"Beardy's brilliant application of color is drawn from his dreams. The geography of his paintings is a blend of the visible universe and the invisible powers that animate the visible, and give it life and meaning. The time in which the works are set is mythological time, before history. The paintings are not separate from the major themes of Jackson's life and in fact parallel his own growth and spiritual development. They dealt not only with the mysteries of matter but also with those of creation and life; they sought to harmonize the human individual with the universe, Jackson's alchemy is performed between two socio-political worlds. He struggled to be effective and to balance his own life between two powerful unseen Manitou forces." (Colleen Cutschall, p. 22)
"Jackson Beardy was an artist, art advisor and cultural consultant. As a symbol of Canadian artistic and cultural achievement, his artworks were commissioned for international gifts to illustrious world figures such as Queen Elizabeth II (1979), Prince Mikasa, Crown Prince of Japan (1980), And His Excellency Edward Schreyer, Governor-General of Canada (1979). The artist was awarded the Canadian Centennial Medal in 1967; a Canada Council grant for writing in 1972; the Junior Achievement Award in 1974; and the Outstanding Young Manitoban Award in 1982. His painting, his writing and his teaching all attest to Jackson Beardy's enlightened determination to recall and to record in a meaningful way the heritage of his people for the benefit of present and future generations. Jackson Beardy died in 1984." (Colleen Cutschall: Jaxon Beerdi - Ambassador, Alchemist, Artist. In Jackson Beardy A Life's Work. Canadian Cataloging, WAG, 1994. P.21)
The tipi was raised at noon on Friday, August 15, 1997 in the Tipi Village at the Canada Summer Games site, Brandon, Manitoba. A pipe ceremony was conducted by elders Mary and Solomon Hall of Sioux Valley, Manitoba and a feast was provided by the students. At the conclusion of the Summer Games it was set up on the campus of Brandon University to welcome all to a new year.
The painted sun on the eastern door cover symbolically welcomes the sun into and out of the tipi during it's daily journey. The cover is made with the intention to invite not only the sun, but everyone into the tipi. The red hands radiating from the sun are the hands of those who painted this tipi. The painted hand imprint is a most ancient image recorded by humans. It is a clear message of human presence and all that humanity means. These hands are reaching out like the rays of the sun to greet all with warmth in the 'Welcome Lodge'.
Dimensions
158 X 122 cm
Size Overall
same as image
Medium
acrylic
Notes
Designed and painted by the students of the Experiments in Traditional Art Forms class of 1997.
Condition
Canvas is heavily creased from storage. Severe cracks in paint throughout. Water stain in area TM, as well as a brown stain in area RM. There is a 66 cm vertical gash down the center of the image, but has been sewn up.
Frank Pimentel exhibited his works in numerous galleries in Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The artist is a recipient of many Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council Awards. His work is included in the collections of Canadian Art Bank, National Library of Canada, Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography. (Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba)
Description
From 'Excerpts from a conversation with Frank Pimentel': "There are people I've photographed consistently over the years. They look a little different - they've changed. You can see something that's happened over time, and I almost have a series of certain people because I've photographed them so much..I think the restaurant is a place that hasn't been able to keep up with the way the world has changed, like at a certain point the people decided that it was time to give up. When I look at the work that I've done it makes sense that I've left the gaps that I have because I'm trying to say something about the place and the people, that the place itself relates to these people and the objects there just seem to - I guess the word is pathetic - they're worn. I get a sense that the people have given up and they are just going through time and they're not going to get any better.." (from Photo Communiqué).
Dimensions
31 X 31 cm
Size Overall
52.5 X 51.5 cm
Medium
Limited edition portfolio of 70 Ektacolor photographs
