The Town of Caledon Muskoka Chair Public Art Animations
After an Indigenous artist call led by STEPS Public Art, 7 artists were selected to enhance public seating and animate Muskoka chairs through Indigenous stories and art.
Project at a glance
Location: Various locations across the Town of Caledon
Artists: Jeanette Ladd, Patrick Cheechoo, Shawn Howe, Summer-Harmony Twenish, TJ Henhawk, Trey Robinson, Wild Rabbit
Photographer: Anushay Sheikh
Year: 2024
Services: Cultural Planning
14
animated public art Muskoka chairs
7
Indigenous artists engaged
About the Town of Caledon Muskoka Chair Public Art Animations
The Town of Caledon was looking for artists to enhance public seating to support our revitalization efforts across the Town and tell a story through their art. This project seeked artists to celebrate Caledon’s natural landscapes and look forward to seeing submissions that are bright, colourful, and representative of Caledon’s scenic and breathtaking landscapes.
As current residents and visitors to the unique landscape and environment in Caledon, we recognize and respect that Indigenous Peoples have inhabited and stewarded this land long before us. These chairs, presented in sets, serve as a reminder of this; that Indigenous People are still here and that Caledon has a responsibility and an opportunity to reinforce the importance and significance of Indigenous History, Art, Traditional Knowledge, Language, and Teachings.
Through an artist call, the Town of Caledon and STEPS Public Art commissioned five (5) Indigenous artists to paint a total of ten (10) Muskoka chairs to showcase across the Town of Caledon. This project is a celebration of Indigenous stories and art within the community. Two more Indigenous artist who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community were also selected to paint two chairs each, further contributing to Caledon’s dedication to demonstrating visual representations of Pride within our communities.
This initiative further fosters our understanding of Indigenous culture on a deeper level to ensure we do not contribute to its erasure and instead, actively play a role in ensuring Indigenous culture not only survives but is given a platform to be celebrated.
Partners
