Unci Maka
- Title
- Unci Maka
- Creator
- Thomasina Top Bear
Thomasina Top Bear is a self-taught mural artist from the Santee Dakota and Oglala Lakota nations. Since 2015, she has been part of Few & Far Women, which is an international crew of artists. She also helped to co-found City Mischief Murals, a group of BIPOC artists based in the Twin Cities. Thomasina’s art is inspired by her Indigenous heritage and graffiti background. Through her work, she expresses ideas about community, social justice, culture, feminism, and unity. - Date
- Date of Creation: 08/2021
Date of Documentation: 10/26/2024 - Description
- 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. - Subject
- Unci Maka, translates to "Grandmother Earth" in Lakota/Dakota, and can serve as a reflection of Lakota/Dakota cultural heritage and has a significant spiritual meaning. There is a Morning Star, which is shown in the mural as a star shaped quilt pattern and symbolizes a connection between the Lakota/Dakota world and their ancestors. The Sunflowers and other pink flowers are plants that are native to Minnesota that have been known to have traditional healing uses in Lakota/Dakota culture. The Sunflower is especially important to the Lakota people because it was a symbol of prayer and endurance. The Hummingbird, Monarch butterflies, and Bumblebees in the mural show how important pollinators are for life on Earth. They help spread seeds and pollinate plants to keep ecosystems alive. The Hummingbird, called Thanagila in Lakota, is seen as the bird of the Sun and a lover of plants. Thomasina Top Bear chose to use the Lakota/Dakota term Unci Maka instead of "Mother Earth" is a way to reclaim culture and language. Unci Maka shows the importance of representing Indigenous traditions, especially after years of forced assimilation and attempts to erase their culture. The mural reminds us that Lakota and Dakota people are still here and reclaiming their space.
- Rights
- Artist: Thomasina Top Bear
Researcher: Aubrey Mathiowetz - Source
- Topbear, Thomasina. “Thomasina Topbear.” Chroma Zone, Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival, https://www.chromazone.net/thomasina-topbear. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“Lakota Fire Coneflower (Echinacea 'Lakota Fire').” North Shore Plant Club, https://www.northshoreplantclub.com/plant?ID=18723. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“The Sunflower Medallion.” Lakota Times, https://www.lakotatimes.com/articles/the-sunflower-medallion/#:~
=The%20Lakota%20people%20respected%20the,the%20four%20days%20of%20sundance. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
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Citation
Thomasina Top Bear Thomasina Top Bear is a self-taught mural artist from the Santee Dakota and Oglala Lakota nations. Since 2015, she has been part of Few & Far Women, which is an international crew of artists. She also helped to co-found City Mischief Murals, a group of BIPOC artists based in the Twin Cities. Thomasina’s art is inspired by her Indigenous heritage and graffiti background. Through her work, she expresses ideas about community, social justice, culture, feminism, and unity., “Unci Maka,” Museum in the streets: Murals in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, accessed March 10, 2026, https://mspmurals.omeka.net/items/show/18.