The Group of Seven's (Gof7) Lauren Harris exhibition
recently held at the VAG got me thinking about another Gof7 - the
Professional Native Indian Artist Incorporated (PNIAI). Founded in
Winnipeg in 1973, this group of artists first set about rediscovering their own
heritage and then went on to promote First Nations culture. This culture
was based in the Northern Forests, the same forests the seven white men were
immortalizing it in their paintings. At first gathering informally in the
early 1970's, Jackson Beardy (1944-1984), Eddy Cobiness (1933-1993), Alex Janvier (b.1935), Norval Morrisseau (1932-2007), Daphne Odjig (b.1919), Carl Ray (1942-1978) and Joseph Sanchez (b.1948) formed this influential and historical group in Odjig's home in Winnipeg. Since their official incorporation in 1974, the PNIAI have often been referred to as the "Indian Group of Seven".
About the Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporated
The seven artists of the PNIAI worked collectively for the inclusion of their work within the Canadian mainstream and within the contemporary art discourse. The PNIAI brought political issues to the forefront of contemporary art practices and theory, addressing issues of colonization, exclusion and the national denial of historical and contemporary realities that Aboriginal people encounter daily. Portraying the reality of Canada from an Aboriginal perspective, they brought into Canadian contemporary art, a new vision and vocabulary. These artists were among the first to establish a forum for the voices and perspectives of the Aboriginal artists. In many ways, these artists led to the development and acceptance of an Aboriginal art discourse and the recognition of Aboriginal art as a vital part of Canada's past, present and future identity.
Mackenzie Art Gallery in Kelowna is holding an exhibition of the collective work of these seven artists from October 11, 2014 to January 4,2015.
About the Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporated
The seven artists of the PNIAI worked collectively for the inclusion of their work within the Canadian mainstream and within the contemporary art discourse. The PNIAI brought political issues to the forefront of contemporary art practices and theory, addressing issues of colonization, exclusion and the national denial of historical and contemporary realities that Aboriginal people encounter daily. Portraying the reality of Canada from an Aboriginal perspective, they brought into Canadian contemporary art, a new vision and vocabulary. These artists were among the first to establish a forum for the voices and perspectives of the Aboriginal artists. In many ways, these artists led to the development and acceptance of an Aboriginal art discourse and the recognition of Aboriginal art as a vital part of Canada's past, present and future identity.
Mackenzie Art Gallery in Kelowna is holding an exhibition of the collective work of these seven artists from October 11, 2014 to January 4,2015.
