The Hummingbird

Lisa McMartin (she/her), Executive Assistant, Office of the President and Vice Chancellor

The hummingbird is one of the most fascinating birds because of its ability to move its body swiftly, change direction quickly and smoothly, seemingly gliding from one place to another. The hummingbird is symbolically significant in a variety of cultures and regions, often associated with joy, healing, beauty, resilience, love, and communication. So, as you head into this new year, call on the hummingbird to help bring a positive outlook during challenging times and find ways to face these challenges with optimism and a sense of connection with the world around you.

This mural is a symbolic representation of the scales of justice and the nonbinary lens through which we must see our world. The statue-like figure holds the words “together” and “empowered” in its hands, necessarily connected by the figure while at the same time separated and elusive. In order to work in solidarity to abolish any and all forms of discrimination and oppression, we must join together to empower and lift each other up. The mural is painted with heavy-body acrylic paint and the illustration style is similar to that of graffiti and street art — both utilized to emphasize the imperfect nature of our journey toward social justice. The artist’s hope is that people will see this piece through a window of Room B164 on the Abbotsford campus and feel compelled to come inside and learn more about what the Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub stands for and how they can help in the movement for change.