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New Brunswick·Ann's Eye

For this Sixties Scoop survivor, painting alone — and with others — brings peace

While visiting Cyndi Nash’s artist-in-residence display at the New Brunswick Museum, Ann Paul found the vibrant, playful colours reminded her of finding her inner child.

N.B. artist Cyndi Nash shared her work with Fredericton public during museum residency

CBC News ·
A woman wearing a peach-colour t-shirt stands next to a colourful painting of an Indigenous woman wearing a feathered headdress.
This painting is called 'The Warrior.' Cyndi Nash painted it one night after she suffered a painful stubbed toe. (Ann Paul/CBC)

This is part of a series called Ann's Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You can see more Ann's Eye pieces by clicking here.

Ann Paul and Cyndi Nash share the same birthday.

"That's how we became kindred spirits," Paul said. 

For Paul, though, her connection to Nash, a Sixties Scoop survivor originally from St. Mary's First Nation, also known as Sitansisk Wolastoqiyik, deepens when looking at Nash's art.

While visiting Nash's artist-in-residence display at the New Brunswick Museum, Paul said the vibrant, playful colours reminded her of finding her inner child.

WATCH | Cyndi Nash's childhood was full of darkness, but now her life is full of colour 

Sixties scoop survivor helps New Brunswickers be creative

1 year ago
Duration 2:37
With her own bright, colourful paintings on display, artist Cyndi Nash was also helping people make their own art during her stint as artist-in-residence at the New Brunswick Museum.

"You'll walk up to a person that's on the journey of positivity, that journey of finding yourself and you'll see that aura around them, you'll see that beautiful, vibrant colour on a canvas," Paul said.

Scroll through the photos and watch the video above to see Nash's art.

A woman wearing a peach-coloured shirt stands over a table where a woman and child sit. The table is covered in plastic tarp and painting supplies.
Ann Paul said Cyndi Nash encouraged visitors when they didn't think their art was good. 'Anything that’s coming from you and is a reflection of you is beautiful,' Nash would say. (Ann Paul/CBC)
Multiple, colourful paintings sit on a green bench.
Cyndi Nash's paintings help her connect to who she is, Paul said. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A collection of paintings hang on a white-brick wall.
Cyndi Nash's art on display at the Fredericton Region Museum (Griffin Jaeger (CBC))

Ann's Eye

Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick. Click here or on the image below to see more of her work. 

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