Art by John McDonald
"The Pantheon" -exhibition 2015
“The Pantheon” is a series completed as a result of a 2013 Indigenous Pathways Initiative Grant from The Saskatchewan Arts Board. These paintings measure six feet high and four feet wide.
The many figures from the myths and legends of Turtle Island each have a story to be told. As an artist in the “Low-Brow” style, John wanted to showcase some of these figures in this form. Modeled after a series of collectors cards the artist had in his youth, These pieces depict 9 of the figures John has chosen, representing a cross section of First Nations and Inuit legends, as well as representations from the Quebecois, Scottish and Irish cultures that are an important part of Metis Culture. These figures are shown often in a contemporary style, and are an accurate representation of the way the Artist truly envisions these folk tales in his own mind. The historical information provided is the result of two years of solid academic research and conversations with Indigenous elders, folklorists, and storytellers. In 2019, this exhibition was donated to Churchill Community High School in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada, in memory of John's grandfather, Metis leader Jim Brady. |