“Early morning, a beautiful time of day, full of hope after rest and dreams, a better day ahead of us.”
A large droplet made of a mass of copper cones appears to be held in place by a felled tree that is crowned with a copper eagle head. The droplet is over 5 metres long and contains approximately 1,000 copper cones, most of which have been embossed with a single feather. Inspired by the Jingle Dress, the droplet carries the healing power of the traditional jingle dance. The tree is formed from a combination of reclaimed Sitka spruce and Eastern pine. Both tree species contained within this sculpture played a significant role in colonization and the clearing of the land. They are still being heavily logged today. Situated at the very top of the sculpture the head of a female eagle occupies a position of power – one that for many Indigenous people is spiritual.
A member of the Lac Seul First Nation (Anishinaabe), Rebecca Belmore is an internationally recognized multidisciplinary artist. Rooted in the political and social realities of Indigenous communities, Belmore’s works make evocative connections between bodies, land, and language.
The National Arts Centre is profoundly grateful to Reesa Greenberg for initiating and supporting this commission.
