We Mural: Kapemni (mirroring)

Commissioned by the City of Bloomington in partnership with Artistry, curated by UA SI as part of the WE Mural.
Location: 2901 American Blvd E, Bloomington MN 55425
Dimensions: 24’x12′, total WE mural is over 752 feet in length

The center of this mural features a tipi and its reflection above, creating the Dakota symbol of two reflected triangles known as Kapemni (mirroring) which represents the philosophy that what happens below is reflected above and vice versa.

According to Dakota star knowledge, We believe We come from the stars. Bdote, the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers near Bloomington, is the place of origin for Dakota people and where the Kapemni (mirroring) is strongest. Our ancestors were often buried along the Mississippi River — which is reflected above us as the Milky Way, the spirit road that we travel upon in the afterlife according to Dakota beliefs. In Bloomington, Mound Springs Park features a number of such mounds. More of these mounds were destroyed in recent times such as the Lincoln Burial Mounds (destroyed for the construction of the Bloomington Central Station) nearby this mural.

As a metaphor, Bdote can also represent the meeting of people and the horizontal colors along the sides represents all the people today who come together to create our current society here in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.