An artist from Moose Jaw is looking to connect Indigenous culture through artwork. The art of Floral Dot Art Acrylic Paintings, hosted by the Traditional Knowledge Keepers Program, took place at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum on Saturday. Led by Moose Jaw artist Sadi-Rose Vaxvick, participants looked to improve their skills in the art of dot painting. Vaxvick, of Ochapowace First Nation, uses these workshops as a way to connect participants with Indigenous culture. “We shared some knowledge of where the originators came from, such as prehistoric, rock pictographs, drawings of Cree and Metis beadwork,” she explained. “All my artwork seems to be focused on creating dots and focusing on the ceremony and reconnecting back to my Nêhiyaw culture.” Throughout the day, music from Fawn Wood played in the background as around a dozen participants gathered to use these dot paintings as a way to wind down. “It’s very therapeutic and it’s healing,” she said. “A lot of my artwork contains healing and from intergenerational trauma and I like the silence that everyone gives. You can tell we’re all here gathered to create our own pieces of artwork and we’re all healing in our own way.” Symbolism remains a key component to this workshop. Florals, silhouettes of animals including thunderbird, buffalo, and turtles were common choices around the room. Strawberries were also a common theme, as the objects painted are native to the Saskatchewan land.
