Storytelling clothing inspired by your vision that we design into wearable art to help you on your healing journey.
et:
We're excited to have you here. To start off, we'd love to
get to know you! Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do!
My name is Candia Flynn, and I am an enrolled member of the Hassanamisco Tribe of Nipmucs. I reside as a guest in Kahnawake, Mohawk Territory, teaching at Kahnawake Survival School. I also own a small business called Healing Stitches. We design and create clothing items to help people on their healing journey.
et:
How did you approach the theme of first encounters in your work? What initial ideas or experiences guided your creative process?
When I heard the theme "first encounters," I instantly thought of our matriarchs, the life givers. I thought about the tremendous responsibility to raise our children securely in cultural teachings when many of our elders and parents lack that knowledge as a result of intergenerational trauma. I wanted the work to show the resilience of our women as they reclaim our language, traditions, and stories and pass them on to the next generation, while society has tried to silence our voices.
et:
In exploring the theme of first encounters, does your work convey the sense of discovery or novelty? Are there specific techniques or elements you used to capture this experience?
The Elder is wearing an orange mask to show the stolen language of our elders from Residential School. The other matriach is wearing a red handprint to symbolize Missing Murdered Indigenous People and the unheard pleas from their families to bring them home. The child is wrapped in her bundle and on the cradleboard to watch and learn from the world around her, just as our ancestors intended. She is surrounded by the protection of her mother, grandmother, and our ancestors.
et:
Is there a particular message or feeling you hope viewers will take away from your work in the exhibit?
It shows that reconnecting to our cultural roots and language is the path to healing for the generations to come.
et:
In exploring the theme of first encounters, does your work convey the sense of discovery or novelty? Are there specific techniques or elements you used to capture this experience?
The Elder is wearing an orange mask to show the stolen language of our elders from Residential School. The other matriach is wearing a red handprint to symbolize Missing Murdered Indigenous People and the unheard pleas from their families to bring them home. The child is wrapped in her bundle and on the cradleboard to watch and learn from the world around her, just as our ancestors intended. She is surrounded by the protection of her mother, grandmother, and our ancestors.
et:
Is there a particular message or feeling you hope viewers will take away from your work in the exhibit?
It shows that reconnecting to our cultural roots and language is the path to healing for the generations to come.
et:
Do you think digital technologies have changed the art world? If so, in what ways?
It has changed our art world by making it more accessible to the masses.
et:
If you could collaborate with any fictional character, who would it be and why?
I would love to pair up with Katara from Avitar. Her strength as an indigenous youth reconnecting with her gifts and teaching to help humanity is inspiring.
