Art Saved the Mountain: Christi Belcourt

Christi Belcourt, a Métis artist whose painting “Reverence for Life” appears on the newest volume from the NetVUE Scholarly Resources Project, reflects on the vocation of the artist. In our conversation, she explains how walking gently on the earth is part of learning responsibility and leading a life of integrity. From her perspective, vocation is about recognizing the gifts one is born with, as well as living in awe of the mystery and wonder of life and the natural world. Christi shares with us the techniques, the historical and cultural narratives, and the social justice causes that inform her artistic process. She reminds us that “our hope is in each other,” and describes how mentors helped her learn to value who each person is, rather than what they do.