Title: Black Snake Prophecy

Artist: Colleen Gray

Tribal Affiliation: Mi'kmaq/Acadian/Irish

Year Completed: 2016

Medium: Ground mineral watercolour paint on synthetic paper (unframed)

Dimensions (HxWxD): 9x12"

Description/Inspiration:

This piece was inspired by the battle for clean drinking water that took place at Standing Rock, North Dakota in a stand that began on December 1, 2016. The fight for the right to clean water continues to happen all over the world today. Water truly is life. In this work, I didn't need to create the story - it was already being written by Water Protectors south of us who were standing up for the right to enjoy what Mother Earth and the Star Nation has freely provided for us in abundance. I am proud to be alive at a time when the world is waking up to the wisdom of walking in beauty on this benevolent and beautiful planet. The alarm is certainly sounding and I hope more people wake up quickly.

Artist Bio/Statement:

Colleen Gray is an Indigenous artist of Mi'kmaq, Acadian and Irish descent living in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Colleen grew up along the Petawawa River in Ontario, Canada. In 2019 she was awarded the Governor General of Canada's Sovereign Medal for Volunteering for her efforts with Art for Aid (www.artforaid.ca), a grassroots initiative that sees remote Indigenous schools receiving donated art supply shipments. Colleen sells her original art to generate a personal income, but creates beautiful art products that she sells to help fuel the demanding shipping and operations budget of her project.

Colleen's art medium of choice is ground mineral watercolour paint on synthetic paper. The remarkable use of earth-based minerals in the paint give dynamic and fluid emotion to her work. The paintings often contain subtle yet visible "spirits" embedded in the nooks and crannies of the painting that give each viewer a unique perspective when looking at her work. Colleen's work is influenced by her understanding of Indigenous culture gained through working with her Cree Elder (Thunderchild Reserve, Saskatchewan) and community over the past 20 years with her focus highlighting the spiritual mystery of the Indigenous belief system. Each painting comes with a story that helps to convey her understanding and acquired knowledge and it is an integral part of the work.

Please note:

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