Beastly Two-Eyed Festival See-er by Clinton Minault
SITE #1:
Sir Winston Churchill Square
Clinton Minault
Beastly Two-Eyed Festival See-er
Previously loved pieces of wood have been chopped and reincarnated into a lookout where you can view the Works Festival. Wild Woods Bison are herbivores with eyes on the sides of their heads, living their lives through Two-Eyed Seeing. Introducing the Indigenous Lens this way reminds us to be conscious of our ecological footprints.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Made predominantly of previously used materials, Beastly Two-Eyed Festival See-er challenges you to re-use things, injecting love back into previously discarded goods and creating new joy. ”
The majestic Wood Bison, sluggishly striding across the Albertan landscape, appears deceptively docile. However, Wood Bison can run up to 35 mph., are agile in a way that allows them to make quick turns, jump obstacles, and swim effectively. Bison eyesight is believed to be poor, with an enriched sense of hearing and scent. This bison’s eyesight is a little different…
Common lumber is readily available to recycle. It often has blemishes on the ends, leaving most of the material for building. I have been told resourcefulness is a Metis characteristic that can be passed down through blood memory, like the history of our people before us.
Two-Eyed Seeing is when we see life through a double lens, such as embracing traditional Indigenous ways of being while adapting to the Colonised social structures. Celebrations are vital in engaging healthy communities, while respecting the earth that we are all here to preserve and enjoy.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Clinton Minault is a Two-Spirit Beaver-Cree Métis artist and emerging scholar residing on unceded Treaty 6 Territory in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). Of mixed ancestry and descended from settlers, he acknowledges the privileges and responsibilities of this history, grounding his practice in accountability, reflection, and reciprocity. He is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts at MacEwan University, where he explores diverse mediums as part of an expansive and evolving creative journey. Researching his family history has deepened Clinton’s connection to Indigeneity, land, and kinship networks, often drawing his focus toward nature and wildlife. He strives to create accessible, educational public art that highlights the realities of displaced wild animal populations, weaving stories through visual art. Incorporating traditional arts and techniques such as weaving in innovative ways, and working predominantly with recycled materials, he emphasizes sustainability, care for the land, and the enduring responsibilities of kinship.
Website: www.freckledwoodpecker.com