Also making up the exhibition are a pair of handmade beaded fringe earrings, long and dangly in hues of green, rose, violet, and coral; and a trio of small baskets made by hand out of pine needles, birch bark, cedar root, sinew, and decorative glass beads. There are also miniature mittens and moccasins made of leather and rabbit fur. Steel will give an artist’s talk and private viewing on August 30 at 5:45 p.m.
Sewing by hand is a practice that Indigenous people have employed for millennia, and Steel is not the least bit tempted to use a modern-day sewing machine. “Sewing machines hate me,” she says with a laugh. “We aren’t friends.” Beadwork demands a certain slow precision and isn’t something that can be rushed; it has taught Steel how to create with intention and care. If she doesn’t have a particular story or image in mind when embarking on a new project, she will often start out by selecting her colours and letting those choices influence the direction of the piece.
The throughline of Steel’s work, the artist says, is joy.
“I think a lot of the colours I use are very bright and happy and uplifting—pinks and greens and nature colours. At first glance, I just want my work to feel joyous and lively and happy.
