FNMI ART – PART 4 –
CONTEMPORARY ART
AND
WOODLAND ART
Presentation by Sharon Meyer NESD FNMI
Traditional Art
Contemporary
Art
Woodland Art
Pop
Art
Ceremonial
and
Spiritual Art
Utilitarian Art
Refer to notes for examples of
Items in each category
CONTEMPORARY ART/WOODLAND ART
Art produced by FN artists since the 1960’s
Two forms:
1 - Contemporary Art – full scenes eg. Allen Sapp

2 - Woodland Art – heavy black outlines eg. Norval Morrisseau
MEDICINE WHEEL ARTIST STUDY
East – woodland study
 South – Saskatchewan First Nation/Metis
contemporary artist
 West – Haida, Totem Poles
 North- Inuit Soapstone Sculptures, Print
Making. Moose Tufting

Using the Medicine Wheel can teach you to think globally – to extend your focus beyond
one area. That is inclusive thinking – the circle thinking!
North – Inuit Art
East – Woodland Art
West – Haida Art
South – Saskatchewan
Contemporary Art
NORVAL MORRISSEAU
STUDENT REPLICAS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmp0vbYMlX8
Norval Morrisseau's Magical, Mystical Tour - A Legacy in Pictures 4:23
The first FN artist to have national recognition for his art.
He is the master of Woodland Art.
His first drawings were created on birch bark paper because
he had no paper or canvas then. He traded for the black ink.
MARK JACOBSON
Norval Morrisseau was a mentor and an influence in the art created by Mark Jacobson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miKeCdNBexg
3 Mark Anthony Jacobson speaks on Norval Morrisseau in Vancouver DTES.mp4 2:19
BENJAMIN CHEE CHOO
Benjamin Chee Chee also used the Woodland
style to created his simple line drawings.
Sadly he committed suicide before he was
celebrated as a unique FN artist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7zOGuzI65U
Benjamin 's Dream 3:18
KEVIN PEEACE
http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/kevinpee-ace.html
An artist that uses the Woodland technique. Kevin
Peeace uses the heavy borders to create the message
of the connectedness to Mother Earth.
SASKATCHEWAN ARTISTS THAT USE THE
WOODLAND TECHNIQUE:
Simone Mcleod
http://simonemcleodblog.blogspot.ca/
Jerry Whitehead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_pblmEOAEU
First Nations artist Jerry Whitehead 3:54
HAIDA REPLICAS
Examples of Woodland art – heavy
bold black outlines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gclKnl16_og
NORTHWEST COAST INDIAN ART 2:32
Kindergarten students –
Turtle Island Creation Story
and using the Woodland
Technique

CONTEMPORARY OR WOODLAND ARTIST?
A little mixture of both because
Ted Harrison uses bold outlines
in his drawings but he also tries
to capture a scenic background
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w_-Z9KVEhI
Ted Harrison Interview on Canada AM 4:08
ALLEN SAPP
The first FN Contemporary artist to have
National recognition in Canada
http://www.allensapp.com/
A contemporary artist using paint to create a scene to
reflect a story. Allan Sapp spent much of his childhood
sick in bed. Look at his paintings and see the floor level
he sees the world from.
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS:
LEAH DORIAN
Uses vibrant colors to create a scene. She adds
details to create sound and movement in her art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqz31o0i9S8
Leah Dorion - On her art #2 3:54
Some student projects using Contemporary style
BILL REID SCULPTURE
Contemporary art is also through https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaRcj_BfbNA
Tour of Bill Reid's Raven and the First Men (MOA: Museum of Anthropology)
sculpture
1:24
http://isbister.artplaces.com/bio.htm
Arnold Isbister
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-mgd_EQYzc
From the Spirit: George Littlechild 0:58
Dallas Poundmaker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ0YHr0D-iw
Saskatoon Artist Dallas Poundmaker 3:41
SHARE SOME ARTIST NAMES THAT YOU USE IN
THE CLASSROOM?
Thank you for being a part of Mother Earth!
Sharon Meyer NESD FNMI
meyer.sharon@nesd.ca
(306)401-7848