Minobimaadisiiwin

The Seven Grandfather Teachings — Honesty, Respect, Love, Humility, Truth, Wisdom, and Bravery — offer guidance on how to live in balance with oneself, others, and the natural world to achieve Minobimaadisiiwin, the good life. Rooted in the Anisininew worldview, these principles shape the foundation of this exhibition, which presents a series of seven hand-thrown vessels created during a residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, supported by
Canada Council for the Arts.

Each vessel embodies one of the teachings, serving as a tangible reminder of ways to live in a good way. Through textured surfaces of English, Anishininiimowin, and syllabics, the works bridge language, identity, and form. Techniques such as sgraffito, inlay, and slip are used to embed words, textures, and emotions into the clay, transforming each piece into both a vessel and a record of personal reflection.

The making process itself becomes a dialogue — between the artist, the earth, and the elements of fire and flame. Wheel throwing provides grounding and physical connection to the material, while the unpredictable nature of soda firing invites collaboration with natural forces that leave their own marks upon the surface.

In a time when disconnection feels pervasive, The Seven Grandfather Teachings offers a space to reflect on relationships with community, culture, and the land, and to remember the enduring relevance of traditional teachings in contemporary life.