October 11, 2014 to January 4, 2015
Daphne Odjig, Thunderbird of Courage, 1977, acrylic on canvas, 61
x 50.8 cm. Private Collection. © Daphne Odjig.
Photo credit: Don Hall
In the early 1970s seven professional First Nations artists decided to join together and create a new Group of Seven for Canada – sometimes called the “Indian Group of Seven”.
They wanted to win an audience for their work and challenge stereotypes about First Nations people working as contemporary artists. This exhibition contains about sixty works of art in total and is organized and circulated by the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The seven artists are:
Jackson Beardy (1944-1984)
Eddy Cobiness (1933-1996)
Alex Janvier (b. 1935)
Norval Morrisseau (1932-2007)
Daphne Odjig (b. 1919)
Carl Ray (1942-1978)
Joseph Sanchez (b. 1948)
The artist among the seven most familiar to Okanagan audiences will be the award-winning Daphne Odjig, who has lived and worked in Penticton and now Kelowna for a number of years and has achieved a national reputation for her paintings.
Opening reception
Friday, October 17, 2014, 7 to 9 pm.
Opening remarks at 7 pm
This is a free event, open to members and guests by invitation.
Conversation with the Artists
Saturday, October 18, 2014, from 1 to 3 pm.
The curator of this exhibition, the MacKenzie Gallery’s Michelle LaVallee will be joined by 7:PNIAI artist Joseph Sanchez, to discuss the history of this group, the artists’ influences, and the importance of that history, their efforts, and this exhibition. Q&A to follow.
The Kelowna Art Gallery would like to acknowledge the generous support of:
7: Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. is organized by the Mackenzie Art Gallery. This project has been made possible through a contribution from the Museums Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage. The MacKenzie receives ongoing support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Saskatchewan Arts Board, SaskCulture, the City of Regina, and the University of Regina.
Carl Ray, Medicine Bear, 1977, acrylic on canvas, 73.7 x 99.1 cm.
Collection of Sunita D. Doobay. © Estate of Carl Ray.
Photo credit: Don Hall
Joseph Sanchez, Family Portrait, 1974, coloured pencil and
ink on paperboard, 57.8 x 73.1 cm. Courtesy of Ann Sanchez. ©
Joseph Sanchez.
Photo credit: Don Hall
