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The Artwork
The cover image and all paintings featured in this issue of the ATA Magazine are by Cree-Ojibwa artist Simone McLeod.
The ATA Magazine thanks gallery owners Eric and Sandra Outram for their kind assistance.
The Art Beat Gallery is located at 26 St. Anne Street, St. Albert. Telephone: 780-459-3679; e-mail: artbeat@telusplanet.net; website: www.artbeat.ab.ca.
The Artist
Simone McLeod is a Cree-Ojibwa, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1962, and a member of the James Smith Cree Nation, in Saskatchewan.
McLeod began experimenting with various media, such as pencil, ink, charcoal and pastels, when she was 13 years old. At that time, her subjects consisted of human portraits and some wildlife. She did not pursue painting until later.
“Painting was something that I often thought of when I was a small child, but I felt that it was not the right time. I really believed that I had to wait until I could find something that had meaning for me. Each painting contains a piece of my soul. I have a strong faith in humankind, and my paintings are silent prayers of hope for the future,” says McLeod.
“My Indian name is Earth Blanket—all that covers the earth, such as grass, flowers and trees. The sun, the blankets and the flowers/rocks are all the same colours to show how all things are equal,” she explains.
McLeod’s work is featured in collections around the world, as well as private and corporate collections in Alberta and Canada.
Symbolism in McLeod’s artwork
Sun symbolizes the Creator or God (or a person of higher beliefs). The sun provides life to all things.
Blanket People are made up of blankets, which cover them completely, creating a sense of mystery.
Flowers represent the earth and are sometimes held by people to show their appreciation for Mother Earth’s gifts.
