Waabanda-Iwewin

Northwestern Ontario Juried Indian Art Show

 
An Ontario Bicentennial Project, The Waabanda-Iwewin Northwestern Ontario Juried Indian Art Show (June 22 - August 5, 1984)  featured paintings from twenty-one Ojibway and Cree painters. The Show was organized by the Thunder Bay National Exhibition Centre and Centre for Indian Art.

Thirty-one paintings, drawings, prints and photographs by twenty-one emerging Ojibway and Cree artists were chosen by jury from a pool of 130 submissions.

Paintings were selected based on the technical ability and individual style of the artist, as determined by the three jurors: Gerald McMaster (Curator of Contemporary Indian Art at the National Museum of Man, Ottawa), Norm Opperman (owner/manager of Nishnawbe Arts, Toronto), and Leo Yerxa (artist, Ottawa).

Sam Ash, Gelineau Fisher, Roy Morris, Fred Saggashi, Isadore Wadow, Saul Williams, who submitted works categorized as being in the “pictographic painting style originated by Norval Morrisseau,” were praised by judges who said their works “demonstrate highly individualistic approaches to the style.”

Judges were especially impressed by the innovation of these artists as Woodland Indian art is “a genre that can be cutefied and badly done and still escape critical judgment from buyers who are more concerned with content of ‘Indianness’ than artistic excellence” (Elizabeth McLuhan, Curator, Thunder Bay National Exhibition Centre and Centre for Indian Art).

In particular, judges considered Wadow's "Fish Eagle Looking for Nest" to be "a nicely balanced piece with pleasant coloration. The composition works because the bird is flying in a well-defined space. The blues/reds together create an illusion of 'dancing'." 
 
Artists and Works selected for the Show:

Sam Ash “Lunchtime” 1984

Gelineau Fisher “Crack of Life” 1984; “Creation of the Crow” 1984

Roy Morris “Bear I am Fishing, Too” 1983

Fred Saggashi “Untitled” 1984

Isadore Wadow  “Fish Eagle Looking for Nest” 1984;  “Untitled” 1984

Saul Williams “Sentimental Journey” 1984; “Do Birds Go Home?” 1984; “Sorrow” 1984

Goyce Kakegamic “Nativity” 1984

Rocky Fiddler “Moose Spirit” 1984

Dennis Kakegamic “Sharing Together” 1982

Josh Kakagamic “Sleeping Giant” 1984

Lloyd Kakekapetum “Otter Family” 1984

Tom O’Connor “Serene” 1978

Barry Peters “Spring Fowls” 1984; “Signs of Fall” 1984

John Paul Lavand “Mallards” 1984

Ron Peters “Owl and Beetle” 1982; “Missay-Oog” 1983

Don Ningewance “Snowy Owl” 1984; “Red Fox and Snow Bonting” 1984

Lynn Bruyere-Jourdain “Ron” n.d.

Ronald Paypompee “In Brotherhood” 1984

Becky Belmore “Fancy Dance Footwear” 1984; “Untitled” 1984

Conrad King “Billy D” 1984; “Untitled” 1984

Brad Kavanaugh “Negawnakumigoinini” 1982

 

* these works by Isadore Wadow available for viewing by appointment at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery