About the Weekly We Make Activity
Inspired by Ishi Glinsky’s artwork, which can be viewed in the exhibition, Indian Theater: Native Performance, Art, and Self-Determination since 1969, on display at the MacKenzie Art Gallery from 23 May to 21 September 2025, paint an image that pays homage to someone or something that inspires you.
This workshop is led by one of our amazing Gallery Educators.
About Weekly We Make
It’s an art party! Weekly We Make at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, presented by Canada Life, is an opportunity for individuals and families to drop in and create artwork.
Learn about the artists and artworks in MacKenzie’s Permanent Collection and featured exhibitions with weekly in-person hands-on workshops that can be modified for all ages. Visit our studio to make art with Gallery Educators and guest artists, exploring new and beloved techniques and art materials.
There is no cost to attend these drop-in sessions. All materials are provided.
The Artwork that Inspired Us
The artist Ishi Glinsky is inspired by the work of Veronica Poblano, an artist descended from a long line of Zuni inlay jewelers. Reimagining Poblano’s bolo tie-sized Pink Panther at a larger scale, Light Pink Jazz builds upon a movement in Southwestern inlay (setting stones in metal) that emerged in the 1970s. Warmly referred to as “Zuni Toons,” these pieces reimagine characters from popular culture using precious materials such as silver, turquoise, and shell. Here, Glinsky creates an oversized tribute to the jewellery techniques expertly honed by Poblano, instead using welded aluminum and resin to mimic precious stones.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ishi Glinsky (b. Tucson, AZ, 1982) is an artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Working with a variety of mediums including painting, drawing and sculpture, Glinsky blends the traditional practices of his tribe, the Tohono O’odham Nation, with artistic techniques he has learned from other North American First Nations to make art about sacred events and customs.
Whether he is making an installation, a sculpture or a painting, Glinsky’s works often pay homage to his teachers, influences, and inspirational figures. What is more, Glinsky’s carefully crafted compositions amplify Indigenous practices and stories.
ISHI GLINSKY, Light Pink Jazz, 2021, Resin, Pigment, industrial adhesives, steel, aluminum, Forge Project Collection, traditional lands of the Muh-he-con-ne-ok.
Studio Activity
Inspired by Ishi Glinsky’s artworks, paint an image that pays homage to someone or something that inspires you.
MATERIALS
- Thick paper or canvas
- Acrylic paints
- Brushes
- Water cups
- Paint palettes
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Think of something or someone that inspires you.
Step 2
Paint that image. Include personal details. An example of this could be:
- An image of Kobe Bryant wearing your school uniform instead of the Lakers
- Superman wearing your favourite hat
Step 3
Write down a short paragraph stating why you chose this image and what you added to it. Why do they inspire you? How do you honour that inspiration?
EXTENSION
Now, see if you can come up with an idea or image that is completely your own! Is it possible to create something that doesn’t come from something else?
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
- How can art help us remember, understand, and connect with history?
- In what ways do we honour or acknowledge those who came before us? And those that we look up to?
- Why is it important for us to talk about inspiration?
IMPORTANT WORDS
- Inspiration: a sudden surge of creativity, motivation, or enthusiasm that can lead to new ideas, actions, or creative endeavours.
- Homage: special honour or respect shown publicly.
- Perspective: this word can have two meanings in art. It can mean how you understand something based on your worldviews and life experiences. Or it can mean literally how you see something.
