Song of My Dreambed Dance

In this painting Joane Cardinal-Schubert draws upon her cultural knowledge as well as on personal imagery derived from a powerful vision she had in a “dream bed.” Part of her Warshirt series, this work also explores the significance and symbolism of the warshirt, traditionally presented to an individual in honour of their notable deeds. The artist transforms the warshirt into a form of protective armour. The layering of bone breastplates, strings of beads, bear claws, the four sacred colours and other elements evoke the defence of both the physical and spiritual body.