For centuries, art has been a form of self-expression to a vast majority of people. It is one of the many vessels for those who wish to share their imagination in various artistic ways. In the case of the Tsuut’ina artist, Stephanie One Spot, she uses the art of visual imagery like painting and photography to display her creativity.
Stephanie One Spot hails from the Sarcee First Nation, North Dene. As an Indigenous artist, most of her works are centred on her heritage. That was not always the case for One Spot.
While starting her journey to become an artist— after previously having plans of going into stage production, archaeology, and or geology — she tried to stray from her Indigeneity, both in her art, and daily life. But she soon realized that the more she tried to resist her identity, the more it started showcasing itself in her artworks.
“And I realized that, that’s what kind of made me stronger, and stronger as a woman to actually break through those barriers of being an indigenous woman,” she said.
“And then being able to illustrate those stories that people, a woman before me — who have passed away — couldn’t illustrate. So, I took that upon myself to kind of help tell stories. And then not just my stories, but stories of being an indigenous woman. A Dene indigenous woman.”
One Spot’s artwork is heavily influenced by her “family, culture, struggles, and everyday life.” Most of her art helps her work through and channel her emotions, being as she perceives herself as a more visual, hands-on person — thus her use of different materials and textiles.
She started working with photography and would often take pictures of her father at powwows, capturing his life as a traditional dancer, as well as family members, such as cousins. As she got more into photography, she started working with a lot more mixed mediums, like projection and film. She also started to work with Clay animation, and different kinds of natural materials.
“It kind of depends on what I’m trying to convey. And it’s dictated by the materials, and if the materials work best for the idea to kind of come out better. It’s all in relation to each other. So, it really depends.”, said One Spot.
Her being a mother has had an impact on her regarding her art, and her willingness to pass it on to future generations in the Indigenous community. The community is known for their commendable preservation of their culture, traditions, and history through elders interacting with the young ones, such as the children, and grandchildren — by introducing these topics through music, dance, stories, and art.
A lot of her pieces are comprised of matriarchal perceptions, and motherhood. An exhibition of hers that took place about three, or four, years ago, was the spiritual connection between a mother, and her baby during the pregnancy and birthing stage — with the lack of a physical one. It focused on the woman’s physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and psychological wellbeing, as she goes through that process.
She wants to show the importance of being Indigenous, and celebrating their children, and mothers. She is known to be feminine and portrays her art in that sense. But she also strives to have a balance of both masculinity and femininity, to exhibit how they are both beneficial to households, and society together.
Stephanie One Spot currently in her fourth year, studies at the Alberta University of Arts (AUArts). During her years there, she joined the Aahwaatkamooski Indigenous peer mentorship program at the Lodgepole Centre, which resides in the institution. The program involves various mentors, working together in an art collective, that seeks to uplift and highlight Indigenous artist.
“Stephanie’s art is vibrant, colourful, and full of life, she produces work that is emotionally evocative and culturally centred,” said Jillian Dolan, a co-mentor of Stephanie in the mentorship program at the AUArts.
“She chooses to work in a contemporary method, guided by her traditional upbringing. In a society that often pigeonholes Indigenous artists, Stephanie chooses to work outside of expectations, and it’s inspiring to see.”
Starting from the time she indulged in art, and while studying it at AUArts, One Spot became more critical of her reasoning for choosing this pathway. According to her, the school has a significant impact on helping her be where she is today with the way she chooses to structure her art.
“So, they kind of shaped me to be better, but then kind of be more free minded as well. Where I kind of came in not knowing exactly what art is on a universal level.”, said One Spot, “So to see like the different ways students can create art kind of really opened up my mind to what art is.”
Stephanie’s aim for her art is for it to cross borders. One of her goals is to bridge the connection with the North, and South Dene’s by having her artwork presented in the Santa Fe Contemporary Art Center. She would create a space where she — and other artists — could form relationships with people and their communities.
“I consider Stephanie’s work to be a tool of decolonization in its ability to recontextualize the Indigenous artist’s place in contemporary art discourse – her methods of working from a traditional base with modern media decentralizes the Indigenous perspective and firmly cements the Indigenous artist as present in the now.”, said Dolan. “I would love to see Stephanie continue to see success. I know she is capable of great things, and I would love to see her work continue to touch more lives. She’s a wonderful role model and a fantastic artist and I think that her perspective is invaluable.”
