A scenery in the library
A closer look at the art of MJ Singleton’s Mural of Community.
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Three books stacked under my arm, I walked through the library doors to return them. I enter a room that’s empty, except for the smiling assistants behind the information desk. The place which normally bustled with chatting students in fall saw no such crowds in the middle of the summer. If not for the silence and the vacant halls, I would have never noticed the elaborate mural adorning the side of the entrance— a blend of our campus’ environment and the Indigenous elements inherent to the land.
MJ Singleton’s artwork encapsulates the campus’ cozy atmosphere of women surrounding a bonfire, wearing moccasins, and wrapped in shawls. A seemingly young girl beats a handrum, indicating a storytelling circle. The teaching lodge behind the circle invites the students walking by, to not only be observers, but active participants. The artist adds an Indigenous perspective to campus-exclusive initiatives like the protection of seasonal salmon migration through the Credit River, displaying the water and the fish as a centerpiece. The piece borrows from the Anishinaabe Woodlands artstyle, using a vibrant blue, which complements the radiant yellow sun setting behind them.
The animals hovering above the soft orange tones represent the Seven Grandfather Teachings. These teachings are significant to Anishinaabe communities, especially in regards to their relationship to the environment. While there are several murals across campus that represent the natural environment in a thought-provoking manner, this particular piece urges us to think about the campus environment through a spiritual and environmental perspective. The animals—which symbolise guiding principles for the success of a peaceful community and which the artist compels us to reflect on the members of this campus—represents the following:
- The Nibwaakaawin (beaver) symbolises wisdom, valuing a visionary perspective and intelligence for the benefit of the community;
- the Dabasendiziwin (wolf) symbolizes humility, to think of the community before one’s self;
- the Zoongide’ewin (mother bear) teaches us bravery, to face personal fears while also protecting others;
- the Zaagi’idiwin (eagle) denotes love, emphasizing the unconditional affection between all of Earth’s creatures;
- the Debwewin (turtle) carries the truth and teachings of the Earth existing since its creation;
- the Manaaji’idiwin (buffalo) represents respect, paying attention to others’ needs in reciprocal manner;
- and the Gwayakwaadiziwin (Sabe or raven) illustrates honesty, asking creatures to live with virtue.
The purposeful choice of situating these teachings in the front of the library at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) asks us to consider these teachings in the context of our day-to-day life and to connect with the natural environment; the long-lived birch and maple trees, the scurrying squirrels, the honking geese, the herd of spotted deers, and the rushing river which signifies the lifeline to all the creatures on the campus.
The Anishinaabe floral art bordering the scene invites us to look beyond the academic stress burdening students as individuals; it invites us to share our fears and stresses with both the human and non-human community across the sacred land where the university is built on. The mural poses the question: how can Anishinaabe art and principles help us reduce the tension in our lives through the aid of the community?
Next time you rush into the library during exam season, cease your steps for a moment, and observe this gorgeous mural. Wonder how you can be an integral part of the community depicted on the glass panes—a part of your own little bonfire.
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