Uriel
(The Light)
Uriel is the archangel of the North, the divine flame, and a patron of the arts. She is the angel of inspiration. This Angel guides us when we need to solve a difficult problem, and she inspires us to transform ourselves as we face tough situations. She is the angel of salvation. This is the first angel I painted; I purchased the large canvas during the early days of Covid, just before we went into lockdown. I have her holding a lamp and a book, symbols of light and wisdom. She is surrounded by hummingbirds, birds that symbolize otherworldliness, opening the door to a spiritual perspective. Behind her is a field of grain, a promise of fertility, even though things seem tough.
The model I chose, Patti Waterfield, is an artist who lives locally in Owen Sound. She is a fierce activist who feels very strongly about the rights of women, someone who has the courage to speak her mind, who can inspire everyone around her. When I moved here, she was one of the first artists that I met and got to know, and she introduced me to other artists in the neighbourhood. She has an intense energy about her, and I feel Patti has the power to gaze into the heart of a situation fearlessly and see the truth. I asked her how it felt to be a woman of colour as an artist, and she replied: a lot of teachers told her she wasn’t speaking the universal language of symbolism, something that Patti rejected as being truly universal. Patti admits she had a lot of people help her when she was studying art, and her friend said she didn’t challenge herself enough, but since then it’s clear that she has broken free of that and has found her own amazing style. She was influenced by Persian art which was prevalent in her country of origin, Pakistan. Patti works in watercolour, ink and in oil painting.
Raphael
(The Healer)
Raphael is the archangel of healing. Her colour is emerald green, and her compass point is the East. She works to heal the mind, spirit, and body of those who need it. This angel inspires new ideas that help promote healing. Raphael guides travellers and has been known to disguise herself to appear as an ordinary human.
I painted this angel when hospitals began to overflow with Covid patients and front-line workers were starting to feel overwhelmed by the number of people who were sick and dying in ICU beds. I hoped that somehow, by painting this angel, there would be relief from this pandemic.
I also thought of all those people suffering in isolation, and how Covid affected our mental and emotional health. I hope that Raphael will be there for all of us who struggle during difficult times, and that she will offer us healing. In her left hand she holds the Caduceus, sacred to this Angel. I’ve replaced snakes with eels, because they are a creature of water, and their magical property is to help us navigate through difficult situations.
The model I chose, Bastian Cassidy-Feddern, a PSW, is part of a nursing team. She works tirelessly in a seniors’ health care centre, and when I met her to take pictures of her for this project, you could tell by the marks on her face that she was beyond exhausted. She feels that her job is to make people feel that they are loved, she danced and sang softly to those who were dying. She felt that this was her calling to be there.
Being Métis Anishinaabe, she drew upon the spirituality of the land to help her when the going got rough. As I was painting the angel, she felt Raphael’s presence; Bastian “could feel her wings behind her.” Bastian was there for all the residents who were isolated and alone because they could not have any visitors. She offered them comfort, company, and compassion.
Michael
(The Protector)
Michael is the Archangel of protection. His colour is scarlet, and he is the angel of the South. He guides us through tough times and offers protection and gives us the courage we need to stand our ground. I started painting him after there was an uprising in reaction to the prejudice against Black people. Michael also is a protector of the earth and so he helps us deal with environmental issues that are coming into focus. He offers us help during a crisis. This angel is known to be a clear communicator. Michael offers us courage in times of fear, and justice where there is a lack. He is the patron of police officers, so I thought it was appropriate considering old paradigms of power were being questioned to bring in balance and justice in our society.
The model that I chose, Gregory Brent Courtney, was one of the youngest and first black policemen working for the OPP in the Mount Forest area. He is very protective of his family and friends. His grandfather came to the area via the Underground Railroad when he was just a baby. Brent agreed with me that angels shouldn’t just be white men, that all humans have that potential of sacredness within them. In his career and life, he’s dealt with a lot of racism, and yet that has not stopped him from trying to make the world a better place. He was a foster parent, taking in children and offering them a home. He chose his life so he could be there for his wife and his children. When I last spoke to him, he was moving up north to live off the grid. From him I got this bold energy that spoke of kindness, justice, and compassion.
Gabriel
(The Voice)
The Archangel Gabriel is known as the herald of visions, the messenger. He grants us the power of understanding our higher selves, and to take in the message with a pure heart. His wings are white, and I have him holding a crystal ball, so that we can see the vision that he has to offer up to us. This angel is the angel of communication. He watches over the internet, messengers, diplomats, and all those who need to speak their minds. He was the last angel I painted because I wanted to highlight yet another issue that came up during the covid lockdowns. I wanted to focus in on the 2SLGBTQIA community in an inclusive manner, because I feel that all humans, no matter what, are sacred and holy. I’m a strong ally of the 2SLGBTQIA community, and Gabriel offers us the rainbow of hope for all of humankind through acceptance and understanding.
The model I chose, Michael MacKid, has always accepted himself as being gender fluid and noticeably gay since childhood. This was something he felt he could not hide. Unfortunately, that left him open to homophobia. He’s experienced being a target and he has never had a straight person’s sense of privilege in our society. In the 90s he found Buddies in Bad Times theatre, which was a great oasis of art, creativity and a refuge for him. In 2013 he was attacked one night on his way home from Buddies by two men. He’s not sure if it was an intentional gay bashing, but this attack left him with fractures in his left jaw and face which caused permanent damage. Michael Mackid walks with such grace, and is resplendently authentic with who he is. That’s why I chose him for this last and final angel. To me he represents courage and compassion. He is also the author of a book of poetry under the pen name Micha Wuulwicce.