Artist Spotlight: From Tech to Painting; A Decolonization of Art

Catherine had found meaning through painting and she decided to redirect herself to pursue what she was always interested in. Through arts, she was able to reconnect with her culture and heritage, which were reflected through her spiritual painting. 

BY: JINGSHU HELEN YAO

In recent years, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization are ongoing discussions in cultural and educational institutions. With the Indigenous house under construction at the UTSC campus, we are part of the progress of the revitalization and preservation of indigenous language and knowledge. For us students who should play a role in the progress, the insight from someone who is currently working in the discipline and experiencing the changes is important.

“Flight” by Catherine/ Photo courtesy of Catherine

I interviewed Catherine, an Ojibwe artist and independent curator who is based in Toronto. Catherine was never officially trained at art school, like many of us, she used to be told that art is only a hobby instead of an actual job. But her deep interest kept her dedicated to arts even without much chance to practice. “When I was little and had no paint to draw with,” she said. “I would tear up magazines and use the different coloured pieces to make up a picture.” She was in IT For 25 years when she realized the IT war rooms and boardrooms were not feeding her soul or spirit. Luckily, Catherine had found meaning through painting and she decided to redirect herself to pursue what she was always interested in. Through arts, she was able to reconnect with her culture and heritage, which were reflected through her spiritual painting. 

Catherine and a dreamcatcher she made/ Photo courtesy of Catherine

I was particularly interested in how the experiences working in a tech corporation, a field that seems to be very remote from arts, had influenced Catherine’s life as an artist. I was expecting answers such as “attention to detail”, but Catherine’s responses went far beyond that. “Working in tech taught me how to think abstractly,” she said. While I was surprised by her answer, she explained that learning forward-thinking skills during her career has later transformed into her work with arts. Additionally, her practice of translating user requirements to system requirements as a tech professional also helped her understand the relationship between artworks and audiences. Working in a corporate environment also trained her marketing skills, which proved to be helpful in art sales, and the ability to pitch ideas is beneficial for applying for grants and getting commissions. 

Abstract Painting by Catherine/Photo courtesy of Catherine

Over the years, Catherine curated her own gallery space and featured many local indigenous artists. She sits on the advisory committee for the city and is currently working on a film about Street Arts in Toronto. When I asked her to share some memorable events from her career in arts, she shared her experience of pitching for a commission from Seneca College. It was at the beginning of her artistic career and Catherine shortlisted the top 3 in Canada, which boosted her confidence as an artist and encouraged her to continue pursuing indigenous art. Another memorable moment was from the 2019 National Indigenous Peoples Day. The event hosted by the City of Toronto widely celebrated indigenous heritage, arts, and people. 

However, other memorable moments are not so pleasant. Even with recognition and education, culture appropriation and racism remained to be a big problem in the art sector. It still acts as a factor that prevents indigenous artists from emerging and becoming successful.

In light of this issue, I asked about how a non-indigenous person can engage in promoting indigenous culture without crossing the line.

“The key is to be a learner, always listen and have respect for mother earth.”

Catherine suggested that reading books written by indigenous authors, going to exhibitions, and joining indigenous collective are all ways to be a part of the decolonization movement.  

To promote her work, Catherine is on Instagram, you can check her artwork at @catferrisart

Abstract Painting by Catherine/Photo courtesy of Catherine