Jackson Beardy facts for kids

Jackson Beardy (born July 24, 1944 – died December 7, 1984) was an amazing Indigenous artist from Canada. He was part of the Anishinaabe people. His paintings often showed stories from Ojibwe and Cree traditions. Many of his artworks also explored the special connection between people and nature.

Jackson Beardy was a key member of the Woodland School of Art. He also helped form the famous Indian Group of Seven. His art helped people across Canada recognize and appreciate modern Indigenous art.

Early Life and Education

Jackson Beardy was born on July 24, 1944. He was one of 13 children born to John Beardy and Dinah Monias. His father worked hard as a trapper, hunter, and fisherman to support their family. Even though they lived simply in a log cabin, Jackson had a happy childhood.

He spent a lot of time with his grandmother. She taught him many traditional stories and legends of their Anishinaabe ancestors. These stories later became a big part of his art.

When he was seven, Jackson went to a residential school in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. At these schools, Indigenous children were often separated from their families and cultures. Jackson didn't speak English when he first arrived. He quickly found ways to express his Indigenous culture, even in this difficult environment.

It was at the residential school that Jackson learned to draw and paint. A kind teacher, Mary Morris, saw his talent and encouraged him. She even stayed in touch with him after he left the school. However, he wasn't allowed to draw his Anishinaabe stories at the school.

When Jackson was 16, students were allowed to leave the school. But the principal promised him an art education if he stayed for two more years to finish high school. Jackson agreed. At 18, he asked the principal about the art education. The principal refused, saying that being an artist wasn't a "decent" job. He offered Jackson a course in commercial art instead, which he thought would be more practical. Jackson was angry but determined. He told the principal he would prove he could become a real artist.

After high school, Jackson still wanted to study art. He completed his missed courses and was accepted into a commercial art program. He finished these courses at Technical Vocational High School in 1964. Then, he continued his art education at the University of Manitoba until 1966.

Art Career Highlights

Jackson Beardy had his first art show in 1965 at the University of Winnipeg. He had many more shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1967, he was asked to create artworks for Canada's 100th birthday celebration. That same year, he helped plan the "Canadian Indian Pavilion" at Expo 67, a big world's fair.

In 1972, Jackson Beardy, Alex Janvier, and Daphne Odjig had a special art show together. It was at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and was called "Treaty Numbers 23, 287, 1171". This name referred to the agreements (treaties) that the Canadian government made with each artist's Indigenous community.

After this show, in 1973, Jackson Beardy and other Indigenous artists formed a group. They called themselves the "Professional Native Indian Artists Association", but they are better known as the "Indian Group of Seven". This group included Jackson Beardy, Alex Janvier, Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, Carl Ray, Eddy Cobiness, and Joseph Sanchez. They worked together to help their art become more widely accepted. They also wanted to make sure Indigenous artists had control over their own artworks. They believed their art should be valued for its artistic beauty, not just for its cultural meaning.

From 1974 to 1976, Jackson Beardy's art appeared on the covers of several books. These included Ojibway Heritage by Basil Johnston. In 1976, his art was part of a Royal Ontario Museum exhibit called "Contemporary Native Art of Canada: The Woodland Indians". This exhibit traveled to Germany and England.

In 1977, Jackson Beardy had another exhibition in Vancouver, BC, called "Images for a Canadian Heritage".

From 1982 to 1983, Jackson Beardy worked as a senior arts advisor for the Canadian government. He helped create a guide for buying Indigenous art. He also worked as an art advisor and cultural consultant for the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature.

In 1984, Jackson Beardy was asked to paint a large mural in Winnipeg. The mural was meant to show "Peace and Harmony". Sadly, he passed away before he could finish it. Students from R.B. Russell Vocational High School completed the mural after his death. It was officially shown on September 5, 1985.

To celebrate his amazing work, Jackson Beardy's art was shown at the Winnipeg Art Gallery from 1993 to 1994. It was also featured in an exhibit called "Jackson Beardy: A Life's Work" at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in 1995. His artwork has been displayed in many museums and important places around the world.

Art Style

Jackson Beardy was a key artist in the Woodlands School of Indigenous Art. This style is very important to his work. He used different materials like canvas, birch bark, and beaver skins. His art often showed traditional figures and stories from Ojibwe and Cree oral traditions. He learned a lot about his native Cree traditions from his grandmother. He also collected many myths and legends from northern Manitoba.

His art has a special look: clear, black outlines around areas of bright, rich colors. His paintings often show big ideas about the universe and spirituality. These ideas include the balance in nature, new life and growth, and how humans and nature depend on each other.

Death

Jackson Beardy passed away on December 7, 1984, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He died from problems after a heart attack.