Current Place des Arts staff member

Biography

An artist can only convey through his or her work the experience they have encountered, confronted, and endured. From an early age, I was taught that all life is sacred and that all life is intertwined, with no separation.

In the Kanien’keha (Mohawk) language, my name is “Otsisto”, which in English means “Star”. I am a member of the Bear Clan and grew up learning about the Longhouse, our spiritual, political and social place of gathering.

As a Mohawk woman born and raised in Kahnawà:ke, I am influenced by the strong sense of family, community, identity and respect for the land.

Artist Statement

My two pieces are part of a short series in which I explore the tensions of Indigenous identity, both on a personal level and in a broader context. Through these works, using both acrylic paints and birchbark, I aim to convey the friction, conflict, and discord experienced while navigating both Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds. At the same time, I seek to highlight the harmony, peace, and balance that can come with age and life experience. Being a lifelong artist and a newer staff member at Place des Arts, I enjoy being a small part of an organization that facilitates the community’s access to the arts, as I believe it plays a vital role in enriching lives and fostering a deeper connection to the world around us.

starhorn.ca

Instagram: @mohawkartist

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