Contemporary Indigenous Art from The University of Winnipeg
Gallery 1C03, in partnership with the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, proudly presents Contemporary Indigenous Art from The University of Winnipeg, an exhibition of 15 works drawn from The University of Winnipeg’s collections.
Over the past forty years, The University of Winnipeg has been fortunate to acquire, either through purchase or donation, the work of several accomplished Indigenous artists. The pieces that comprise this exhibition have been gathered from the University’s Art and Anthropology Museum Collections to acknowledge the artistic contributions of these talented individuals.
Initially displayed in the University of Winnipeg’s Convocation Hall beginning in May of 2010, these works will be re-located temporarily to Gallery 1C03 for a special presentation in conjunction with the DOTC First Nation Folklorama Pavilion. In addition to being available for exclusive viewing to DOTC First Nation Pavilion visitors during the evenings of August 5 through 11, Gallery 1C03 is pleased to offer this exhibition for free public viewing on weekday afternoons from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. beginning July 19 and continuing until August 10.
Visitors will be treated to a first-hand look at stunning prints and paintings by Kenojuak Ashevak, Cyril Assiniboine, Jackson Beardy, Eddie Cobiness, Daphne Odjig, Roy Thomas, Simon Tookoome, David B. Williams, Linus Woods and others. Highlights include two large-scale silkscreen images, The Squaw Man and Nanabajou and his Daughter, by renowned Ojibway artist Daphne Odjig. A leader and innovator in the history of contemporary Indigenous art, Odjig and fellow artists Jackson Beardy, Eddy Cobiness, Alex Janvier, Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray and Joseph Sanchez founded Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporated in 1973. Popularly referred to as the “Indian Group of Seven”, these pioneers of contemporary First Nations art began creating distinctly unique paintings and prints in the 1950s and 1960s. The artists often used bright colours and depicted stylized images of people, animals, spirits and the earth to interpret the oral history and legends of their Cree and Ojibway heritage. Decades later Dakota Ojibway artist Linus Woods emerged with his own unique style of art, exemplified in Jade Elk to Jack Rabbit #2 and Red Baby Prophecy, in which he portrays the stories of his people in strokes of lush hues.
Through their creations, the artists in this exhibition share aspects of contemporary and traditional Indigenous cultures with viewers. The University is proud to be the caretaker of these significant artworks and we are pleased to share them with the public in this exhibition.
Exhibition Hours:
July 19 – August 10: Monday through Friday, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. FREE ADMISSION
August 5 – 11: Evenings, as part of the DOTC First Nation Folklorama Pavilion.
NOTE: Gallery 1C03 will be closed on the afternoon of Monday, August 6, but will be open that evening for Folklorama visitors.
Contact:
Jennifer Gibson
Director/Curator
Gallery 1C03
The University of Winnipeg
515 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9
Ph: 204.786.9253
F: 204.774.4134
E: j.gibson@uwinnipeg.ca