Belly of the Bull by Clinton Minault
SITE #1:
Sir Winston Churchill Square
Clinton Minault
Belly of the Bull
Belly of the Bull is a life-size sculpture of a Woods Buffalo created out of recycled shopping bags and wood. A bench inside the sculpture provides the audience with a place to sit and gain insight from one of the great beasts that once roamed these lands. Belly of the Bull offers the community an experience of historical Indigenous storytelling and the opportunity to engage by not only seeing from inside of the artwork, but by sitting and being inside of it.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Belly of the Bull is a safe space for two friends to connect with each other while disconnecting from the loud stresses of our environments. ”
This sculpture is a life-size replica of a Plains Buffalo, paskwâwimostos ᐸᐢᑳᐧᐃᐧᒧᐢᑐᐢ, created out of wood and recycled materials. There is a familiar awkwardness about the size; an Indigeneity within a settler dominated society. Built inside of the body of the buffalo is a bench where two friends can sit and meditate together. This work prioritizes accessibility in art to reach communities that are in need of motivation, inspiration, or a place to sit.
Meditation is an important part of balance in Medicine Wheel teachings. The Medicine Wheel pedagogy reveals meditation as a mental health tool for finding balance. The sacred Great Plains Buffalo represents the resiliency of the Indigenous communities that have survived throughout their decline, while the materiality is a reminder of our responsibility as stewards of the land. My intention is to inspire people to utilize the wealth of materials around that are waiting to be transformed into their own visions and joyful creations.
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