of pink and spring green macarons.

To participate asynchronously, follow @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social on socials for pics from our event. And join the global ME community sharing and posting their home tea party setups online for #BlueSunday2025, in support of a great cause!

Blue Sunday with Opera Mariposa Join Opera Mariposa and the ME | FM Society of BC to celebrate "Blue Sunday", the worldwide tea party for ME.

🔗 Register to get the Zoom link: bluesunday.operamariposa.com
🫖 Bring your fave tea and a snack (or whatever you like best)
💙 Connect with community from the comfort of home (allies are welcome)
🎁 If you can, donate what you'd spend at a café to our charity benefit!

Against a watercolour background of light blue, purple and teal is an image of a blue teacup and purple flowers. Next to Mariposa's red swallowtail butterfly, text reads, You are cordially invited to our Blue Sunday tea party social fundraiser, hosted by the ME | FM Society of BC. Join on Zoom, or follow along on socials. Sunday, May 18th at 1 pm PT / 4 pm ET. Register and find accessibility information: BlueSunday.OperaMariposa.com. Bring tea & a snack. Celebrate in community. Donate to support a great cause.

We look forward to connecting with some of you online at 1 pm Pacific / 4 pm Eastern, at our Blue Sunday Tea Party Social. Graciously hosted by @mefmsocietyofbc.bsky.social and their board member @sophiehharrison.bsky.social, it’s easy to take part...

A closeup of Mariposa general manager Stephanie Ko, seen past a screen of out-of-focus blue-purple hyacinth flowers. She is a disabled Chinese-Canadian woman with long dark hair, blue-rimmed glasses and a sea blue top, holding a porcelain teacup with a pink and silver rose pattern, glancing off to the side with a smile on her face. The background behind her is out of focus, with gleams of of light and green foliage glinting through a window.

Happy #BlueSunday2025! Today's the beloved annual Tea Party for M.E., and we're thrilled to join all the people around the world who are raising awareness and funds for #MECFS with their own personal tea parties at home 🫖 💙

#pwME #TeaPartyForME2025