Mique Michelle has returned with a new exhibit at Good Atlas Gallery, and the experience helped her overcome a particular artistic anxiety – small canvases.
That’s right, Michelle much prefers larger canvases to create upon, ideally, the side of a building. Murals and large-scale works have been her preference, so when asked to fill the space within Good Atlas Gallery, she seized the opportunity to challenge herself with those smalls.
The show’s well-attended opening reception was Thursday, Jan. 23, and Michelle mentioned to BayToday “This is a good solution to be able to integrate small canvasses, which is like my biggest fear, my biggest challenge.”
She rose to the challenge, filling the gallery walls with a mural that incorporates 38 canvases. The small canvases flow seamlessly into the greater whole, creating images that represent the North.
Hence the exhibit’s title, “Northern Touch.”
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Michelle detailed the new work brings in details from other murals in Hearst, Sudbury, Timmins, and Lake Nipissing. Michelle has worked throughout Northern Ontario creating murals, and she hosts #Coulers du Nord, a TFO television series that brings together local kids in different areas to help create a mural.
Before the paint hits the wall, they share stories about their community and show Michelle some of the local highlights. The show highlights local history and culture, with a focus on Indigenous stories, which are then incorporated into the mural.
“We’re not always filming,” Michelle said of the show, “But we’re always talking about the show and celebrating all of the Northern communities who have welcomed us.”
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Graffiti art usually conjures urban images, streetscapes and large cities, but Michelle detailed how the North can be reflected just as well within the medium.
“People associate graffiti with L.A., New York, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto,” Michelle said, “But at the same time, you ain’t going to find no skies like the one we saw tonight with that sunset on the way here. That’s that Northern touch that nobody’s got.”
“Those flav colours, those Northern lights, that beautiful medicine like Labrador tea that grows absolutely everywhere, we’ve got some on these walls.”
Now that Michelle has captured the Northern Touch with the aid of small canvases at that, should we expect to see more 8 x 12’s and other smalls from her?
“I don’t know about that,” she said with a laugh. “I think this is one where I did it, it’s possible, but now that’s it’s done, can I have a big wall now?”
You can catch Michelle’s “Northern Touch” exhibit at Good Atlas Gallery until Feb. 16. The gallery is located at 348 Fraser Street in North Bay, and you can also view the exhibit – and purchase works – by visiting Good Atlas Gallery’s website.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
