Local landscapes in Place des Arts
Like most artists, Sage Harrington takes inspiration from her surroundings - in her case, the lands and waters of Kanesatake.
The Ratihén:te High School student, barely 15 years old, was among a handful of artists and artisans selected to show off their wares at the Micro ouverte autochtone festival in Montreal’s Place des Arts, the headquarter of arts and culture in the city.
“It just feels great having people know more who I am and what I do,” said Harrington as the merchants’ hall buzzed with activity.
The young artist has always been interested in expressing herself through drawing and painting, but for years it was simply a hobby. “I loved it, but I just never showed it or anything,” she said.
That changed when her father, Al Harrington, boasted about one of her paintings on social media, leading to Sage’s first ever art sale.
“I just went on from there, and my dad kept sharing photos around, and basically that’s it,” Sage said. “It’s all because of my dad and mom. They’ve supported me through my whole journey.”
She sometimes uses photographs and other times just her mind’s eye to create lush recreations of natural beauty, especially of the land she knows so well. “I don’t think I’ll be painting Montreal anytime soon,” she said.
“I want to share. Some people in Montreal don’t know what the countryside looks like, and I prefer to share it around and give and sell to them, so they have a piece of my home in their house, so I can spread my happiness.”
Her mother, Karonhienhawe Nicholas, was at her side for the event, which took place over the weekend.
“She’s always been one to doodle and draw and everything. I knew right from the get-go that she’s got something there,” said Nicholas. “I’ve seen through the years where it helps her become more confident. It helps her become who she is now.”
Nicholas believes it’s also a way for Sage to expand her horizons, even as she joked that she can be an overprotective mother.
“It makes me really happy because we’re always in our little group, our little circle, our community,” she said. “It helps her step out and see other people, be a part of another community, a different community, which is the art world, so she can see that she can relate to other people and show off her creativity.”
Sage and Nicholas weren’t the only Kanehsata’kehró:non in the room. Art and coffee go hand in hand, so Moccasin Joe Coffee Roasters was on site serving up some of its offerings.
The company’s owner Mike David took the opportunity to buy one of Sage’s paintings, a depiction of the Lake of Two Mountains from Kanesatake’s shore.
“I know that exact scene. I’ve stood in that exact spot in Kanesatake. Not only is it a beautiful painting, but it’s a picture from back home,” David said.
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“It’s always nice to see someone follow their passion and even introduce a little entrepreneurship. If she starts selling her artwork, I think it’s always good to encourage young people to follow their dreams and their passions and their skills.”
Samantha Pepin, also representing the coffee roaster, was floored to see the array of canvases painted by a young Kanehsata’kehró:non.
“I didn’t know as a community member that she was at that level of artistry. It was fascinating for me to see in her paintings she depicts or recreates places in Kanesatake that, if you’ve grown up in Kanesatake your whole life, you know that place,” Pepin said.
“You know that checkpoint. I know where that island is. I know where that mountain is. I know where those horses are. In the art she brought today, it was just fascinating to see. She’s so talented.”
