Beginnings

 This piece is called "The Beginning" simply because it is just that. This is based on the two dreams that showed me my path in Nursing. These new paintings with black backgrounds symbolize the dream world. The colors and details in the painting symbolizes the depth and detail of my dreams. The medicine wheel symbolizes my respect for balance in my nursing pursuits. It also symbolizes a nod to traditional healing beliefs. The two figures are important because one is me holding a person who is dying. My role was to provide comfort and care to this person as they begin their journey to the afterlife.

**Painting is for sale.18X 24. Contact me via email: sigjcasselman@gmail.com or, by social media - facebook: Sig Leslie PM. Or, The Creative Mind on facebook

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Two-Eyed Seeing

When I said I had a lot of mental energy, I wasn't kidding! I mentioned in the last post that I am a new grad, Registered Nurse. It was a long time in school with many long days of studying writing, and working in general. Sometimes, there would be weeks without breaks. Just day in and day out of work, work, work. Ironically, there is still plenty of work to be done post degree (NCLEX preparation and landing a super awesome nursing position). 

One of my biggest passions is advocating for Indigenous health inequities. I see that our health care system (in Canada), has many gaps when it comes to caring for and understanding the needs of Indigenous people and communities. Even I am still learning and I recognize that each community and person may have different needs. Unfortunately, our current health care system oppresses, segregates, and stigmatizes Indigenous people either on purpose or for lack of understanding.We also lack cultural awareness and sensitivity in our approach to Indigenous healthcare.

This is a piece I created when I was having a very bad week in school. I tend to think a little differently from the modern, Western system I was taught and I at times I conflicted with its approach to care, especially for Indigenous people. So I came home and painted how I was feeling. 

The two figures both represent myself with one looking into the sun, and one looking away. This represents my conflict with two ways of thinking (knowing) and trying to find a way to bridge those two ways into one. It took me a very long time to learn that I am not meant to bridge these two ways of thinking, but rather take a two-eyed seeing approach  (http://www.integrativescience.ca/Principles/TwoEyedSeeing/ - Elder Albert Marshall) by walking a path that incorporates Indigenous knowing and other ways of knowing and respecting their sameness and differences without trying to merge them into one. 

***16 X 20 Piece is currently located at Priest Mills Gallery in Cornwall, Ontario and is for sale****
https://www.facebook.com/PriestsMillArtsCentre/

I'm finally coming out in the art world! And by coming out, I mean that I am officially identifying as an emerging artist and holding back the urge to critique my own work. Art is a form of creative expression and you know something? I have a shit ton of expressing to get out!

I have always been blessed to connect with my dreams. As a young girl dreams were a big part of my life and unfortunately, so were nightmares (likely a side effect of trauma). These days my nightmares are few and I use my dreams as a tool to help guide my life, not even joking. The first dream that I had about 6 years ago, showed me that I would be a nurse caring for someone. I did not take this dream seriously until I had another dream that showed me as a nurse, caring for an elderly man as he passed. I cradled him in my arms and sang to him as he laid dying. This is when I knew that my dreams were trying to tell me something. Today, I have a degree in Nursing and I do not regret listening to my dreams. I am still so influenced by my dreams that I cannot help but paint them. 

I often feel like I am caught between two worlds that tend to conflict more than they work together. Painting helps me connect these worlds and express my ideas, dreams, thoughts, traumas, and emotions. This is why it is so crucial for me to have a creative outlet as it is my own medicine and way to heal. 

Here is my latest creation. It is a portrait of my son, a wise grandmother, and other elements from my dream world. It is vibrant, nonsensical yet symbolic, and most importantly is a reflection of me. ** feel free to check out this listing in my etsy shop at: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Ravenwarriors?ref=seller-platform-mcnav ****