DAVID BEAUCAGE JOHNSON: A r t i s t and W i z a r d
An Introduction from the Artist
Our Early Ancestors longed to understand the mysteries of the world into which they born so they became Artists. Their Art helped them to develop and refine their observation skills. They became experts through observation. They watched the natural world for patterns, both recurring and behavioural. Their ability to learn to observe determined if they would die or survive. And they thrived. They also interpreted unseen abstract worlds and expressed them on stone.
Artists later diverged into other avenues of exploration. Some became the storytellers and musicians. Some became the healers; and some healers became spiritual leaders. Still others turned their observation skills to science.
All the while, there remained the visual Artists. Amongst each other, they diverged into painters and sculptors with infinite styles and mediums and each continued to explore a different facet of their existence, be it social or political commentary or wildlife subjects.
I am a Professional Artist having created over 15,000 original Artworks. I am a Mississauga Anishnaabe and my family is Turtle Clan. I create in my Studio on Buckhorn Lake using watercolours and ink serigraphy.
My Art intertwines the Anishnaabe spirit world with the natural world. My paintings are the result of an informal nurtured apprenticeship within a tightly woven vibrant and diverse community of Artists.
I owe a great debt to all the Artists who blazed a trail and to those Artists who helped me in my own creative journey. To them, I say, “Miigwech!”
In a review in Quill and Quire Quotables, Laura Murray describes my illustrations as “liquid line drawings and magically lighted paintings,”
Any sufficiently advanced Art is indistinguishable from Magic.
Explore my Art: WHETUNG.COM and ARTIST-WIZARD.COM
See David’s work at the Art Gallery at the Boyd Museum in Fenelon Falls throughout the month of September. He will also be showing at the PowWow at Curve Lake First Nation and The Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour
You can learn more about David, his vision and process on September 30th when he joins Poet Laureate Sara Lewis to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Details to follow.