Indigenous mural paints a message of unity

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on July 18, 2024.

Herald photo by Alexandra Noad A mural titled "Sending Blessings" painted by Indigenous artist Nathan Meguinis and finished on June 26 is currently on display at Casa on the east side of the building.

An Indigenous mural was recently completed outside of Casa as part of reinvigoration project of Rotary Square.

The mural titled “Sending Blessings” was painted by Nathan Meguinis, an Indigenous artist based out of Calgary.

The artist says the piece reflects how art is meant to help unify people in the fact we all need help.

“For me it was actually trying to help provide that visual representation that we all need that help once in a while. We all need those opportunities. No matter where you are,” said Meguinis.

Katie Bruce, public art coordinator at Casa, says art is something everyone is drawn to, no matter the form.

“We think about art in terms as being sort of intercultural. Whether that is visual art, music, theatre, you name it. Everybody gets enjoyment out of art,” said Bruce.

The mural was completed in five days, which Bruce says is a massive undertaking. While Meguinis has done several murals, this was not only the quickest, it was also the highest.

“It actually helped me face a lot of my own personal fears and that’s just me on a very high heights. I don’t have a phobia of it, but I’m very nervous of being up there and having the Lethbridge winds once in a wile,” said Meguinis.

Bruce says this was different than previous initiatives since it targeted towards a specific group

“It was really quite an interesting project, one of the first in our collection that was a mural that was really targeted towards a very specific (group of people.)”

Bruce says its important to work together to promote reconciliation.

“I think it’s really something that we have to do as a group. I don’t think it’s something that one group, one individual can really take on because you’re either speaking for someone or you’re asking them to speak for someone. And so that dialog becomes really important. And I think that’s something that Casa fosters really wonderfully,” said Bruce.

Meguinis says representation is important for reconciliation.

“Representation is actually key and I would just say on truth and reconciliation and mending those roads, having our own culture, our own stories told by actually our own people or knowledge keepers,” said Meguinis.

The mural is located east side of the building and has lights on both the top and bottom so it can be viewed and enjoyed anytime, something Meguinis has been working on for a long time.

“It’s pretty cool because it’s something I’ve been working towards, having my art being displayed like that publicly. Honestly, I’m just happy that I was able to get that opportunity to share my vision and to have my artwork and so being so obviously so visually open to everybody is such a cool thing for me.”

Meguinis says he is available for interior and exterior murals and hopes to one day mentor future muralists. His work can be found on Instagram at nathan_p_meguinis.