University Hall Mural

Artist Statement: 

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My concept for the mural combines a landscape of the Oldman river valley, a buffalo, and a quilt. The landscape is from a point of view upriver from the university grounds, where I spent a lot of time walking and meditating during my time as a student in Lethbridge. It was not until I moved away that I realized how great a privilege it is to have access to such a space. I know many people feel the same when spending time in the river bottom, and how important it is for everyone to be reminded of the beauty and significance of the surrounding environment.

 

The buffalo, not something you see now in this landscape, is both a reminder of our history and a hope for the future. The buffalo have experienced tragedy, having almost reached extinction, and yet continue to survive with the help of those who care about them. The value that they bring both environmentally and culturally cannot be understated. As a keystone species, the buffalo signifies the health of the overall environment, and through many Indigenous led efforts they are starting to reclaim the space they once held.

 

The quilt brings everything together through a warm and welcoming embrace. Quilting is a practice that I have been taught by my grandmother. Quilting has a rich history around the world and across cultures; it has always represented diversity, community, and connection through its designs. I chose a variation of a star block pattern, as the star is a common design in quilting and seen in many iterations across cultures. The colours I've chosen for the quilt blocks were partially taken from colours found in the landscape, as well as colours found in the diversity of skin tones.

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