Curator, Patricia Deadman, (former Directory and Curator at the Woodstock Art Gallery) opened the ceremony and welcomed George Doxtater, Language Assistant Manager who cited the fifteen-minute greeting.
Established in the early 1970s, “the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. (PNIAI) was one of the first independently organized, self-managed Indigenous artists’ collectives and cultural advocacy groups in Canada. The consisted of seven independent Indigenous painters: Jackson Beardy, Eddy Cobiness, Alex Janvier, Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, Carl Ray and Joseph Sanchez.” Patricia cited how WCC was build upon those foundations.
Alex Jacobs-Blum is from the Cayuga Wolf Clan from Six Nations who was born and raised in Hamilton, ON, who, like Raechel, has been an artist her whole life. At 7 years old, Alex’s dad showed her first contemporary photography. At 15, she worked with clay, wood and natural materials. Alex summitted three photographic works in a series, all three in different forms, illustrating how as individuals our bodies are interconnected with the land in relation with own self. “Gestures Woven by Ancestors,” “Silent Echoes of Luner Birth,” and “Asterial Awakenings.”
Emma Anderson's (know as The Crafty Killjoy) passion is primarily working with beads which she took up in 2017. This was Emma’s first-time submitting art to this exhibition. Her beaded earrings were modelled after the Dish With One Spoon wampum belt.
A Cayuga Master Artist, Ryan Sandy got involved in the arts at 7, a family affair. “My uncle was a premiere craver from Six Nations, so was my dad, uncles and cousins,” Ryan cited. “I grew up with my family singing songs and craving" which he developed a passion. Ryan took a long break when he had a family. Ryan also submitted two sculptures in this year’s exhibition: “The Elder Brothers” and “The Younger Brothers” both done in soapstone.
Both artists and the audience regrouped to listen to the closing ceremony by George Doxtater. Curator Patricia Deadman thanked the audience for coming and informed them of other events happening at Woodland Cultural Centre.
The Indian Group of Seven and the birth of the Woodlands School of Art (native-art-in-canada.com)
Professional Native Indian Artists Inc., or the “Indian Group of Seven” | The Canadian Encyclopedia
The National Gallery of Canada
Portage College Museum | Discover Rich Cultural History
First Nations Art | McMichael Canadian Art Collection