ARTH376 Final

Notes

Kent Monkman

- Nation
- Cree. Specifically Fisher River Band.
- Medium of Work
- Painting/Sculpture/Performance
- Abstract, Representational, or Combo? How would you describe the artist’s work?
- Monkman’s visual work is representational in nature. He mimics the Old Masters style of
painting in his landscape and portrait work with lifelike realism and bold colors.
- Consistent Themes
- Throughout Monkman’s variety of work, he appropriates traditional 19-20th century art
historical themes while incorporating indigenous narratives. He tackles colonial issues

through humor and parody while creating a discourse of indigenous representation.

Throughout his performance, painting, and sculpture work, Monkman continuously

deconstructs imperial historical constructs.

- What have people (curators, art critics, art historians) said about the artist's work? Do you
agree with them?  Why or why not?
- Monkman has had a generally positive critical reception. While most curators and critics
praise him, some communities think his work goes too far in the way of parody. Monkman

often shows grotesque and humiliating scenes of settler people, which some find

distasteful and unnecessary. However, the majority of critics view this extreme parody as

necessary and powerful.

- What does the artist say about his/her work? Do they talk about their artistic process?   
- Monkman himself discusses his work intelligently and openly. In a 2008 interview with
The Walrus, Monkman was discussing his parodies of 19th century landscape painters.

He says, “It’s worth examining that whole period of art, so purely one-sided, like a big

cover-up of what was really happening. I try to approach it with humour, focusing on the

side of art culture that is about survival and being able to adapt, and to look forward. It’s a

very gentle way of making people aware of this huge obliteration of our narratives.

Bringing together these different ways of seeing and recording history in one painting

makes you aware of how you can interpret it through the images that you create.”
- Do you see any of the themes we have talked about in the class expressed in their work, if
so what are they?  Explain your observations.
- When we talk about appropriation in class, Monkman takes the reverse approach by
appropriating the appropriator. Monkman takes these western themes and styles. and

places the indigenous narrative back into it. Here on the left we have an Albert Bierstadt

landscape in contrast to Monkman’s on the right.

Carl Beam

- Nation
- Ojibwe
- Medium of Work
- Painting/Collage
- Abstract, Representational, or Combo? How would you describe the artist’s work?
- Beam creates abstract collage works that uses a variety of media that leans more
towards the western tradition of Modern Art rather than his contemporary Native artists.

However the themes he engages in are very much in line with Anishinaabek traditions.
- Consistent Themes
- Beam deals with the important spiritual role of dreams and other lessons of his
indigenous background.
- What have people (curators, art critics, art historians) said about the artist's work? Do you
agree with them?  Why or why not?
- Beam was the first contemporary indigenous artist to be acquired by the National Gallery
of Art. His work was poignant at the time and continues to great affect today. Beam’s are

combines indigenous narratives with western modern techniques, creating an interesting

tension between settler and indigenous.

- What does the artist say about his/her work? Do they talk about their artistic process?   
- Beam was quoted saying, “My works are like little puzzles, interesting little games. I play
agame with humanity and creativity.I ask viewers to play the participatory game of

dreaming themselves as each other. In this we find out that we’re all basically human... My

work is not fabricated for the art market. There’s no market for intellectual puzzles or

works of spiritual emancipation.”

- Do you see any of the themes we have talked about in the class expressed in their work, if
so what are they?  Explain your observations.
- As discussed in class, there is a dilemma surrounding creating work for the art market
directly. Beam however, as previously mentioned, created art for his viewer and for

humanity.
Bill Reid

- Nation
- Raven-Wolf Clan of the Haida Nation
- Medium of Work
- Sculpture and painting
- Abstract, Representational, or Combo? How would you describe the artist’s work?
- Reid presents an abstract style of work. The iconography in Reid’s work is true to the
Haida tradition.
- Consistent Themes
- Reid was dedicated to preserving and educating those on the Haida artistic tradition. His
themes connect to his Haida past, focusing on strength and resilience. As his family was

torn from their native nation into residential schools, Reid did not grow up with his

heritage. However, he spent the rest of his life dedicated to changing that.
- What have people (curators, art critics, art historians) said about the artist's work? Do you
xagree with them?  Why or why not?
- Reid was praised for his lifelong dedication to preserving and working with Haida
traditions. Reid’s work was able to permeate into all sorts of art institutions throughout

Canada and bring Haida ideology to a whole new generation.

- What does the artist say about his/her work? Do they talk about their artistic process?   
- "I consider myself one of the most fortunate of men, to have lived at a time when some of
the old Haidas and their peers among the Northwest Coast peoples were still alive, and

to have had the privilege of knowing them."

- Do you see any of the themes we have talked about in the class expressed in their work, if
so what are they?  Explain your observations.