Title: Tawa

Artist: Colleen Gray

Tribal Affiliation: Mi'kmaq/Acadian/Irish

Year Completed: 2020

Medium: Watercolour on Arches 140lb Cold Pressed Paper, Framed

Dimensions (HxWxD): 18x14" in frame. Original work is 7x10

Description/Inspiration:

In Cree this means come in, you are welcome here; we have room for you. When the cold days came to the Canadian Shield, home was everything. To welcome people to your home was to honor the very spirit of community and the act of kindness. - This work is framed with conservation non-glare glass and linen matting in a solid wood. Framed in 2021

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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