Lacieś Public Art Road Trip

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Participants learned to use wood burning irons to create the fingerprints on the hands. Each line and mark is unique to whomever did it - and really helped to create the effect of old worn hands. 

The graffiti element of the project involved layering of simple natural objects to create depth to give the work of art a more natural and organic look.

Artists Statement:

Where you stand today, right now, are the Traditional Lands of the Haudenosaunee Indigenous Peoples who have inhabited, cared for and protected the land and waters for millennia. I would like to share my immense gratitude for their allowance for us to live in Haldimand County in peace and harmony.

In 1784, the Haldimand Tract dictated the Haudenosaunee People would receive land, 10km on each side of the Grand River from source to mouth, which provided the basis of the Six Nations Reserve – just over 950,000 acres. The current Six Nation Reserve is approximately only 5% of the original land promised.

As residents of Dunnville and Haldimand County, which reside along the Grand River, we are occupants of stolen land, which we take for granted by taking too much from the land and polluting our ecosystem. As current residents of the area, although we did not personally steal the land, by living here, working here and playing here; we have inherited the responsibility of protecting the land and waters like the Peoples before us, while working towards Reconciliation with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada.

Inheritance is a reminder that the future of our watershed is in our hands, and from it grows all we know. Please take care of our fresh water so that future generations can be taken care of by nature, as we rely on it today to grow our crops and our families.

During the month of November 2019, Lacie Williamson spent a week teaching Grade 10 art students at Dunnville Secondary School. 

Using ink, water colour paint, alcohol markers and teamwork, more than two dozen students participated in the making of this mixed media work of art.  

While learning new artistic techniques for manipulating ink and water colour, students engaged in repetitive movement to explore themes of fluidity and repetition. 

Students were challenged to consider and discuss the roll water plays in our every day lives.

This 9 foot beauty is installed permanently in the school's library.

During the month of November 2019 Lacie Williamson spent time in every single classroom in the school in order to facilitate an education art experience.

Students learned how to create non-representational art using wax resist techniques in combination with water colour paint. 

The educational art experience would culminate in the collaborative creation of a mural depicting a map of the Great Lakes. 

More than 460 students and staff were involved in the creation.

Each individual created a 4x6" sheet of art. Each pieace of art was then sliced into strips, and woven into a large tapestry, before being turned into a map and laminated for protection. 

The work of art will remain on display in the elementary school as a reminder of the importance to care of our environment and fresh water.