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Daphne Odjig (Beavon), born 1928
on the Wikwemikong Reserve, Manitoulin Island, Ontario,
Canada. She moved to British Columbia in 1968, but
returned to the reserve to teach at the Manitou Arts
summer workshops in the early 1970's. In the late
1960's, she founded a Native artists group that included
Norval Morrisseau, who has been influential on all the
Woodland painters. Received the Order of Canada, 1987,
an award conferred by the governor-general on a small
number of Canadians to recognize exemplary merit and
achievement. Many Honorary degrees. Many solo exhibits
in France, Israel and Japan. Daphne's family name. Odjig,
means fisher in Anishinaabemowin. This is a dark brown
animal related to martens and weasels, nearly extinct
because of its valuable pelt. Her father and grandfather
were artists. Daphne
Odjig is one of the most respected and uniquely
individualistic Woodland Indian artists working in
Canada today. Born on the Wikwemikong Indian Reserve on
Manitoulin Island, she is a member of the Ojibwa tribe.
Odjig has developed a distinct
style based on the beautifully abstracted human form.
The visual motif central to her work is the circle,
which to the Ojibwa signifies completion and perfection
and is symbolic of women. The motif is characterized by
undulating, rhythmic lines, often heavily outlined,
enclosing local colour in soft harmonious shades.
Her subject matter deals with
human relationships in the context of Indian culture,
the importance of grandparents, the function of the
family unit, and the universal theme of mother and
child. Today the continuing tradition of the Woodland
Indian seems to be assured in contemporary Canadian art.
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