Daphne Odjig
| Daphne Odjig | |
|---|---|
Odjig in October 2008 at Gallery Gevik in Toronto
|
|
| Born |
September 11, 1919 Wikwemikong, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | October 1, 2016 (aged 97) Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada |
| Awards | Order of Canada, 1986 Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts, 2007 |
| Elected | Royal Canadian Academy of Art, 1989 |
Daphne Odjig, CM OBC (September 11, 1919 – October 1, 2016), was a Canadian First Nations artist of Odawa-Potawatomi-English heritage. Her painting is often characterized as Woodlands Style.
She was the driving force behind the Professional Native Indian Artists Association, colloquially known as the Indian Group of Seven, a group considered a pioneer in bringing First Nations art to the forefront of Canada's art world. She received a number of awards for her work, including the Order of Canada, the Governor General's Award and five honorary doctorates.
Odjig was born in 1919 at Wikwemikong, the principal village on the Manitoulin Island Unceded Indian Reserve, to parents Dominic and Joyce (née Peachey) Odjig. She was the eldest of four children; her siblings are Stanley, Winnifred and Donavan. She was descended on her father's side from the great Potawatomi Chief Black Partridge. Her mother, an Englishwoman, met and married Dominic in England where he was serving during World War I.
When Odjig was 13 years old, she suffered rheumatic fever and had to leave school. Recuperating at home, she spent time with her paternal grandfather, Jonas Odjig (a stonecarver), and her parents - all of whom encouraged her to explore art. Odjig later said that her grandfather "played a great role in my life – he nurtured my creative spirit – he was the first one I ever drew with...he was my first mentor." Odjig was also influenced by her mother who embroidered and her father who liked to draw war scenes and his officers from his wartime experiences. Odjig once stated that “Art was always a part of our lives”.
...
Wikipedia