Waasamo-inini (holds the lightning) in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe)
- Title
- Waasamo-inini (holds the lightning) in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe)
- Creator
- Miskitoos Henning Garcia
Holly Henning, also known as Miskitoos, is an active visual artist and muralist. She is a Marten Falls Anishinaabe First Nation, Constance Lake Oji-Cree First Nation. She is a lead organizer for a BIPOC artist collective in the Twin Cities called City Mischief Murals. She uses art as a way for voices in the community to be heard, promote healing, and create change. She has been part of several community art events and projects throughout the United States, Canada, Africa, and Mexico. She uses art to address and explore contemporary indigenous struggle.
- Date
- Date of Creation: August 2021
Date of Documentation: October 28, 2024 - Description
- 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.
- Subject
- Miskitoos Garcia’s mural, “Waasamo-inini (holds the lightning),” expresses her cultural identity and serves as a visual interpretation of her family. She includes traditional and symbolic Anishinaabe elements within the mural. At the heart of her mural is her family. She celebrates her son, partner, and her own cultural identity. The theme of family is most important to her work. The title "Waasamo-inini (holds the lightning)" represents her son’s Anishinaabe name. He is the one who is holding the lightning bolt that is in the center of the mural. I think it is important how this is the main central focus of the mural as the lines are radiating away from the center of the wall where his fist is. His fist is an important symbol of strength and power. Miskitoos Garcia wants to “address, explore and portray contemporary indigenous struggle.” The act of clenching the lightning bolt communicates power and strength, which reflects the strength of indigenous communities. This image highlights the message that there is the ability to rise and endure when faced with struggle and adversity. The bear on the left side of the mural represents her clan, Mukwa nindoodem (bear clan). This is a reflection of her identity and what clan she is a part of. The bear claw prints across the mural are important because they represent her son's clan. The bird on the far right side of the mural represents her partner’s clan, Binesi nindoodem (bird clan). All of these different elements in the mural come together to connect her relationships and to create her cultural identity. Overall, this mural is dedicated to her family, but it also brings awareness to her identity and the community that she is part of. The elements that are shown throughout the mural are important symbols that represent her community and the different clans.
- Rights
- Artist: Miskitoos Henning Garcia
Researcher: Lexi Huber - Source
- “Miskitoos Henning Garcia.” Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival, www.chromazone.net/miskitoos-henning-garcia. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
“Indigenous Roots | Art In This Present Moment.” YouTube, YouTube, 10 Nov. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HDcGRMrAEw.
“Intertribal Cultural Corridor.” Indigenous Roots, indigenous-roots.org/intertribal-cultural-corridor. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Files
Collection
Citation
Miskitoos Henning Garcia
Holly Henning, also known as Miskitoos, is an active visual artist and muralist. She is a Marten Falls Anishinaabe First Nation, Constance Lake Oji-Cree First Nation. She is a lead organizer for a BIPOC artist collective in the Twin Cities called City Mischief Murals. She uses art as a way for voices in the community to be heard, promote healing, and create change. She has been part of several community art events and projects throughout the United States, Canada, Africa, and Mexico. She uses art to address and explore contemporary indigenous struggle.
, “Waasamo-inini (holds the lightning) in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe),” Museum in the streets: Murals in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, accessed February 19, 2026, https://mspmurals.omeka.net/items/show/6.