The Nelson & District Arts Council (NDAC) is thrilled to announce an exciting artistic collaboration set to take place this summer. Esteemed multi-disciplinary artists Smokii Sumac and Zaynab Mohammed will join forces with graphic designer nikta to create a new mural on a retaining wall across from the 900 block of Edgewood Avenue. This vibrant public artwork, titled Our Grandmother’s Garden, promises to be a “poem for the eyes,” which will be a homage to the artists’ ancestral and cultural roots. Although it is a mural, this project is being carried out independently of the annual Nelson International Mural Festival.
One of NDAC’s core priorities is to foster environments where artists can explore and express their lived experiences and unique stories. “Our Grandmother’s Garden” epitomizes these values, paying homage to the artists’ grandmothers who they say have “preserved the sweetest and bitterest of herbs for our wellness.” In their artist statement, Smokii Sumac and Zaynab Mohammed express, “We both come from cultures that know their intrinsic connection and dependence on nature for all that is provided for us, for those before us, and for those to come after us.”
About the Artists:
Smokii Sumac: Smokii Sumac is a Ktunaxa two spirit/transgender poet, PhD Candidate, podcast host, and emerging playwright. Smokii’s research for his Indigenous Studies PhD centres on the question how do we come home?; as adoptees, as two-spirit people, and as Indigenous people more broadly. The ʔasqanaki Podcast, which Smokii hosts, focuses on why Indigenous representations matter. Smokii is also a proud to be a member of the xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ project where he supports conversations around gender and sexual diversity throughout the research process, as the team asks the question qapsin kiʔin ʔakaǂxuniyam? What would a healthy community look like?
Zaynab Mohammed: Zaynab Mohammed is an award-winning performance poet. She was born on the coast of BC Canada, to immigrant parents fleeing war torn countries. She is Iraqi, Lebanese and Palestinian. The countries her parents grew up in, the cultures her family carries, the language of her grandmothers, the smell of tea and the taste of sweets, are what root Zaynab in her being. She pays homage to her ancestors, that carry her heavy heart, as she weaves stories and poems to share with the world. Inspired by her family’s hardships, Zaynab is a visionary creative who has been healing herself through the written word, by sharing her story and by giving her audience reflections into love and empowerment.
nikta: nikta is a multidisciplinary artist and an immigrant settler living rurally on the unsurrendered Sinixt territories. As a racialized immigrant woman, nikta brings a unique perspective to their work, deeply influenced by a love of nature, life, and interconnectedness. They are a passionate disruptor and post-activist, advocating for liberation and transformative justice through their art. Believing that generosity is generative, nikta fosters community and connection in every aspect of their practice. Their creative journey reflects diverse experiences and a steadfast commitment to social change.
Background and Collaboration:
Smokii Sumac and Zaynab Mohammed first crossed paths during the Nelson Museum, Archives, and Gallery’s New Echoes in the Staircase mural residency project. This initial meeting set the stage for their current collaboration, which will blend their unique artistic perspectives and poetic sensibilities to fulfill their responsibility “to foster this world with tender, strong hearts”.
NDAC is honoured to support this mural project; Our Grandmother’s Garden will not only beautify the retaining wall but will also serve as a visual testament to the artists’ shared values and collective histories.