New mural at Trinity-St. Paul’s!

We’re really pleased to share that a new mural, on the steps of the western front of Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church is now complete!

Artist Joseph Sagaj shared the following artist statement:

“In Moritz Reztsch’s painting done in 1700’s entitled “CHECKMATE”, (Google it) Satan alludes to destroying the opponent’s hopes and all seems inevitable as Satan is about to claim his soul. The story goes when Reztsch’s painting was hanging at the Louvre, a Master Chess Player figured out that the opponent’s King has one more move!

I did my version in this painting, and a large installation of a 12′ x 16′ print is now displayed on a covered staircase at the United Church near Spadina & Bloor across from the Metro.

In summary, using the Chess analogy and Reztsch’s impending doom version, my painting is about overcoming the odds against opposition’s attempted cultural genocide, to “kill the Indian”, and to destroy the spirit of the Residential School victims. This painting is to represent the resilence and survival as reflected and symbolized in the young woman in her regalia metamorphisizing and rising above this “Game of Life”.

The player on the right is holding a Tobacco Tie as an offering, to emphasize that our Ancestors believed in the Creator’s Intervention and that we would prevail!

Miigwetch for your time to read.

Painting and Writing (will edit) by,
Joseph Sagaj
Anishnaabe Artist
Sturgeon Clan
Neskantaga”

This is the second mural that Joseph Sagaj has worked on in the Annex – also please check out his work in Paul Martel Park.

Funding for this project was partially provided by the Toronto United Church Council (TUCC) and the Bloor Annex BIA.