Forty years of art and music

Multidisciplinary artist David R. Maracle celebrates his 40-year career

Tyendinaga-based musician, sculptor and poet David R. Maracle celebrated his 40-year-long career with a concert last Saturday night in the Sergeants Mess Hall at Base31, featuring a number of guest performers, including Tom Wilson and his son Thompson, Astrid Young, Rita Di Ghent, Michael George, and Mr. Maracle’s brother, Jonathon. The event also celebrated the release of his first vinyl album, Path to Totality, and his new book, Elemental Daydreamer. The album is dedicated to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and to Indigenous children ensnared in the Residential School system. The album is made of red vinyl and when held up to the light it appears orange, with the colours symbolizing the two groups it is dedicated to. The book is the brainchild of Mr. Maracle’s wife, Kimberly, and is a tribute to his career as an artist. The book contains images of Mr. Maracle’s sculptures and his writings and poetry. QR codes on certain pages provide a link to Mr. Maracle’s music, which can be played to accompany the poems.

Mr. Maracle and his family moved to Tyendinaga from Akwesasne when he was 12 years old. His father was a survivor of the residential school system and was a well respected speaker, being fluent an all six dialects of the Iroquoian Confederacy. His mother was an artist, musician and poet. “I think that rubbed off on me,” noted Mr. Maracle. The family was active on the powwow trail, visiting many different territories. Mr. Maracle began making necklaces and small pieces of jewellery to sell at these events, and as he learned more about his culture, stories and legends, he started carving figures in stone. “There are always teachings in our stories, in the way we do things, the practises for different seasons where we honour the animals and the natural world around us. I like to capture all of these things in stone and lock them in there for future generations to be able to see,” he said.

While attending powwows Mr. Maracle was intrigued by the songs and music and the interplay with dance. He began to create his own music, using traditional instruments such as the Iroquoian flute—modified as his own design—and water drum, accompanied by the natural sounds of wind and rain, as well as bird and animal sounds. He has since expanded to use Indigenous instruments from around the world as well as a hang drum that was gifted to him by a close friend. His music can be described as being healing and meditative. “I want people to slow down when they listen to it, to just relax and focus on the beauty of those things that sustain our life each day,” he said. “You can gather your thoughts when you are listening to beautiful music. When you have that soothing music it’s almost like getting a massage in your brain.”

Last Saturday’s show at the Sergeants Mess Hall was played in front of a full house, with people coming from Toronto, Montreal and Quebec plus a large contingent from Tyendinaga. Mr. Maracle was accompanied on stage by longtime friend Donald Quan on keyboard, drums and strings, Rowa Brant on guitar, Richard Best on percussion, and Matthew Davies on guitar. He opened with a song of thanksgiving, which was followed by an up-tempo jazzy tune and a cover of Black Magic Woman. Kimberly Maracle acted as MC for the evening, introducing the guest performers as well as reading excerpts from David’s book that were written by their children. Tom Wilson read one of Mr. Maracle’s poems, and Rita Di Ghent provided the musical accompaniment as Mr. Maracle read one of his own poems. All musicians came on stage for the final song of the night, and Mr. Maracle ended the evening with a reading from his book. For more information about Mr. Maracle’s art and music, please visit davidrmaracle.com.