Artistic opportunity

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

To most, the ribbed metal structure that resides on a tiny oasis at the far end of Lakehead University’s sprawling campus is little more than an eyesore.

To Elliott Doxtater-Wynn, however, it’s a canvas with endless opportunity.

On Tuesday the prominent local artist, with the help of some younger budding painters, began the task of transforming the container into a work of art befitting the peaceful sweat lodge space tucked into an empty parcel of land nestled between a soccer field and the Thunder Bay Country Club.

It was a project he was only too willing to jump into, brushes ready.

“Part of my own upbringing and even my own traditional name has to do with helping to beautify the world around me. Sometimes that kind of motivates me to offer my services into larger-scale projects like this,” said Doxtater-Wynn, who has a show of his work scheduled for Hamilton later this year and is presently enrolled in the education program at the university.

“Being part of the community, but also being part of Lakehead University and using my skills to help them is kind of my main motivation. But also, when I’m working with the elders of the community, it offers me a different type of traditional education and learning; so being in the garden and learning about the medicine and being in this place is actually helping me to learn as well.”

It’s a canvas unlike any he’s ever worked on in his life.

The ribbed metal sides and the sheer size of the container, about 40 feet by 15 feet, present plenty of challenges he said.

“That in itself is a challenge, but a challenge I was willing to accept.”

Though like any true artist, the final version of the design likely won’t take shape until nearer to the expected Sept 17 unveiling, Doxtater-Wynn said he plans to incorporate nature and the importance of higher education into the concept, along with environmental protection and healing.

Lisa Wabange, the school’s coordinator of Aboriginal, cultural and support services, said the mural will incorporate all of the teachings and healings associated with the area.

“We want to incorporate a path to education, healing and lifelong learning,” she said. “We also want to incorporate the diversity of respect in there by involving children. It’s also very empowering having our elders assisting us with the art mural. And we’re hoping to instill the animals that are present here. We have the deer, the bear, the turtle, the wolf and the eagle that swarms around us.”