Swept from the corners of my mind…
Above my desk at work is one of my most treasured possessions. Some call it folk art. Some call it “a kid’s project”. I call it genius.
When I taught Adult Upgrading, I met a lot of incredible people. For instance, Alice (name changed). Alice didn’t have a lot of money. What student does? But she had pride in her culture and a brilliant imagination.
The assignment was to do a visual representation of the components of culture. Using what she had on hand Alice created stunning art.
The frame is roughly 3 feet by 2 feet, a later addition made of rough wood, painted with the colors of the Medicine Wheel. The canvas is just a piece of slightly-wrinkled beige cardboard, attached to the frame with big chunks of duct tape. Layers of felt, small metal teardrop shapes, plasticene, fake hair, cloth, ribbon, blue feathers, and glittering makeup fill the space. The result is a glorious jingle dress dancer in all her regalia.
Her outfit is a ribbon skirt and matching top in red, black, and yellow felt. Rows of bells, painstakingly cut from aluminum cans, sparkle on the skirt and shirt. Each is ascribed with a component of culture. Written with the same fuzzy-tipped marker that labels the image and with which she signed her name, some are difficult to read.
Spend a little time, though, and you will make out all the elements we discussed in the course: geography, economy, history, government, spiritual and religious beliefs, family, communication styles, love (in block letters!), values, recreation, entertainment, music, dance, stories and legends, technology, food and eating, habits, rituals like birth, marriage, and death, manners, celebrations, education, rewards and recognitions, symbolic materials, worldview, style of humour and ways of showing affection. All the factors that create a person’s culture are individually written on almost 30 tiny teardrop tags.
The bells grace the dancer’s neat figure and frame the dark hand holding the puff of blue feathers representing a feather fan. Long, dark, curly hair flows in braids on either side of her smiling plasticene face, and a few bright white and yellow feathers perch jauntily on her head. Sparkling gold eyeshadow, lipstick and blush compliment her dark brown skin; glittering blue nail polish coordinates with the flowers and neck scarf she wears. A small brown handbag swings from her right arm as she smiles confidently at the viewer. The pose is confident and anticipatory.
This is the image of a strong, confidant indigenous woman. She knows who she is and what has shaped her. Effortlessly blending her heritage, the ways of women, and touches of modernity, she awaits her turn to celebrate the creator in the healing dance. I was amazed at the complex simplicity of the project.
At the end of the course, I realized that Alice was going to dispose of her assignment, its job done. I begged her not to throw it away, and she graciously gifted it to me. For over a decade this beautiful representation has blessed my classroom or office.
I have lost touch with “Alice”, but I will always treasure her creation as an homage to the pride, dignity, and innovation found in her culture and gender. Ekosi, Alice”. I will always treasure your gift.
Cathy Bendle finds humor in the quirks of everyday life, from training teachers to dodging housework. When not writing, she’s either laughing at her pets, frantically Googling for her work assignments, or playing on her iPad. Her column runs every other Wednesday.
