Canadian Indigenous Group of Seven
It was an uncanny coincidence that we were showcasing an Indigenous Group of Seven and ‘Close to heart’ member of the Group, Daphne Odjig, when the unsettling news of more than 200 children buried in Kamloops Indian residential school broke out. It brought a solemn feel to our usually celebratory sessions. A dark stain in Canadian history, and one that is not easy to grapple with in our national conscience.
We as a group had already ‘met’ Norval Morrisseau ‘in passing’ when we discussed our Thunderbird project. This session was dedicated to an amazing art and history of the Canadian Indigenous Group of Seven, less known, but perhaps equally important for the Canadian heritage as the iconic Group of Seven landscape painters from the beginning of the 20th century.
Seven life stories, each unique, but with some common thread. Many of these artists suffered immensely in the catholic residential schools and on reserves, carrying these demons into their later life; many died young, afflicted by poverty, addiction and unsettled spirits. Yet, they created, prolifically, art that speaks about harmony of nature and humans, circle of life, legends and beliefs of their own heritage, embracing, surprisingly, influences and styles of modern painters of the 20th century, including Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky.
The story is passionately told to us by Marianna, who knows details of their lives and art by heart, as they are close to her heart.
The story will take you through the solemn, educational and celebratory history of these Indigenous Canadian art icons; our little homage to them in these momentous times.
…and the next morning we got another tribute to Alex Janvier from Hung’s thoughtful (and amazed) color pens.
Left Brain Artists 