All Beings Connected is a two-part art exhibit by father-son duo August and Luke Swinson. It speaks to our personal relationship and dedication to the land and its inhabitants, and the enduring strength of Indigenous peoples.
The first art piece, called All Beings Connected, was created by artist August Swinson. The figure in the center is rooted and is drawing strength from the earth beneath, symbolizing our personal relationship and dedication to the land and its inhabitants. You can find this piece in Union’s Great Hall.
This second art piece, called The Original Treaties, was created by artist Luke Swinson. It represents the peaceful treaties Anishinaabe people made with the earth, sky and all living beings. Treaties allow us to work together, uphold our commitments and nourish relationships with creation. The hand holding an eagle feather symbolizes our connection to Creator and the enduring strength of our people. You can find this piece in Union’s Front Street Promenade Vitrine.
About the Artists
August Swinson is an artist and member of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, currently living in Kitchener, Ontario. August works in a variety of styles and uses a mix of hand drawn and computer generated illustrations. Influenced by the beauty of nature and the classic Canadian landscape, and memories of his childhood living on the Scugog Island reserve, his illustrations evoke a sense of fun, and something familiar that reminds us of a more innocent age but from a new perspective.
Luke Swinson is a visual artist with Anishinaabe roots from Kitchener, Ontario. A member of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Luke’s work reflects his desire to better understand and reclaim his Indigenous culture. He seeks to promote cultural education and preservation through his art projects.
About Union
Union is committed to reflecting the diversity of Canadians in all our programs. Our programming vision celebrates creativity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. Our goal is to strengthen the connection between public art and civic engagement and ultimately create connectedness amongst our communities.
We support innovation and collaborate with artists and cultural organizations throughout the GTA and internationally. The projects we curate are uplifting, grand scale, impactful, accessible and, above all, foster meaningful thought and emotional dialogue about our collective/shared and individual experiences. It is our goal to curate meaningful and thoughtful public art projects that animate Union Station.
About the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada. Learn more at downiewenjack.ca.
About TD
We recognize art from the Indigenous community is made of diverse forms and holds different meanings that can create conversations about the past, present, and future. TD has been supporting artists from Indigenous communities since 1967 and is committed to Truth and Reconciliation by amplifying diverse voices that leverage the power of art as a means to learn more about the historical and ongoing contributions of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Learn more about how TD is supporting Indigenous Communities at td.com/indigenous.
