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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.