I have photographed many outdoor murals in Edmonton over the past two years. It’s something I began early in the pandemic because it was an activity where I could ride my bike and be outdoors. There’s lots out there to find and lots of talented artists. Many of those artists are Indigenous – in this post I’d like to highlight a few.
The Birds and Forrest Wall on Jasper Avenue and 104 Street I discovered when out for a walk during my lunch break from work. Downtown is truly a concrete jungle and I don’t walk to explore it’s grey facades. Mostly I’m thinking exercise so it’s a treat to discover street art. This piece by Destiny Swiderski is just off Beaver Hills House Park, Amiskwacîw Wâskâyhkan Ihâtwin. The Métis artist from BC transformed the back alley into an award-winning connector between Michael Phair Park and Beaver Hills House Park. With a focus on safety in the once dark alley Swiderski wanted to create a story which she did with 150 copper silhouettes of Bohemian waxwings swooping over a lodgepole forest. She enlisted the help of individuals from Edmonton organizations like iHuman and the Canadian Native Friendship Centre as collaborators. As knowledge holders and elders they became her teachers.
This next mural you may have seen if you’ve driven along 95 Street just north of 106 Avenue. It was created by Lance Cardinal for The Works Art and Design Festival.
ᓇᐢᐸᓯᓇᐦᐃᑫᐃᐧᐣ NASPASINAHIKEWIN
The Cree Syllabics translates to naspasinahikewin which means Art in Cree. Cardinal says it’s “such an honour to be creating something so bright that celebrates who we are in a good way and provides more opportunity to learn about our culture and language.”
You may also recognize his name as an Indigenous consultant with the Edmonton Oilers. His design that honours Turtle Island is colourful and celebrates hockey, sports and Indigenous people.
You may not have stumbled upon these next two murals of women tucked into the alley behind dc3 Art Gallery at 105 Avenue and 111 Street in Queen Mary Park. The gallery commissioned these pieces by Lauren Crazybull in March 2020.
Lauren Crazybull is a Niitsítapi, Dené painter. In her work Crazybull interrogates how Indigenous identities have been historically represented and understood through visual culture.
Back over on 95 St just north of 107 Avenue you’ll find the Hope: Round Dance Mural by Kris Freisen. Freisen sees art as transformative and transcending culture, age and gender. Human interaction is at the core of his work and that can be readily seen in this Giants of Edmonton mural that honours Hope Hunter and celebrates her work with Boyle Street Community Services. Hope is a mural inspired and influenced by First Nations people in Edmonton and promotes the cultural aspects of inclusion, diversity, and putting people first.
Freisen tells us the figures painted in a round dance weave into a striped band that is a graphic representation of the earth. As all of the people are a part of this band they belong to the earth together. Beneath is another band, this time yellow with stones or eggs that each hold different family or group dynamics. The idea here is to show the cycle of birth and rebirth, of endless possibilities. In the middle of the figures a medicine wheel and an eagle feather are painted representing the Aboriginal community as the foundation for all peoples here in Edmonton.
I haven’t been able to find out the name of the artist who did the murals at Bissell Centre on 105 Ave and 96 Street. Bissell is a critical component to healing Edmonton and many of the Centre’s clients are survivors or inter-generational survivors of the abusive residential school program. They often turned to risky behaviours to ease the pain of their past and eventually turn to Bissell and similar agencies for help.
Bissell encourages the revival and continuation of cultural practices. They have done a lot for the community over the years including developing the Strengthening Our Spirit program that combines Aboriginal teachings and sharing circles with life skills and pre-employment training. Programs like Cree language and art classes allow Bissell to contribute to reconciliation.
The youth at iHuman Youth Society created the next set which you can find at 96 Street and 102A Avenue. The front and alley sides of the building also have art that changes frequently as new pieces are created. iHuman Studios engages youth through creative endeavours such as music, fashion, visual art and performance studios. iHuman has helped hundreds of youth beat the odds and become contributing members of society.
This last one doesn’t have an artist signature but I wanted to include it because the colours are so vibrant and add much to the rail core behind the Canadian Linen Building across from the Stadium. If you walk around a bit you’ll see more.
