Alex Janvier

Alex Janvier
AOE
Born (1935-02-28) February 28, 1935
Le Goff Reserve, Cold Lake First Nations, Alberta, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Education Self taught, Alberta College of Art and Design
Known for Painting
Movement Indian Group of Seven
Morning Star (Detail), Alex Janvier, 1993

Alex Simeon Janvier, AOE (/ˈdʒænvɪər/; born February 28, 1935) is an aboriginal artist in Canada. As a member of the commonly referred to "Indian Group of Seven",[1] Janvier is a pioneer of contemporary Canadian aboriginal art in Canada.

History

Alex Janvier was born on Le Goff Reserve, Cold Lake First Nations, northern Alberta on February 28, 1935[2] of Dene Suline and Saulteaux descent. At the age of eight, he was sent to the Blue Quills Indian residential school near St. Paul, Alberta, where the principal recognized his innate artistic talent and encouraged him in his art.[3] Alex Janvier received formal art training from the Alberta Institute of Technology and Art in Calgary (now the Alberta College of Art and Design) and graduated with honours in 1960. Immediately after graduation, Janvier took up an opportunity to instruct art at the University of Alberta. In 1966, the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs commissioned him to produce 80 paintings. He helped bring together a group of artists for the Indians of Canada Pavilion at Expo 67, among them Norval Morrisseau and Bill Reid. Janvier currently runs a gallery called Janvier Gallery in Cold Lake, AB with his family.[4]

In 2016 a retrospective exhibit of his work opened at the National Gallery of Canada.[5] Also in 2016 Janvier's large mosaic "Tsa Tsa Ke K’e" (Iron Foot Place) was installed at Roggers Place in Edmonton.[6]

Style

Alex Janvier, the 'first Canadian native modernist,' [7] has created a unique style of modernist abstraction, his own “visual language,” informed by the rich cultural and spiritual traditions and heritage of the Dene in northern Alberta. His abstract style is particularly suited to large-scale works. He makes magic arts and 3d arts.

Politics

Alex Janvier signed his paintings with his Treaty Number from 1966 to 1977 to protest government policies against Aboriginal people.[8]

Morning Star

In 1993 a large abstract painting by Janvier, Morning Star, was installed at the river end of the Grand Hall of the Canadian Museum of History, where a seven story high dome rises above the granite floor. Janvier created the painting with the assistance of his son Dean, between June and September.[3] Janvier titled the work Morning Star in reference to the star's use as a direction-finder. He planned the four areas of colour in the outside ring to represent periods in Native history: yellow, for early history in harmony with nature; blue, for the changes brought about by contact with European civilization; red, for revival and optimism; and white for reconciliation and a return to harmony.[9]

Awards

Films and television

Education

Collections

References

  1. ↑ "Indian Group of Seven". Native Art in Canada
  2. ↑ "Alex Janvier". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  3. 1 2 "Artist Alex Janvier's work on display at National Gallery". Calgary Herald, Peter Robb: November 26, 2016
  4. 1 2 "Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts: Announcement of winners". Mar 25, 2008 Canadian Council for the Arts]
  5. ↑ "Alex Janvier comes full circle with National Gallery retrospective". Toronto Star, November 27, 2016, Vinay Minon.
  6. ↑ "David Staples: Don't moan, eh: $1.6 million in public art at Rogers Place draws praise and criticism". David Staples, Edmonton Journal, November 18, 2016
  7. ↑ Center for Canadian Contemporary Art
  8. 1 2 National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Archived 2007-10-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "Morning Star". Treasures Gallery, Canadian Museum of History
  10. ↑ Alberta's top citizens chosen to receive province's highest honour
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