Rooted - Marlena Myles Mural
With its deep roots, the mighty oak can live for a thousand years, providing us with oxygen and nourishment for generations. To many cultures around the world, including Native Americans, the mighty oak is a symbol of the knowledge and wisdom we learn from listening to the stories of our elders. This mural will also feature a woman sowing seeds and her child watering the earth as a metaphor of creating a better future through caring for each other while the oak protects and guides us with its deep roots.
ROOTED: CARING FOR POSTERITY
Commissioned by Target
Location: 2500 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
(on the Target storefront)
Dimensions: approximately 63′ x 9′, vinyl print, 2022
ROOTED MURAL IS HELD TOGETHER BY THE ROOTS OF THE APPLE AND OAK TREES, REPRESENTING THE ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND DETERMINATION WE PASS ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.
“Hutkháŋ T’iŋs’ádaŋ” itówapi kiŋ de thaspáŋ čháŋ k’a útahu čháŋ hutkháŋ okhíyasiŋ, déčhed itówapig de híčikhoyake, úŋkhaŋ wičháhuŋkake thawóksape ka wačháŋtekič’uŋpi k’uŋ khé; detáŋhaŋ thokáta wičhóičhaǧe kiŋ taŋyáŋ iyáhdeič’iyapi kte, heúŋ makhóčhe k’a oyáte awáŋwičhahdakapi kte ye.The mural was commissioned as a set of murals to illustrate the following poem. I was given the first line with the theme of “rooted”:Poem
We will root our stories deeply.
As seeds of courage and change.
We will keep each other grounded.
With hope, resilience and strength.
There is healing here to grow from.
Our renewal to stand as one.
Community means everything.
Together is where we belong.
WHO
Marlena Myles is a self-taught digital artist located in St. Paul, Minnesota.
WHERE
WHEN
Marlena is the illustrator of Thanku: Poems of Gratitude and is currently creating her first Dakota culture coloring book, to be published early 2023.
WHY
Marlena uses her art to celebrate her Indigenous culture and language (Spirit Lake Dakota, Mohegan. Creek)
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