Weekly We Make: So Small, We Don’t Even Think About It

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ABOUT THE WEEKLY WE MAKE ACTIVITY

Draw a magnified (close-up) picture of something so small that it’s often overlooked, inspired by the exhibition Beads in the Blood / mīgisak mīgohk: A Ruth Cuthand Retrospective on view at the MacKenzie Art Gallery until 28 March 2025.

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.

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About the artwork that inspired us

A pile of gray folded garments tied with red ribbons sits neatly stacked on a wooden surface, reminiscent of organized moving boxes. Each garment showcases a small logo patch featuring an orange oval shape with white details.

Image credit: Installation view of Beads in the Blood / mīgisak mīgohk: A Ruth Cuthand Retrospective, Photo Don Hall.

Smallpox is one of twelve artworks in the Trading Series. Each artwork shows us how a different pathogen looks under a microscope. The extreme close-ups of the pathogens have an eerie beauty. 

Eleven of the diseases in the Trading Series, including smallpox, are illnesses spread by Europeans to the Indigenous Peoples of North America. Ruth Cuthand beaded these images using glass seed beads on a black background. The final image is of syphilis, a disease brought back to Europe from North America. Ruth created the image of syphilis using porcupine quills. 

The artwork Extirpate this Execrable Race also includes beaded images of smallpox. This time, Ruth has attached the beaded viruses to blankets and wrapped them in bright red bows like gifts. This artwork shares the story of how smallpox was intentionally spread to Indigenous peoples by Europeans through infected blankets and handkerchiefs. The title comes from letters written by British general Jeffery Amherst to Colonel Henry Bouquet. In these letters, Jeffery Amherst talks about trying to get rid of Indigenous peoples and suggests purposely spreading diseases like smallpox to do so. 

About the Artist 

Ruth Cuthand is of both Plains Cree and Scottish descent. She was born in 1945 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Her family moved to Cardston, Alberta, near the Blood (Kainai) Reserve for her father’s work. Ruth is a member of the Little Pine First Nation, and currently lives in Saskatoon. 

Many of Ruth’s artworks use memories, personal experiences, and cultural stories as starting points. These stories are rooted in places and communities. Ruth Cuthand and Curator Felicia Gay (Swampy Cree) have worked together before using collaborative storytelling. The two collaborated again in the exhibition Beads in the Blood/Migisak Migohk: A Ruth Cuthand Retrospective. When working on this exhibition, they connected through the story of the smallpox epidemic at Wāskahikanihk/Cumberland House. Listen to Ruth and Felicia discuss this smallpox epidemic in this video: https://vimeo.com/536554181 (at 3:00-11:26 min). 

Ruth often uses dark humor and beauty to address difficult topics. Her art makes overlooked issues visible and opens minds and hearts to discussions. 

Studio Activity

Draw a magnified (close-up) picture of something so small that it’s often overlooked. Discuss why this small thing is important beyond what its size suggests.  

Materials 

  • Images of things under a microscope
  • Magnifying glasses
  • (Optional) microscope and phone 
  • Pencils, erasers, and sharpeners 
  • Pencil crayons 
  • Drawing paper 

Instructions 

Step 1

Choose a printed image of something under a microscope to use as a reference. Or you can use the microscope in the studio to take an extremely close-up photo of something else. You can clip a phone to the microscope and snap a picture to use as your reference. 

Step 2

Draw what you saw through the microscope. Or use a magnifying glass to look closely at one of the printed pictures and draw what you see through its lens. 

Step 3

Have a discussion with a family member or friend about what you drew. How do tiny things have big impacts on people and our environment? 

Things to Think About 

  • Why do you think Ruth chose to bead these images of diseases rather than painting or drawing them? 
  • Can you think of other artists or artworks that help us talk about social issues? 

 

Important Words 

Pathogen: any organism that causes disease. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can all be pathogens. 

Indigenous People: the first people to live in a place. In Canada, Indigenous Peoples include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. The word Indigenous can also mean something belonging to Indigenous Peoples. 

Collaborative storytelling: telling stories with the help of other people. This can include thinking about how our stories overlap, connect, and share our unique viewpoints. Collaborative storytelling can often connect stories to specific places. 

Epidemic: when a disease spreads quickly to many people.