Friday, July 19, 2019

First Nations

Moving along, I carried on with this walk among items of First Nations people inside the Museum of History.

Raven Bringing Light To The World is the title of this gold and bronze sculpture by the Haida artist Robert Davidson, done in 1985-86. 


Norval Morrisseau was one of the great Canadian artists, of Anishinaabe background. This painting, done over time between 1979-84, is titled A Separate Reality, and reflects cultural motifs and beliefs.


This area examines First Nations peoples in detail in terms of artifacts and attire, with a rich difference between peoples of either coast, the plains, the boreal forests, or the far north.


This, for instance, dates to 1989 by the Haida artist Dorothy Grant. Copper Dress With Hummingbird Panels is its title, and incorporates wool, cashmere, and beads.


Four paintings hang together in this vertical space, painted between 1978 and 1981 by Alex Janvier in his signature abstract style, collectively called The Seasons. From top to bottom they are Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. The set was commissioned by the museum at the time.


A short walk away in a similar space are two items. Nishga Girl is the name of this fishing boat. It finds its roots in two friends who'd met in the 1930s- the Japanese-Canadian Judo "Jack" Tasaka and the Nisga'a chief Eli Gosnell, men who'd bonded over a mutual appreciation of fishing and boat building. Gosnell's family commissioned Tasaka in 1967 to build a boat, and this is it. The large painting in the background is an untitled mural done for the British American Oil Company Ltd. in 1957 by Thor Hansen and Umberto Bruni. It has been in the museum's collection since 2008, and hangs here. 


Two more looks at Janvier's Morning Star, in this case photographed from the top level before I headed into the Canadian History Hall, which we'll start looking at tomorrow.

43 comments:

  1. I have several soapstone sculptures done by Canada's First Nation Carvers.

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  2. Seeing the artifact and attire in display, we get an idea of how hard life must have been...

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  3. I sure love the boat and it´s history best.

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  4. "Four paintings hang together in this vertical space, painted between 1978 and 1981 by Alex Janvier"

    Beautiful in their simplicity!

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  5. ... the boat is very nice!
    I wish you a nice summer again!
    I'm on vacation!

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  6. Hello, I would love to see this exhibit in person. The artwork is beautiful, love the boat. Enjoy your day! Have a happy weekend.

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  7. I am always happy when looking at First Nations art, any art for that matter, to have someone there to explain it to me. It adds so much to an appreciation of the work,

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  8. Norval Morrisseau is one of my favourites. Some people are doing knock-offs in his style, which is a shame.

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  9. Very interesting look at the First Nations art and I especially love that Morning Star. I look forward to more. :-)

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  10. Of all your posts I think this is the one I wish my eyes would let me see, audio descriptions just don’t do it justice lol,, have a great day!

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  11. i love art ... one of the first piece u did share .. guess u might call it a mural ... that has such gorgeous bright color. love it!! ( ;

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  12. @Rosemary: my mother had some.

    @Italiafinlandia: and yet they made lives for themselves.

    @Iris: it's quite a boat.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Sandi: they're wonderful.

    @Tom: that's true.

    @Ella: thank you.

    @Eileen: thanks!

    @David: it does.

    @Jennifer: he was quite an artist.

    @DJan: thank you!

    @Laurie: I wish you could see these.

    @Beth: thank you.

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  13. These are all beautiful pieces, William!

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  14. I love this kind of art. It's so colourful.

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  15. Beautiful displays
    Reminds me a favorite poem by a Canadian poet about a First Nation mother.

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  16. The public doesn't know enough or much about aboriginal history.

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  17. What a great header image, William. I wonder at how difficult life was for First Nation People. Thanks for an interesting post - again. Jo

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  18. I like the mask and the two last paintings.

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  19. Interesting background story to the boat.

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  20. Very interesting exhibition! And I always love seeing beautiful Morning Star :-)

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  21. Lovely tribute to the First Nations ~ love 4 Seasons paintings ^_^

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  22. Raven Bringing Light to the World is stunning but I especially appreciate your last two photos of Morning Star. It's brilliant.

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  23. I love those four abstract paintings....so simple yet so beautiful. And, of course I'm glad to see Morning Star once again.

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  24. Such beautiful works of art!

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  25. A quick tour. I would have loved more of the native clothing for different areas. I know, you squeezed in as much as you could. Tweete.

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  26. @RedPat: that they are.

    @Marie: me too.

    @Marleen: it is.

    @Maywyn: thanks!

    @Red: that's true.

    @Jo: you're welcome.

    @Karl: thank you.

    @Fun60: indeed.

    @Tamago: so do I.

    @Carol: thank you!

    @Jeanie: that it is.

    @Sharon: I love them too.

    @Jenn: that they are.

    @Mari: the next time I come in, I'll revisit this area.

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  27. Beautiful art work, the boat is a masterpiece.

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  28. I do like the gold and bronze sculpture ... but I enjoyed seeing all of your photographs here.

    All the best Jan

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  29. M<orrisseau!! One of my favourites!
    Love the Morning Star as well.
    Looking forward to the next post.

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  30. Great visit William. The Morning star painting is fabulous and I like that gold and bronze sculpture too.

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  31. You've featured some lovely pieces in today's post. And I like Nishka Girl.

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  32. The gold and bronze sculpture is wonderful:)

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