Artist statement

This poster-style work has been created to demonstrate one aspect of the move to reconcile the injustices to the Indigenous People, specifically the Anishinaabe people of Ontario.

The artist concept is to illustrate the great loss of generational wealth and culture to the Indigenous people through the loss of land and their way of living. When home, family and vital comfort of life are removed from any people, resulting in loss of property, means of income and food, the outcome is negative self-esteem, resulting in depression, hardship and even death. This is regardless of race and beliefs. It has been proven to be a human need throughout history as countless injustices to groups and races have produced similar hardship, anguish and poverty for them.

The seat of the Calls to Action for Reconciliation as the Supreme Court of Canada, is illustrated at the top of the painting. This is where the laws will have to change to provide safety, health, learning and mandates to protect and provide for Indigenous law to be recognized and taught to those in charge.

The scales of justice show on the right, heavily weighted down by the trappings and wealth of our world, our industry, technology, commerce and inherited wealth.

On the left scale is shown the procession of modern Indigenous people climbing, with difficulty and without aid, up into their side of justice, still light, even with the weight of their population. It will take many generations to even out these scales, perhaps never completely.

The counterbalances along the bottom are representative of eight generations which translates to many years, hundreds of years into the future. Historically, reparations are seldom able to heal damage from war and discrimination. Forgiveness has to be given in order for true reconciliation to take place. This forgiveness, this step towards reconciliation, is in the hands of a people who must be huge-hearted and stronger than the people who stole land, children and heritage from them.

The young man in the robe of the Statue of Justice holds a bow, not a sword, the bow of the hunters that lived in and around Anishinaabe land, eating and living from the bounty of the land. The Owl represents his Elders – wise, leading and guiding towards Justice for all.

The young woman at the left of the Supreme Court, (where in actuality, the Statue of Truth resides), represents ‘Hope’ not truth, for we have seen the truth. She holds Canada, the Maple Leaf in one hand and the Feather, for the Indigenous Leadership in the other, in hope that one day in the future the two will walk as one.

The artist has shown the Canadian flag as an emblem representing both nations and took artistic liberty to move the flagpole to the left side of the Supreme Court for clarity in the painting.

About the artist

Lynne is a self taught artist living in the Bancroft area, and working from her cabin studio on Lake Weslemkoon. Before retiring from a career as a Field Engineer and Mechanical Technician, Lynne had immigrated from England and raised two children as a single parent, and ran a small art studio in Bruce County teaching Ceramic Arts. Drawing was always a passion and as a teen, Lynne won local art competitions. Upon retirement in 2016, she attended Haliburton School of Art to absorb and learn more ceramic arts and drawing.

Moving to the Bancroft area in 2018, Lynne is emerging as an artist and enjoys photographing the lake environment and wildlife. Hiking, kayaking and observing the natural beauty are her inspiration, exploring the lake reflections and the natural life around the shores. Both Lynne and her spouse are involved in preservation and rescue of wildlife.

Volunteering at both the Bancroft Art Gallery and A Place For The Arts, Lynne has conducted workshops and teaches a children’s art evening in conjunction with the Muse Gallery and Cafe, during fall and winter months. Her preferred medium is oils but also enjoys painting in watercolour, gouache and mixed media.
Lynne’s paintings can be seen in the Art Gallery of Bancroft, A place For The Arts and Longmuir’s Hidden Cove Cottages. Her upcoming shows will be in Belleville Gallery 121 mid-February to March 2024, and in the Art Gallery Of Bancroft for the month of May 2024.