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SOUTHWEST LIBRARY
Kitchener’s newest public art celebrates the relationships and stories that unite us all BY KRYSTIN SCHEELS
W
hen Kitchener Public Library’s Southwest branch opened in March it featured the newest addition to the city’s public art collection. Wintertime Stories, by visual artists Isaac Murdoch and Nyle Miigizi Johnston, tells a powerful story that celebrates the relationship between generations, species and the earth. The 50 foot long wall sculpture is rooted in the Anishinabek storytelling tradition, intersecting cultures and life in the northern woodlands. “Wintertime is our Indigenous time for academia, our own education,” said Murdoch. “It’s our time for art and intellectual knowledge systems to be taught and shared. Indigenous education is a high level of education – it’s not just something that’s folklore or rhetoric. When I think about our ancestors, they knew how to live on these lands without a garbage can. Today’s society – western education systems – cannot produce a society that can live without a garbage can.” The piece explores and honours connection to the earth and to each other, but also the traditional sharing of knowledge within Indigenous communities. “Storytelling is a legacy of my family,” said Johnston. “These stories are a part of me, so they are naturally going to come out in things that I create. Starting from a place that acknowledges the importance, validity and beauty of these stories, I then look to what narrative and images will best por-
The 50 foot wall sculpture Wintertime Stories can been seen above the Southwest Library’s main programming room. The library is located at 100 Rosenberg Way in Kitchener. Photo by Helen Hall Wintertime Stories was sea meaningful and impactful tray them.” Wintertime Stories represents lected in 2023 from more than piece by two talented Indigan acknowledgement of First 40 submissions to an open call enous artists,” said Mayor Nations’ relationships to the for proposals that aimed to pri- Berry Vrbanovic. “I think it can land on which KPL Southwest oritize underrepresented artists remind us of all the important was built. It also introduces In- from Indigenous or immigrant things that connect us, whether digenous representation in the backgrounds. Jurors felt John- that’s the earth we all share, the City of Kitchener’s public art ston and Murdoch’s proposal people we share our life with, of stylized shapes and natural or the community that brings collection for the first time. Both artists are represent- materials would fit the new us together. I can’t wait to see ed by Highness Global Inc., library’s design, and that its our community discover and with their artwork brought to warmth and playfulness would explore this piece for themlife through the creative sup- lend itself to interpretive con- selves.” The artwork branches out port of the firm’s design team. tent and activities. The piece Highness Global Inc. proudly also embodies eco-conscious from a large central maple leaf, champions a roster of artists, themes that align with the sus- with a flowing design incorpoincluding a division of Indig- tainable focus of the facility’s rating images of nature, animals and people of all generations enous artists, working in close net-zero build. “It’s wonderful to see the living in harmony, celebrating collaboration to translate their visions into larger-scale works city’s public art collection the power community holds grow with the addition of such while maintaining a connection and new, impactful contexts.
to creation, ancestors and tradition. It was designed to invite people to recognize familiar figures and enter the piece at any point, travelling through a narrative of togetherness and showing how we are all bound together by our shared environment and social fabric. Natural tones of Baltic birch plywood are punctuated by colourful laser-cut acrylic produced from recycled plastic, creating a sense of movement within the artwork as the colours change with light during the day and night. Many figures throughout the piece have prominent pink hearts, a characteristic of Murdoch’s style. “Wintertime Stories layers a vital presence and perspective into the Southwest Library, aligning beautifully with the facility’s intent to honour, unveil and share knowledge about our past and potential futures,” said Eric Rumble, Kitchener’s Arts and Creative Industries Coordinator. “The artists’ balance of complex ideas and inviting style result in an incredible artwork that creates a new space to connect with First Nations’ wisdom and woodland culture as the city expands and evolves.” Wintertime Stories is installed in the main programming space at the Southwest Library located at 100 Rosenberg Way. Krystin Scheels works for the City of Kitchener. For more information watch the short film, Wintertime Stories: As Told by the Artists, produced by Bawaadan Collective and available on Kitchener’s YouTube channel.