Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk)/White Earth Ojibwe artist Christopher Sweet installs mural in Sauk City
The timing couldn’t have been better for Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk)/White Earth Ojibwe artist Christopher Sweet, as November is National Native American Heritage month.
Last week, the Great Sauk Trail received yet another mural along its route for people to enjoy while recreating. Sweet, who has yet to give a final title to his mural, is leaning towards giving it a name that portrays the connection people have to the land. Another mural made of ceramic tiles titled, “Earth, Sky, Water”, was installed on the trail back in October of 2020. Created by Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF), the collaborative effort was intended as a gift of appreciation and in recognition for the generous donation from the Hoocąk Nation in finishing the trail.
Sweet’s mural, located on the trail about a block North of Water Street in Sauk City, Wisconsin, was commissioned by the Friends of the Great Sauk Trail and coordinated by former Executive Director of River Arts, Inc., Lindsey Giese.
When the friends group put the call out for artwork proposals, they received numerous proposals from different artists including Sweet. “I believe there were 45 artists that applied, and then it was scaled down to like 40. So, he was chosen out of 40 other artists and artists’ proposals for this project,” said Sweet’s wife Chrissy. Sweet added, “We were up in Stevens Point researching for another project, and we got the call from Lindsay telling me my mural proposal was chosen.” Sweet said he was overjoyed and ready to get going on the project right away.
Not Sweet’s first mural, this one would be by far the largest one he has created. Sweet designed a scale model of the mural consisting of 12 four-foot by eight-foot panels spanning over 96 feet.
Sweet, a LEAF roster artist, painted the panels at LEAF’s art studio at Maa Wákąčąk (Hoocąk language meaning Sacred Land), and at their home at Louis’ Bluff in Lyndon Station, Wisconsin. LEAF Founder and Director Melanie Tallmadge-Sainz said that as one of their roster artists, the organization supports Chris’ growth and entrepreneurship in his art.
As mentioned before, Sweet will soon give the mural its final title, alluding to having the title incorporate connectedness. “Connections, connected. Just kind of something you know, in regards to the Hoocąk and our connectedness to this area. That's kind of what the goal is. This area with all its beauty, you see the birds, the activity on the trail, and my love for sunsets, just the beauty of the sky. I wanted to incorporate all of that, and put the Hoocąk presence in there. That's where the connection comes in.” Chrissy added, “I know Chris touched on a little bit about this being the ancestral homelands of the Hoocąk, but I wanted to mention that there's a couple Ciporoke (traditional Hoocąk dwelling) put in the painting. That's to represent the ancestors passing down their knowledge and also the connection to home and family.”
Sweet’s mother Lenore, an artist herself and one of his biggest supporters, played a role in the mural. “We actually worked with her on this in the initial design. So, we were getting input from her. I did some sketches and stuff and she pretty much signed off on it,” he said. Chrissy also noted that Sweet received feedback from his sister Angie Sweet-Lowe on the mural, and Angie’s son Austin Azevedo helped install the mural. Sweet said in future projects like this mural that it would be cool to have other Hoocąk get involved.
I asked Sweet if there were any of the panels that he favored, he responded, “I can't remember which number panel it is, but I put a couple on there. It was just a husband and wife and it felt like it was missing something. So, I added a son, and that felt really good putting him in there. But it was still missing something. Finally, two days ago, I decided to add a daughter. So, it ended up being a small family. Mother, father, son, and daughter. It all just kind of came together. That's my favorite panel. Chrissy said she loves the whole mural saying, “I love all the artwork and the colors. The vibrancy of the colors is amazing on this and I think guests that visit the Great Sauk Trail will really appreciate that. But there is one panel that has two boys near the riverbank and there's a canoe there. When I see that, I think about the relevance of those canoes that were found in Lake Mendota. It’s just a reminder that there should be no question about ties of the Hoocąk to this to this land, then, and throughout time until now and into the future. So, that's one of my favorites”.
Chrissy stressed that the mural isn't flat but rather the panels making up the entire mural are staggered. “So, each panel helps to create this formation of a bird in flight. That is to pay homage not only to the eagles in this area, but all of the wildlife that makes up the ecosystem in this area.”
On his art Sweet said, “People see things differently and it makes them feel different ways. It's supposed to be healing. So, when they look at it, I want it to bring them comfort and a connectedness to the land.”
