Biography
Claire Brascoupé is an Algonquin Anishinabe artist practicing in community-based public art with a vision to promoting Algonquin culture and artists. She has experience in several public art projects in the Ottawa and Gatineau: Algonquin Birch Bark Basket Sculpture, Place Abinan, Gatineau Quebec; Algonquin Canoe sculpture, Algonquin Moose sculpture and Algonquin Birch Bark Biting Window Designs, Pimisi Station, Ontario, Ontario. She is also a digital media artist, animator and filmmaker
Video
Public Art
Algonquin Birch Bark Basket Sculpture, 2017 Place Abinan, Gatineau Quebec
• Web designer - http://simonbrascoupe.com/
• Filmmaker
Algonquin Canoe, 2018, Acrylic paint, pine paddles and steel canoe
• Artist
• Web designer - http://paddles.simonbrascoupe.com/
• Filmmaker – in production
• Workshop facilitator
• Advisor on fabrication
Inspired by the Algonquin teaching that “it takes many people to paddle a canoe”, the artwork features hand-painted paddles by 101 Algonquin artists; arranged in the shape of a canoe. This participatory project included artists of all ages - youth, adults and elders was led by Algonquin artist Simon Brascoupé.
Algonquin Moose, 2018, Simon Brascoupé, artist steel
• Web designer - http://paddles.simonbrascoupe.com/
• Filmmaker
Simon Brascoupé’s moose sculpture inspires viewers to think about the natural world. The moose faces east to the rising sun. It recreates the story of Wìsakedjàk, the Algonquin trickster, told by the artist’s father. It illustrates the relationship between human, moose and bird beings.
Algonquin Birch Bark Biting Window Designs, 2018, Simon Brascoupé, Claire Brascoupé and Mairi Brascoupé, Window Film
• Artist
• Web designer – in development
• Filmmaker – in production
• Workshop facilitator
The intricate motifs on these windows are inspired by the traditional art of Algonquin birch bark biting. This ancient process involves using one’s teeth to create patterns into thin pieces of birch bark. These designs represent Algonquin teachings such as the sacredness of all things, relationships and seasonal cycles.