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DAKHOTA ANCESTORS
The arrangement of the mural is very symmetrical. At the center of the mural is a budding flower and the there is a woman’s face on each side of the flower. On the other side of the women’s faces there is another set of flowers. The focal point of the mural is on the two women that are facing each other. The Mural is full of different bold and vibrant colors with a solid dark grey backdrop. The simplicity of the backdrop makes the color of the women’s earrings and shirts stand out even more. The bright color gives an upbeat and positive vibe to the mural. An even thickness black line outlines almost every shape within the mural. The black line gives a crisp and polished finish to the mural making it feel extremely professional and detail oriented. The only shape in the mural not outlined by black are the solid white triangles within the earrings while even the polka dots on the shirt are outlined. The lines are both straight and sharp as well as rounded in the face and braids. The mural has the texture of a cinderblock wall behind it. When looking at the piece from a far the texture isn’t noticeable because your eye is drawn to the crisp colors and women’s faces however when you get up-close to look at detail the block texture is noticeable. The overcoming of the texture gives the women depicted an air of resiliency and overcoming obstacles in their own personal lives as they conquer the texture of the wall derailing their spotlight. One of the ways that the artist creates depth is within the women themselves. The braids of the women are obstructing the view of the women’s shirts and part of their faces. The way the jaw is outlined also creates a sense of depth with her chin seeming to protrude slightly from her throat. -
Little Ancestors & Land Back
“Little Ancestors” depicts two Indigenous female characters, one is wearing a hat, along with mushrooms, the sun, and a mountain, all smiling. They are in a nature scene with a river, trees, and the blue sky. It uses natural colors including blues, reds, and greens. They are bright in color, but remain something you would find in nature. The two human characters are placed in the foreground to emphasize their presence. The characters depict two native women. The texture is very smooth with only a little texture found on the trees. Otherwise, it would be smooth to the touch. The mural is drawn in a style known as kawaii. Kawaii is a Japanese artistic and cultural style that emphasizes the quality of cuteness using bright colors and characters with a childlike appearance. “Land Back” depicts fruit (strawberries, grapes, blueberries) and animals (a hummingbird and a frog) as its characters. They are all smiling. This mural uses bright pastel colors that are not natural including pink, blue, green, and purple. The title “Land Back” is drawn in bubble letters and centered on the wall which works to draw your attention immediately to the wording. The mural includes different colors of hearts, clouds, and sparkles in the background. This mural has little texture. Everything is very smooth besides the seeds drawn on the strawberries. -
Unci Maka
Composition: The mural features a balanced and symmetrical composition extending across a large exterior wall. Key focal points include the quilt star-like motif and the text “UNCI MAKA,” positioned centrally within the mural. The arrangement of the sunflowers, flowers, and flying creatures creates harmony and directs the viewer's eye along the length of the mural.
Color: The color palette of the mural consists of light blue as the background, contrasting with yellow for the sunflowers, red and orange for the quilt star motif, and purple-pink for the cone flowers. The use of color highlights key elements and directs the viewer’s attention toward the text and central quilt star motif.
Line: The mural includes a variety of line types, from thick outlines that define the primary shapes (such as the flowers, star, and insects) to the curves in the petals and bees’ wings. Curved lines dominate, giving the mural a sense of movement and flow. The straight lines in the text contrast with the rounded, organic forms, providing balance and structure. This contrast between straight and curved lines emphasizes the text, separating it from the surrounding elements.
Texture: The mural is painted on a rough wall, but the painted forms use smooth, solid color fills with consistent line work. The contrast between the wall’s physical texture and the visual appearance of the paint creates a dynamic effect. The physical texture of the wall connects the mural to its setting, interacting with natural light and changing its appearance based on the time of day.
Space: The mural uses a clear spatial arrangement, with flowers, text, and the star in the middle ground. Foreground elements include the larger flowers, like the sunflowers and cone flowers. The background is composed mainly of the blue sky and white clouds, establishing a sense of depth. The perspective remains flat, with elements on a single plane, maintaining focus on each object. Overlapping elements, such as the flowers, bees, and butterflies, create a layered visual experience. -
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.