LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- gain a fundamental understanding of what Woodland Art is
- understand the significance of the Woodland Art Movement within the art world
- gain an understanding of different woodland artists (traditional and modern)
- identify and explain the three concepts and styles of of Woodland Art
- recognize and apply the different lines, shapes and colours used in the Woodland Style
- identify
What is Woodland Art?
|
Woodland Art, also known as Legend or Medicine Painting is a distinct style of native art that blends traditional legends and myths with contemporary mediums. It explores the relationships between people, animals, and plants, and is rich with spiritual imagery and symbolism. The traditional style of Woodland Art was developed as a mix of the Midewiwin birch bark scrolls and the imagery of Norval Morrisseau, the founder of Woodland Art. When Norval Morrisseau first began painting, his intention was to re-introduce the Anishnaabe world view into the contemporary consciousness with the Ojibwa culture having been all but obliterated through the imposition of external governance and the influence of Christian churches. |
Goyce Kakegamic, Untitled (1980)
|
Norval Morrisseau, the Thunderbird (1960)
THE THREE Concepts
OF WOODLAND ART
|
1. Transition of the ancient oral traditions into visual representation: This was done as a means of reintroducing the Anishnaabe worldview into the contemporary consciousness.
2. Imagery of transformation and duality: This means the representation of man and animal being two life forms at the same time (thunderbird). 3. Frequent struggle between humans and animals: spiritual communication or fighting between the physical and spiritual or the man-made and the natural. |
Carl Ray, Loon (1970) |
Symbolism
| |||
| woodland_art_handout.docx |
Lines of Power
- Lines radiating from the heads and bodies of both animals and people
- Variation in length and intensity indicate the quality of power
- both transmit and receive information
Lines of Communication
- Flowing lines indicate relationships which reflect the artist’s understanding of the nature of interdependence between two beings.
Lines of Prophecy
- Powerful creatures may have ivy-like-vines spewing from their mouths, this indicates prophecy.
- Seen with most shamanic imagery
Lines of Movement
- Very short lines are indication of movement
- These lines are particularly powerful surrounding Shaking Tent imagery.
- Also, when clustered near an organ like the heart (picture example), this could indicate an active attempt of communication with the viewer
The DIVIDED Circle
- A representation of duality
- When connected with Lines of Communication it represents the duality of connection between worlds.
X-Ray Decoration
- representation of inner spiritual life.
Colour
- Prehistoric artist used ochre paints (ruddy reddish-brown)
- Norval Morrisseau used unmixed paints, colours that he said represented in inner reality of the inner beings.
- Colours are represented as “pure” bordered by heavy black lines and depending on the Artist the colours can represent different things.
Norval Morrisseau, loons and fish (1972)
JOSHIM Kakegamic, Untitled
NORVAL MORRISSEAU, Storyteller of the Ages 1970
JOSH Kakegamic, Unknown Title 1980
NORVAL MORRISSEAU, Mishipishu and the Spirits
GOYCE Kakegamic,
Fish (2006)
The Native Group of Seven
+ the Triple k cooperative
ALEX JANVIER
|
Carl Ray
|
Eddy Cobiness
|
Daphne Odjig
|
JACKSON BEARDY
|
Alex Janvier
|
Alex Janvier,
|
Carl Ray
1943-1978
|
Eddy Cobiness
|
Carl Ray
|
Eddy Cobiness
|
Daphne Odjig
1919-2016
|
"There is nothing else that i like to do more than creating something out of my mind and heart, nothing else. I live it. I eat it. I breath it. I was born with a paint brush in my hand."
|
Daphne Odjig,
|
Jackson Beardy
1944-1984
Jackson Beardy
|
Joe Sanchez
1948-
Joe Sanchez
|
Norval Morrisseau
1932-2007
|
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2682359696
|
Norval Morrisseau, Ojibway Story Tree 1996
|
THE TRIPLE K COOPERATIVE
Goyce, Joshim + Henry Kakegamic
|
A New Generation
Alternative MEDIAmS
Christi Belcourt
Blake Angeconeb |
FROM rED lAKE
MODERN Local aRTISTS
Lauren FurmanLauren is a Graphic Designer and Artist based in Toronto, Ontario. She graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU) with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design.
Originally from Red Lake, a small mining community in North-Western Ontario, Lauren grew up surrounded by nature and the work of Woodland artists. This led her to develop a strong connection towards the art style, which continues to influence her work. She experiments with unconventional canvases, plays with patterns and line work and borrows imagery from both rural and urban environments. |
Lauren Furman, Around the Fire (2018) |
Jacinda Brisson
|
Jacinda Brisson is a student at Western University studying Fine Arts. One of the many styles Jacinda has adopted over the years is Woodland, with both stunning line and colour usage, she often uses alternate canvas for her work.
Jacinda has recently led paint party for the RLIFC creating a simplified Woodland inspired landscape that was easy for participants to recreate. |
Jacinda Brission, New Beginnings (2017) |
Patrick Hunter
Woodland Art Projects
The Woodland Art Programs are intended to both extend participants knowledge of Woodland Art, and offer a modern alternative to its “traditional” representation and narrative through the use of alternate canvas and relevant subject matter.
BEGINNERS
Woodland Painting
IntermediatE
Alternative Canvas: Wood
INTERMEDIATE
ALTERNATIVE CANVAS: DENIM
|
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
STEP ONE
STEP TWO
STEP THREE
STEP FOUR
STEP FIVE
|