visual artist & conservator
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the clay project

The Clay Project started as a discussion between visual artist Beth McCubbin and aboriginal youth worker Kateri Miles, from Minwaashin Lodge in Vanier, Ottawa. The intent of the project is to offer free clay workshops to Ottawa's Aboriginal Community, to celebrate Community through the creation of a Public Artwork, and as a positive way to be involved in the Canada 150 celebrations.

Once permanently installed, the mural will be accompanied by a plaque to celebrate all Indigenous Peoples in 2017. It will distinguish this time in history as Year One of Reconciliation in Canada and commemorate our present and future as a Proud Strong Diverse Nation.

The mural is presently composed of 80 tiles made by over 75 participants...and still growing...

PD day at Minwaashin Lodge

Today we worked at clay all day at Minwaashin Lodge; in the morning we made pinch-pot smudge bowls and other fabulous sculptures, then we shared a delicious (as always) lunch, and in the afternoon we made tiles for the Clay Project. There were many participants, children and parents and many of the staff from the Lodge too!

there were many silly little girls sitting all together :)

there were many silly little girls sitting all together :)

A beautiful representation of the Nunavut Flag.

A beautiful representation of the Nunavut Flag.

The Nunavut flag features a red inuksuk, a traditional Inuit land marker, a blue star representing Niqirtsuituq, the north star and the leadership of elders in the community, and the colours blue, yellow and white represent the riches of the land, sea and sky.

oh this was a difficult tile to make! the young teen who made it truly got a good taste of the mental struggle involved in being a visual artist...but with just a little help from her mum, she succeeded beautifully!

oh this was a difficult tile to make! the young teen who made it truly got a good taste of the mental struggle involved in being a visual artist...but with just a little help from her mum, she succeeded beautifully!

this tile was made by a couple of the giggly girls, it was even covered in glittery sprinkles...but sadly those burn away in the kiln firing

this tile was made by a couple of the giggly girls, it was even covered in glittery sprinkles...but sadly those burn away in the kiln firing

a really lovely decorative medicine wheel

a really lovely decorative medicine wheel

thank goodness!

thank goodness!

This tile was also a struggle, not because the maker had such a strong vision as much as she found it very difficult to draw/carve on the wet clay. Her head just didn't work in that way. Interestingly I heard this woman speaking quietly with the you…

This tile was also a struggle, not because the maker had such a strong vision as much as she found it very difficult to draw/carve on the wet clay. Her head just didn't work in that way. Interestingly I heard this woman speaking quietly with the young teen (horse tile) after the workshop about how life can present difficulties which we need to try and work through. It takes a community...thank you!

design inspired by Polish ceramics, a strong part of the heritage of this delicious cook at Minwaashin Lodge

design inspired by Polish ceramics, a strong part of the heritage of this delicious cook at Minwaashin Lodge

at one time this unicorn was also covered in glitter!

at one time this unicorn was also covered in glitter!

Kateri's awesome tile, Person Extraordinaire from Minwaashin Lodge

Kateri's awesome tile, Person Extraordinaire from Minwaashin Lodge

so beautiful. thank you Flo, another great person/worker at Minwaashin Lodge

so beautiful. thank you Flo, another great person/worker at Minwaashin Lodge

a smiley rainbow pile of poop, an 'emoji' I am told :)

a smiley rainbow pile of poop, an 'emoji' I am told :)

I agree, we definitely need more wolves howling at the moon in our lives

I agree, we definitely need more wolves howling at the moon in our lives

I believe this shy woman is dancing in a Jingle Dress. 

I believe this shy woman is dancing in a Jingle Dress. 

From what I understand, the Jingle Dress is special in that the dress is as important as the dance. It is a medicine dress which is worn for a healing dance. When a woman takes on the responsibility of their dress it should be treated with ceremony. The rows of metal cones, called ziibaaska'iganan in Ojibwe, dangle from the dresses and rattle and clink as the dancers move. So beautiful.

Beth McCubbin