Browse Items (4 total)
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Defend, Grow, Nurture Phillips
The Defend, Grow, Nurture Phillips mural is located on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, which is in the Phillips neighborhood. This mural was painted on a large, wide building. The mural's focal point is six indigenous people painted in the center, with a woman breastfeeding and holding her out her hand, as the main figure. There are many generations represented, including two elders (the last two people on the right). There is a man to the left of the breastfeeding mother, another woman with a child in front of her to the right of the mother, a man to the right of the woman and child, and another woman to the right of the man. Sunflowers, along with other plants and flowers, surround the people, forming a square with one large sunflower at the far-left edge. The sunflowers depict scenes that are of importance to the community. The people are all facing to the left and appear to be in protest. Two large triangles are pointing to the right and left, which are formed near the group of people. Inside the triangle pointing to the right, there is a silhouette of people protesting. The left side of the mural depicts mountains in the background and items representing disruption, gentrification, and destruction. The right side of the mural depicts water with tepees being reflected in it and buildings behind the more modern tepees on the top. There are constellations on the top and bottom, along with circular stars with figures depicted in them. There are also northern lights in the top right. The main tones of the mural are earthy browns and reds with cool tones on the right side.
The composition of the mural has people as the focal point, depicted at the mural's center, with the mother being the focus. The balance of light and dark shades of paint for the skin tones adds depth and creates a sunshine-like effect. The two triangles balance the scenes depicted on each side, which also creates symmetry. Another point of symmetry is the square made up of flowers and plants that surround the people. The four sunflowers create a square around the people in the center, which also adds symmetry. The tepees in the reflection of the water, along with the constellations, balance the buildings above them. The mountains and flowers appear to be distant in the background of the people. The middle and foreground are used to display the people and sunflowers, with one larger sunflower displayed in the background. The dark brown triangles add depth to the images displayed. The protest silhouette is in the middle ground. The contrast of light and dark on the far-right side adds depth. The oil, gun, crane, needle, danger sign warning against arsenic and lead, and barbed wire are in the foreground and part of the middle ground. The tepees are in the foreground, and the buildings and other tepees are in the middle ground. The stars and constellations are in the background and foreground.
Yellow curved lines outline the people, which show their importance and make them seem like they are surrounded by sunshine. Curved lines over the tepee represent waves, which create a sense of peace and tranquility. There are also straight lines that are formed by the two large triangles, creating a frame around the people and a visual sense of direction to the scenes depicted on both sides. The straight lines of the barbed wire in the bottom left corner point at the mother, who appears to be deflecting them along with the oil, gun, and crane. The curvy lines of the constellations and northern lights at the top right are reflected in the water and represent nature now and then. The paint adds texture through the sharp appearance of the barbed wire and the hook attached to the crane. The thin brush strokes of the feather attached to the headband on the child’s head make it look soft and fluffy.
The colors in the mural are very earthy in their tone. The mountains and hills displayed on the left use brown, peachy tones, which give it a very peaceful tone, contrasting with the filth and desecration of land shown in the bottom left corner with unattractive tones and themes. The scene on the right uses cool tones, which could represent water and bring a calming message. The dark blues used in the top left corner are meant to show the impacts and changes due to colonization. The bright colors around the people show that they are full of light and connected to the earth through the flowers. The yellow shows that the people are full of light.
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The Kaposia Times
This mural, located in the Chroma Zone at 715 Raymond Avenue, St. Paul MN (Imníža Ská), was created by Marlena Myles in 2021. The mural consists of one wall split into four sections. Starting from the left: we see outlines of buildings making up the Minneapolis skyline above and behind some clouds – both (skyline and clouds) sitting behinds some branches of a sycamore tree with a few leaves. We also see stars in the sky as well as some native flowers in front of the skyline. The next section showcases a lighter blue from the background as the Minnesota River and Mississippi River, as well as a sailboat, tipis, and a heron around the water with additions of a horse, more flowers and stars. The next section to the right - and the focal point of the mural – depicts a Native couple sitting on a bench, reading the news entitled “The Kaposia Times” along with the text “Imníža Ská” which translates to “White bluffs/cliffs” and is the Dakota word for St. Paul. They both are wearing clothing that appears to be a fusion of Dakota and English styles, and the paper’s date of 1851 references the treaties such as the Treaty of Mendota and the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux that were signed the same year, perhaps accounting for the English influence in clothing. The couple are also both decorated with flowers in their hats and they both have traditional Dakota braids as well as moccasins. In the background we see a few more tipis and more of the Mississippi. The final section highlights the St. Paul skyline with added detail of the First National Bank Building, more stars, and a moon in front of the clouds the buildings sit behind. Below the clouds, we see more native wildlife – three buffalo as well as another horse and its tracks and two tipis. The layout of the mural is such that your eyes immediately go to the couple in the center, as the bench and woman’s dress contrast with the blue background. From there, you can follow the Mississippi to the left or right, towards St. Paul and the horse and buffalo, or towards Minneapolis – seeing the horse, heron, and sailboat, seeing stars and tipis either way. The mural utilizes many pastels, such as the blue background, pink and purple flowers, the sail, some buildings, horses, and the woman’s clothing. The stars are all yellow and oranges for leaves with some earthy tones like browns and tans used for the man’s clothing and top hat, buffalo, tipis, building, boat, stems, branches, and leaves. The use of color and palette is very similar to Marlena Myles’s “We Are On Dakota Land” bus, as well as similar design elements like the horses and some flowers. Her use of color refreshing and very unique to her, and if I had to describe it in one word, it would be optimistic. The mural utilizes very defined lines, with everything but the stars and curvy rivers being outlined in thin black lines, most being straight, other than the braids and curved items like flowers and animal bodies, making the mural detailed and defined. The mural was painted on a brick wall but that is very smooth allowing for an easy viewing experience. The lines of the brick are still defined, but the faces of the individual bricks are relatively flat, likely allowing for an easier surface to paint on. However, the wall’s structure has some additional texture as two sections stick out from the wall and this space is used to continue the mural, but towards the bottom is also the perfect size spot for an added flower (the same on each part sticking out). Myles also created depth on the mural by placing the items relative to each other, for example, the sycamore tree branch is right in your face, and behind it sits the buildings and clouds of the Minneapolis skyline. One can tell they are behind the branch because Myles places a leaf in front of them to partially cover up a building and cloud. The flower on the left-most wall also sits in front of the Minneapolis skyline, adding more depth. Other examples include tipis being different sizes to show distance and the heron and St. Paul sitting in front of the Mississippi. The foreground consists of plants and wildlife, the middle ground is the people, buildings, and clouds, and the background is the two rivers and a solid darker blue for the rest of the background. -
Dakȟóta Ancestors
The mural Dakȟóta Ancestors by Danielle SeeWalker is a representation of Native American culture and heritage. The composition of the mural is centered around two female figures who represent the ancestors of the Dakota people. The side profiles of the women are depicted from their upper chest to head. This emphasizes how the women are turned to face each other, and most likely gazing at each other. Surrounding them are various Dakota floral designs. When the mural is split vertically, it reveals a symmetrical structure, with a large floral piece at the center and each woman positioned on opposite sides. Another smaller floral design is placed next to each figure, balancing the overall composition. Furthermore, each floral design is vertically symmetrical, contributing to the harmony of the mural.
The color palette in the mural is bold and highly saturated utilizing a vibrant array of colors. SeeWalker incorporates a large spectrum of colors, from the bright green of the older woman’s garment to the grey of her hair. The younger woman is shown in a purple top with black hair. The surrounding floral designs feature a variety of bright colors, each unique in tone, which highlights their individuality. By choosing bold, rich colors rather than the stereotypical palette often associated with Native American art, SeeWalker conveys a sense of strength and pride in the heritage of the Dakhota people. There is no shading in this mural. This deliberate absence of shading might serve to strengthen the visual impact of the piece, allowing each section to stand out. Each color is separated by strong black outlines, which help define the individual elements and add clarity to the composition.In terms of line, SeeWalker uses thick black lines throughout the mural, with a predominance of curved shapes. Most of the floral elements are composed of curves that converge to form pointed tips, with circles at the center of each flower. The women themselves are framed by curved lines, and their braided hair is depicted with small, repetitive curves that flow inward to the middle floral piece. This curving pattern guides the viewer’s eye through the mural, creating a sense of movement and unity. The only straight lines in the mural appear in the earrings of the figures, which are triangular in shape and filled with four smaller white triangles, adding a sharp contrast to the other organic forms. Within the earrings, there are lines of various colors that serve as a background to the white triangles. Additionally, it is also important to note the absence of some lines. There are no lines to define the features of the women’s faces.
Texture is minimal in the mural, as the focus is placed on the clarity of shapes and the relationship between the figures and the surrounding elements. The smooth surface of the brick wall allows the paint to appear flat and uninterrupted. However, the patterned circles on the women’s garments may suggest beading or decorative embellishment, subtly introducing a sense of texture through design rather than surface variation. Regarding space, SeeWalker uses the negative space around the women as a background to highlight the main focus, which is the ancestral women and the floral. The dark gray background allows the colors of the mural to pop out. Additionally, there is no overlapping between the women and the florals, which keeps each element distinct and separate, further highlighting the importance for both the figures and the floral designs. Overall, the mural's composition, color, line, and space work well to convey a sense of ancestral and cultural pride, inviting viewers to reflect on the connection between the Dakota people and their heritage.
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Waasamo-inini (holds the lightning) in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe)
The composition of the mural is arranged to draw the viewer's eye toward the central element—the hand holding a lightning bolt. Positioned in the middle of the mural, this hand acts as the focal point, with every other element— the bear on the far left and the bird on the right—facing towards it. This arrangement creates a balance across the mural, with the elements on either side of the hand mirroring each other in positioning and adding asymmetrical balance. The radiating lines that start from the central hand further emphasize the focal point, guiding the viewer's gaze outward and creating a sense of energy coming from the lightning bolt.
The main colors used in the mural are different shades of blue for the background, yellow for the lightning bolts, and there are also other colors such as red, orange, black, white, and green used in the mural. There is contrast between the yellow used in the bolts, and blue in the background lines. This contrast draws attention to the central element of the mural and the bright yellow catches the eye of people who would walk by. These colors create a feeling of intensity and bring energy to the art.
The lines that extend outward from the center of the mural are mostly straight and bolded. Some are thicker than the others, but this creates a sense of movement within the piece and gives off a sense of power and strength. The radiating lines from the center of the mural draw the viewer’s eye towards the hand and ensures that all parts of the mural are connected. The contrast between straight and curved lines in the mural helps differentiate between the powerful central figure of the hand clenching a lightning bolt to the natural elements around it such as the bear and bear prints, the hearts, and the bird.
The texture of the mural has a natural roughness as the bricks on the wall contrasts with the application of paint, creating a sense of texture. The unevenness of the brick surface interacts with the sharp lines of the lightning bolts, making the bolts appear even more dynamic and sharper.
When looking at the space with the mural, the central hand and the lightning bolt seem to be part of the foreground due to its size and central placement. The bear on the left and the bird on the right occupy the middle ground, and the smaller lightning bolts and bear paws are in the background. The artist creates depth by creating lines that start from the central hand and they start small and grow larger as they move outward. The composition is layered, with the hand in the foreground and the bear and bird in the middle ground, while the background features smaller objects such as smaller lightning bolts that create a sense of distance.