Isaac Bignell is a Cree artist from The Pas Reserve, 400 miles north of Winnipeg, MB. After leaving The Pas, Isaac has lived in Winnipeg, Minneapolis and Vancouver. Basically a self-taught artist, Isaac has developed various techniques to achieve a distinctive artistic style which combines traditional images with innovative design and color combinations.
Series
59/99
Description
This limited edition print has been individually hand colored in acrylic by the artist, which gives each print an original quality.
"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)
Only weeks after they had been ordered by Agent McLaughlin (center) to arrest Sitting Bull as an attempt to calm the growing unrest from the Messiah Craze (Ghost Dance), the Sioux police pose victoriously for Barry's camera. The arrest attempt was disastrous, resulting in the deaths of six Indian police, Sitting Bull, his son Crow Foot and eight of Crow's followers. The panic which followed culminated in the infamous Wounded Knee affair two weeks later. Red Tomahawk (front center) killed Sitting Bull. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
War Eagle 'Wanmdi Kecizapi'. Labeled by early historians as Yankton Sioux, War Eagle posed for the photographer wearing war shirt of the old style, quilled arm and shoulder bands, holding a tacked and quilled pipe. Prominent Sioux warriors were known to wear buffalo horn bonnets during dances and on war parties. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
