– Paul Shilling (Dazaunggee)

Darkness Does Not Belong in the Shadows

Brilliance is in the moment.
Forget your Ideas of Tomorrow.
Uncover and embrace your essence.
From the Sky World, through my mother,
I came into this world.

Born into an incredibly disturbing system
That wouldn’t allow me to be myself,
Somehow convinced me my culture was evil,
That I was a mistake.

Experience has become my teacher,
And I will express those teachings in paint.
The canvas is my screen, my window.| 

Dazaunggee (Sky Buffalo) is my spirit name.
Paul is my Christian, government name.

Being an artist is not easy.
It demands truth, courage, clarity, and vision.
I am sure I could close my eyes
And paint pretty pictures, or
Paint in the style of other famed artists.

This is my life – I have only one shot at it.
To paint, to write is my voice,|
My way of healing
To uncover my child, my spirit.

  – Paul Shilling (Dazaunggee)

“Darkness Does Not Belong in the Shadows” is a conversation – “dialogue in image” between two artists, Paul Shilling (Dazaunggee) and Ted Fullerton. Both artists were open to hear the other, they were willing to ask hard questions in order to build a friendship through trust, respect, emotional support, and admiration. As they sat beneath the trees, side by side on a warm sunny day they agreed that “the painted conversation should also be said in words and in public no matter how difficult the social situation presents itself in life. “The final works are a visual dialogue of their risk, as well as a difficult conversation translated onto the canvas.

Guest-curated by Sonja Hidas

Image Credit: Jane Fullerton, Titled / Paul and Ted, digital photo, 2021.

“Darkness Does Not Belong in the Shadows” is a conversation – “dialogue in image” between two artists, Paul Shilling (Dazaunggee) and Ted Fullerton. Both artists were open to hear the other, they were willing to ask hard questions in order to build a friendship through trust, respect, emotional support, and admiration. As they sat beneath the trees, side by side on a warm sunny day they agreed that “the painted conversation should also be said in words and in public no matter how difficult the social situation presents itself in life. “The final works are a visual dialogue of their risk, as well as a difficult conversation translated onto the canvas.

“Working to shed what was taught and invite the new and ever-changing self to heal.”

-Paul Shilling (Dazaunggee)

Guest-curated by Sonja Hidas

Image Credit: Jane Fullerton, Titled / Paul and Ted, digital photo, 2021.

This project is generously funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) through the Grow Grant.

and the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Mississauga’s Cultural Division

This project is generously funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) through the Grow Grant.

and the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Mississauga’s Cultural Division

The Art Gallery of Mississauga is a guest upon the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. This ancient land is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and the traditional homelands of the Anishinaabe, Wendat, and Haudenosaunee nations.