Co.Lab Gallery presents

TEENAGE MECHANISMS

KAMRYN WOLOSCHUK

Exhibition opening Friday May 2, 7 PM.

Exhibition continues until May 25, 2025.

Teenage Mechanisms is a photographic exhibition and book by Kamryn Woloschuk in collaboration with the Regional Multicultural Youth Council. Through portraits, still-life compositions, and in-depth interviews, the exhibition offers an intimate glimpse into the mental health experiences of ten teenagers in Thunder Bay. By centering their voices and coping mechanisms, Teenage Mechanisms invites viewers to witness the quiet resilience and complex inner worlds of youth who are often unheard.

The exhibition does not aim to generalize, but instead foregrounds individual stories that touch on themes of racism, gender identity, intergenerational trauma, and the pressures of coming of age. These testimonies reveal both personal and systemic struggles, and underline the importance of safe spaces, mentorship, and community support. In doing so, the work challenges stigma, sparks conversation, and calls for greater empathy toward youth navigating mental health challenges.

Teenage Mechanisms is a call to listen—without judgment, without assumption—and to recognize the strength and softness within vulnerability. It reminds us that fostering connection and understanding can be a powerful force for healing and change.

Framed prints are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the Regional Multicultural Youth Council. Pay-what-you-can book donations also go toward sustaining youth-led initiatives.

Artist Bio
Kamryn Woloschuk (b. 2001) is a queer photographer and multidisciplinary artist from Thunder Bay, Ontario. She is the recipient of the Luna Bursary and the Alumni Award at the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa, as well as a Youth & Cultural Funding grant from the City of Thunder Bay for her photojournalism book on youth mental health. Woloschuk’s practice centers around themes of identity, wellness, and community, with a focus on storytelling that fosters intimacy and empathy. Through quiet yet powerful visual narratives, she aims to create work that supports healing, connection, and deeper reflection.