Northern artist painting picture of reconciliation
- Linda Mikolayenko | March 21, 2017
Donna Langhorne says she has been drawing ever since she could hold a pencil, but her current art project is her most ambitious yet. It has taken her into new territory and presented significant challenges, but is already making an impact.
In her studio in Air Ronge, Langhorne is working on Reconciliation, a series of seven large paintings based on the seven sacred teachings: love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth. Using the Woodland art style and the corresponding animal symbols to represent these teachings, she incorporates her unique perspective on contemporary themes. She has already completed two pieces – one dealing with the topic of murdered and missing Indigenous women, and the other, the experience of residential schools.
“I want to bring those issues to light,” says Langhorne, a member of the Fishing Lake First Nation who was adopted as an infant.
“My birth mother is a residential school survivor,” she says.
Although it was a hard subject for her to face, Langhorne says creating the painting was a way of healing.
“It helped a lot. Hopefully, it will for others, too.”
In order to adequately explore these themes, Langhorne felt she needed a big canvas. Each of the paintings are 4 feet by 5 feet; some will be horizontal, others vertical. The large size, however, means more expenses. Each canvas costs $500, and requires more paint than she anticipated. The project received only partial support from the Saskatchewan Arts Board, so Langhorne set up a GoFundMe campaign to try to make up the shortfall. For the 28-year-old mother of three young children, not being able to pay for childcare has meant delays in completing the project. Several galleries have already expressed interest in showing the work when it is done, so Langhorne is keeping a positive attitude. She keeps in touch with her fans via her Facebook page, Donna the Strange’s Artwork, and at the beginning of the year she shared, “Painting has always gotten me through the worst times. To get lost in that paint and forget the world for a little while is PURE paradise.”
After years of sketching and cartooning, Langhorne taught herself to paint only about five years ago, initially creating abstracts, horror art and celebrity pop art. When she came across an image of the art of the late Norval Morrisseau a couple of years ago, it resonated with her. As she explored this art style, she turned to other Woodland artists, including Mark Anthony Jacobson, who knew Morrisseau.
“I just really encouraged her to explore her cultural roots,” says Jacobson, who is impressed with Langhorne’s passion and energy. “Norval would be absolutely proud; no doubt about it. She’s the genuine article…she’s got a really good spirit about her.”
“This is completely new to me,” says Langhorne as she connects with her Anishinaabe heritage, “but it’s exciting. I wasn’t ready when I was younger to learn more about it, but I am now…I’m more than ready.”