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An artist from Pelly Crossing, Yukon, is getting her work put on public display in Whitehorse’s downtown core nearly 300 kilometers to the south.
Cassie Johnnie is a 22-year-old artist from Selkirk First Nation. While her work spans digital mediums and traditional crafts, her paintings are what’s grabbing people’s attention at 210 Hawkins Street.
Her landscapes were printed onto a wrap and affixed to the outside of a utility box.
Selkirk First Nation artist Cassie Johnnie holding up one of the original paintings on canvas that is displayed on a utility box in Whitehorse. (Cassie Johnnie)
Johnnie said she started painting in 2020, when she painted a portrait of her late grandpa for her grandma. She said she painted portraits for awhile before moving on to landscapes.
“I didn’t really get into it at first,” Johnnie said. “I don’t know if you’ve ever watched the Ghibli movies…they’re just animations that I like but the backgrounds [are] what really inspired me to continue painting.”
Johnnie said she’s only seen the installation through pictures that have been shared on social media.
She said the response from people has been encouraging, and overwhelming. It’s also inspired her to want to see how far she can take her art.
“I can’t explain it. It just makes me really happy,” she said. “I do really want to have my own art exhibit, but I have to make more paintings to display.”
A painting Cassie Johnnie said she created from her imagination. Johnnie said she never expected her art to be publicly displayed on a utility box. (Youth of Today Society)
The project is facilitated by the Youth of Today Society, an organization that aims to empower youth in their creative pursuits, and ATCO Electric Yukon.
Karl Romero is a youth program coordinator with Youth of Today. As a fellow artist, he said, “When you look at her pieces the first thing that comes in mind is how grand it looks … Her process is amazing. It’s a unique style too.”
Romero said Johnnie is one of many artists whose art is being displayed on utility boxes around the city.
“With these boxes we really tried to showcase them,” he said. “If you go to each of the boxes, they have their names on them, as well as a QR code … So we really wanted people to scan those QR codes, and maybe get in contact with the youth and maybe give them an opportunity.”
Another painting from Cassie Johnnie featured on a utility box at 210 Hawkins street in Whitehorse, Yukon. (Youth of Today Society)
Nobody from ATCO Electric Yukon was available for an interview.
“The installations have been very well received, and we’re particularly proud to see local Indigenous youth helping bring these spaces to life through their artwork and creative vision,” said, Tony Badry, the company’s manager.
“Utility boxes are a necessary part of our infrastructure, but projects like this allow them to become meaningful community assets that tell local stories and contribute to a more welcoming public space.”
The email went on to say that the company committed funding to the program through 2027.