A “Cumdach,” a medieval Celtic book shrine dedicated to a saint traditionally serves to carry sacred texts or relics and is often permanently sealed. This artistic representation of a cumdach incorporates elements such as clay, leather, deer antler, and other found objects.
Gabrielle’s deeply considered shrine is dedicated to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, patron of indigenous peoples, the environment, and care for creation. The artist explores beauty and reverence for nature’s creatures and their protectors alongside a family history of honoring Saint Kateri, her own spiritual practice, and the challenge of reconciling with the fraught history surrounding the missionary church and indigenous peoples.