I was inspired to explore the theme “Honouring Indigenous Stories and Perspectives” for this design project because it aligns with my propensity as an Indigenous artist to use my artwork for storytelling and cultural preservation. This theme is essential for decolonization and reconciliation, ensuring that Indigenous voices are heard and perspectives shared authentically. Through my artwork, I aim to inspire dialogue, understanding, and change by lifting Indigenous culture in contemporary contexts.

​

This public bus art project is a unique and powerful platform that allows me to bring Indigenous art into the everyday lives of Calgarians. By wrapping a bus with my artwork, I have the opportunity to share the beauty and richness of Indigenous culture with a wide audience, creating a moving canvas that travels through the heart of our city. This project is particularly meaningful to me as it allows for an ongoing and dynamic exchange between art, culture and community.

​

For the exterior of the bus, my vision captures the urban Indigenous experience in Calgary, a city with vibrant Indigenous communities that gather, celebrate and learn together. My artwork depicts this dynamic exchange, showing Indigenous people engaged in drum-making against the backdrop of the Calgary skyline and the Rocky Mountains. This scene reflects my personal experiences in drum-making workshops, portraying the sense of community, belonging, healing and knowledge-sharing that these gatherings foster.

 

The illustrations feature individuals in a park setting, creating drums, sharing cultural food like bannock, and sitting in a circle to symbolize equality, connection and collaboration. Key elements of the artwork include a smudge, representing the spiritual aspects of our practices. These details honour the animal whose hide is used for the drums, connecting to our traditions of respect and gratitude.

​

Furthermore, my artwork will explore the spiritual connection to the animals whose hides are used in drum-making. Often, these animals are deer, moose, buffalo or elk. Their hides are stretched over wooden frames to create drums that serve as a conduit to the spiritual world. In my design, one side of the bus will illustrate the animal, emphasizing the reverence and respect we have for it. The other side will showcase the drum-making process, highlighting the communal and spiritual journey involved in creating these instruments.

 

This opportunity is profoundly meaningful to me as it allows me to connect with a broader audience and share the stories and traditions of my people. By bringing Indigenous art to public spaces, I hope to create more connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, fostering understanding and appreciation. The visibility of this artwork on a public bus can inspire conversations about reconciliation, cultural preservation and the ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples.

Thank you for engaging with my work and supporting the representation of Indigenous stories in public art. This project is a step toward greater visibility and understanding of Indigenous cultures, and I am honoured to contribute to this important dialogue.

​

Find out more about Phoebe’s Art Bus design in this short video.