Carlton High School artist set for historic first in P.A.

The title of her collection of acrylics, pastels and photography that offers what she calls an abstract landscape of detail pays homage to that address, 11 Main Street.

Brush strokes of storytelling

“It’s about the way that you see your home, self-identity, and most importantly, family,” Hirsi told paNOW from the arts studio at Carlton. “It was us kids growing up expressing ourselves and drawing all over these walls, and how we had so much freedom …it’s such a positive.”

Basement wall on canvas. Hirsi’s childhood art takes on another hue. (submitted/Maria Hirsi)

Hirsi recalls starting to get creative on the walls from the age of four – including “punching holes all over them” – and while she concedes that might not be considered the best way to grow up, “that freedom allowed me to grow into the person I am today.”

She says her work invites the viewer to create stories and she aims to be an advocate on navigating the dysfunction and love that often comes hands in hand with growing up as a young Indigenous person.

Hirsi’s Somalian father died when she was young and her mom is Indigenous, someone she regards as her best friend. Hirsi still lives in the Meath Park house where she was brought up by her Kokom (grandmother), who is fully supportive of her endeavour to give the public a glimpse into her childhood basement.

“My Kokom actually said, ‘I really like [the collection] because we can’t be stuck in the past, we have to appreciate the way that we live now, and we have to look back at these walls with fondness.’”

Inspirational

For Carlton High School arts teacher Melanie Mirasty, who mentored Hirsi over the past year, the talents and vision of the young Meath Park artist have been an inspiration.

Hirsi’s collection, which reflects upon and captures a childhood of basement wall creations, is a mixture of acrylic, pastel and photography. (Submitted/Maria Hirsi)

“She’s spoken to my students and come in and encouraged them with their collections and she’s talked about her experience,” Mirasty said. “I believe that they are absolutely inspired by Maria’s success. It’s amazing to have the whole John V. Hicks gallery to herself.”

Mirasty said Hirsi’s collection was intended to work towards reconciliation and to start conversations that were honest and bridge building.

I want to open people’s eyes, and I want people to accept themselves _{– Maria Hirsi}

She will also have her work shown at the SCYAP Art Gallery in Saskatoon in August.

Hirsi remembers painting butterflies on her basement walls from the age of four. (submitted/Maria Hirsi)

While Hirsi prepares for her gallery debut, she’s already pondering her next creation and her multi-ethnic background will be the canvas for that.

Re-claiming identity

“There’s a new aspect I want to bring in about me re-claiming the word ‘half-breed’ and that’s important to me for my self-identity,” she said. “I just want it to not hurt me anymore if someone were to point out that I do look black. I know that, it’s obvious. I do consider myself a First Nations woman.”

Looking to the future, Hirsi said she wants to make change.

“I want to open people’s eyes, and I want people to accept themselves,” she said. “I’m going to make art through that, I’m going to be a lawyer when I grow up, and I’m going to do everything I can to make change.”

And you have to ponder, if Hirsi ends up drawing or painting or putting holes in the walls of her future office or home, who is going to complain?

Her debut show, 11 Main Street , is at the John V. Hicks Gallery April 6 from 5 p.m.to 7 p.m.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow

by Glenn Hicks

Carlton High School artist set for historic first in P.A.

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