Painted at Open Space in 2018
Acrylic on drywall
This mural represents the Star Blanket from my Oji-Cree roots (Waterhen Lake MB). Depicted within the colour of one star is a white central Sun representing my Grandfather who spent is early years living off the land in northern Manitoba. This mural is placed 18ft above a stairwell with blue, brown and green sections “reaching” towards the center. This was done to represent trees growing towards the Sun and receiving its teachings and warmth. I never met my Grandfather and have only heard stories, so the location above the stairs represents reaching and receiving teachings but never being able to touch them.
The second star blanket situated at the stair landing represents how our culture cannot be contained within a box and instead extends beyond it and how it’s perceived. The glass doors of Open Space artist run center, where both pieces were painted, to me represent a sort of glass case like the doors of a tourist shop. Many stores sell Indigenous “inspired” items, but few know what the designs actually mean. I wanted this piece to sort of critique the gaze of the unknowing tourist and the deeper meaning of our designs.