Aristotle once said there is no purpose to dreams, but as brilliant as Aristotle was, there are many occasions where it’s been proven that dreams can inspire great things.
History is full of moments where great ideas are inspired by our dreams. Paul McCartney’s iconic song, “Let It Be,” sprang from a dream. At a time when he was feeling intense stress and exhaustion, McCartney dreamed of his mother, who had passed away ten years earlier. As if she knew the stress and pressure he was under, she said to him, “Don’t worry, it’s going to be fine, just let it be.” He woke up, headed straight to his piano, and began writing the song that would eventually bring that same comfort to millions.
On a different level, Mary Shelley found inspiration through a “waking dream.” While staying at a villa in Switzerland one summer, she struggled to come up with a ghost story for a competition between friends. One night, she experienced a terrifying vision of a "pale student of unhallowed arts" kneeling beside a monstrous creation. That dream became the foundation for her classic novel, Frankenstein.
Jessica Mamakeesick (Robinson) has become a well-known name in the arts in Thunder Bay. She is an Oji-Cree Metis woman with roots in Sandy Lake and KeeWayWin, with her work revealing a deep spiritual connection to the earth and the ancestors who guide her hand. When she paints, Jessica isn’t just creating a beautiful piece of art; she is honouring her history and sharing a piece of her soul. “For as long as I can remember, I loved doodling, sketching, and getting creative with school art projects,” she says. “But I was always too intimidated to pick up a paintbrush, even though both of my parents are talented artists.”
During her teen years, her artistic side became less important as she focused on other things. Jessica became a mother at the age of 18, and from that point on, her energy went into raising her son, going back to school, and working. Life was busy, which left little time to explore her own interests.
For nearly two decades, the paintbrushes waited to be dipped in colour and the canvases stayed blank. She was doing the important work of being a mom and building a life, and that creative spark was just waiting for the right moment to catch fire.
That spark ignited in 2021 when the world was still dealing with the ups and downs of the pandemic, and many people were reflecting on what they really wanted out of life. “I woke up from a dream where I was painting a feather in Indigenous style,” Jessica shares.
“That dream sparked something deep inside me, excitement, curiosity, and a passion I hadn’t felt in years. It wasn’t just a vague feeling; it was a clear vision. It felt like I was being given a nudge to finally stop being intimidated.”
The very next day, she picked up a paintbrush, began teaching herself, and she hasn’t stopped since, leading to a completely new career as an artist and business owner.
“I still have the very first piece of art I created the morning after my dream,” she says. “I posted it on Facebook just for fun, and a friend commented that they would pay me if I painted something for them. Other friends began asking for custom pieces, and each request helped me learn, experiment, and grow”. When she decided to post her art online to see if it would sell there, it did, within minutes, to someone in Ottawa. “I was in shock. I couldn’t believe people who didn’t even know me wanted to buy my art. That moment made me realize this wasn’t just a hobby—this could become something real”. From then on, every spare moment was dedicated to creating. “It felt like a creative part of my brain had been unlocked.” Say Jessica.
About three years ago, Jessica was invited to open a shop in the Goods & Co. Market. This was a huge step forward. The market is a hub of creativity thanks to the focus on local vendors who fill the space, resulting in a tangible sense of creativity. Stepping into that energy and having her own space there allowed Jessica to move her art from her home and into the community. She says it’s been incredible to connect with people face-to-face, whether it’s through sharing meaningful artwork or encouraging others to express their emotions through creativity.
Jessica’s parents played a big role in her creative journey. “My dad was my first Indigenous artistic influence. He painted in the Woodland style and sold his work all over the place. My mom could pick up an instrument and play by ear and was also very artistically talented. I’ve also had the privilege of meeting and working with Ojibway Artist Jacquie Traverse from Winnipeg, who has become someone I deeply admire.”
Jessica’s art also has been embraced by local sports organizations. It all began with the U13 AAA Kings asking Jessica to paint their awards on hockey sticks, which led to creating jerseys for the Thunder Bay Women’s Hockey Association and Lakehead University Thunderwolves Hockey team. The game worn jerseys were then auctioned off to support Indigenous youth and BIPOC scholarships at Lakehead University’s Athletics Department. “It’s been such an incredible experience being involved in the sports community. It has opened so many doors and created opportunities I never imagined.”
The Ontario University Athletics reached out to Jessica to design artwork for the 2024-25 league sport MVP awards as well as footballs to be presented to CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie and Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden at the OUA Football Awards. “Seeing the award recipients recognized with something I created and watching the hockey team wear jerseys I designed is such a rewarding and surreal feeling”, shares Jessica.
Before she was a full-time artist, Jessica worked in healthcare as a technician at Lifelabs. While she only saw her patients for a brief few minutes, she always saw that as an opportunity to show kindess and compassion, not just as a moment in which a task had to be completed.
Jessica is living proof that art and passion go hand-in-hand. She demonstrates that you don’t have to choose between being an artist and being a helper. You can use your art to heal, and you can use your life to inspire.
Whether it’s a global masterpiece or a local canvas, the most beautiful things in our world begin to flourish when we are brave enough to act on what we see when our eyes are closed. Aristotle may have dismissed dreams, but Jessica turned hers into new beginnings.
The next time you wake up from a vivid dream, don’t brush it off. Think of Jessica, that first painted feather and how it changed her life. Maybe there’s a spark waiting for you, too. All it takes is the courage to pick up the brush (or take that step, make that call, send in that resume) and see what happens.
