Akimblog’s first Winnipeg correspondent, Cliff Eyland has contributed to the local scene in so many ways. His constant and reassuring presence on social media fell silent when he entered the hospital for a long awaited medical procedure earlier this year, and the silence felt… weird. There are many personalities who compose our city’s art make up, each of them vital, and Cliff is one. Here’s to a healthy and prosperous new year, Cliff!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Kenneth Lavallee
Anyone who has crossed paths with Kenneth Lavallee recently has likely heard about his dream to cover Winnipeg’s buildings in the designs of traditional star blankets. With the support of Synonym Art Consultation, Lavallee and a group of emerging artists from the Red Road Lodge achieved this dream with the completion of a pair of murals on Main Street. Wrapping these buildings in this motif recalls gestures of honouring and comfort – something much needed by our city in recent years.
While Daphne Odjig is not considered a Winnipeg artist, she once was. She co-founded the Professional Native Indian Artists Association here and started the Warehouse Gallery. Countless visitors have absorbed the beauty of her mural The Creation of the World during their visits to the Manitoba Museum and her piece Thunderbird Woman was central to the Wood Land School at Plug In ICA this past July. For many artists in our community, as in other places, losing Daphne this year felt like the loss of a beloved matriarch.
Jenny Western is a curator, writer, and educator who lives in Winnipeg. She can be followed on Twitter @WesternJenny.
↧
2016 Critic's Picks
↧
