Beastly Two-Eyed Festival See-er by Clinton Minault
Clinton Minault
Beastly Two-Eyed Festival See-er
Site #1
Churchill Square
11:00am-9:30pm
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
“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 Colonized social structures. Celebrations are vital in engaging healthy communities, while respecting the earth that we are all here to preserve and enjoy.
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.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Clinton Minault is a two-spirit Beaver Cree, Metis artist and student residing on unceded Treaty 6 Territory, in amiskwaciy waskahikan ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ, also known as Edmonton. Being of mixed ancestry, Clinton is also a descendant of settlers and recognizes their privileges.
Being born and raised in northern Alberta inspired their interest in nature, while later introductions to metropolitan centers influenced their passion for design. Learning about traditional Indigenous Arts inspires much of their artworks. By using simple natural elements of life in a surreal context, they intend for a therapeutic release during production and audience viewing.
Clinton’s research, interests and perspectives have been shaped by a search for family history, which has translated into educational artworks. By using predominantly recycled materials, Clinton reimagines traditional arts in innovative ways, striving to develop accessible, educational public art that narrates the importance of our displaced wild animal populations through storytelling.