Redkettle Gallery’s Current Works: First Nations Canadian Artists

Today, Redkettle Gallery’s blog is featuring the current inventory of works by artists who are members of Canada’s First Nations. Above is a powerful work by Floyd Joseph, a numbered serigraph “Wolf Dancing with the Moon” - more details and a close up can be viewed at:  

http://www.redkettle.com/products/native-art-canada/floyd-joseph-wolf-dancing-with-moon.htm

      *******************************************************

At the moment, Redkettle Gallery is fortunate to have two lovely Haida masks by James Leslie, whose Haida Raven Clacker mask  was sold about a month ago.

These are the intriguing Salish Deer mask seen above and in detail at: http://www.redkettle.com/products/native-art-canada/james-leslie-salish-ceremonal-deer-mask.htm

And this Kwakiutl Raven Clacker mask seen in more detail at:

http://www.redkettle.com/products/native-art-canada/james-leslie-kwaquital-raven-ceremonal-mask.htm

                                ************************************

Above, an original – a very large acrylic painting by Isaac Bignell – check out the details at:

http://www.redkettle.com/products/native-art-canada/bignell-swallows.htm

                                   ***************************************

Although the paintings below by Corinna Ray of the Sandy Lake community are not shown on the website at the moment, Redkettle Gallery has a handful of these lovely original acrylic on canvas paintings being offered at a low price that reflects the fact that this is an emerging artist.

 

 

You can support Ms Ray while she works to achieve her potential as the daughter of Carl Ray – an artist from the same community whose record stands for itself.

Contact Redkettle Gallery:   mich@redkettle.com to obtain further details, discuss shipping etc.

Featuring Two Classic Canadian Artists

 

Today, Redkettle Gallery’s blog is featuring works by two of Canada’s classic 20th century artists. Click the links given to learn more about these artists and their work featured today. 

The first is an early (1965) print published as part of the portfolio “Toronto 20′. by the Jerrold Morris Gallery. This was a  limited edition series, and the work is numbered 64/100.

A rare find, this print reflects in its strong religious symbolism the primary place that Roman Catholicism had taken  in Kurelek’s life, and as befits the quality of this print, it comes framed in archival materials behind non-UV glass.

Check out the post here:

http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/william-kurelek-canadian-artist/    which is dedicated to Kurelek’s history, and check out:

 http://www.redkettle.com/products/contempory-art-canada/The_Hound_Of_Heaven.htm 

to see this work in high resolution detail.

               *************************************************

Above is an oil on stret6cher frame measuring 18×24. This significant original work of art will be the focal point of any room. Shives is a well regarded painter working out  of Vancouver. He studied at centres in California, receiving a bachelor of fine arts and had a long relationship with his mentor the late Toni Onley.

http://redkettle.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/new-two-chee-chee-prints-and-a-shives/

This work reflects his sure and capable technical skills and will give a great deal of pleasure to its new owner.

Check out the large high resolution image here:

http://www.redkettle.com/products/contempory-art-canada/arnold-edward-shives-trees.htm

                           ***********************************

For more information, contact mich@redkettle.com  Until next week……………

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Art: four delightful animal studies

 

Mich and I want to wish all our friends checking in with us a very happy, peaceful and  healthy New Year. The celebrations are over, and we now need to get through until Spring is with us once more, which reminds me that i must bring more firewood in the house to warm up by the airtight stove.

Mich seems to be well supplied with great art to show you over the next few weeks so we will start out the New Year with a grouping of interesting animal studies: modestly priced originals which are nicely framed and ready to hang in your home as soon as you receive them.

The first is a lovely oil painting of a young tabby cat surveying the world from her hiding spot in the shrubs – this sweet 12×20 painting will attract animal lovers everywhere and will fit comfortably into any spot in your house – for only $395 you can’t go wrong. This delightful study would be a charming addition to a child’s room, but is sophisticated enough to delight an adult as the perfect gift. Mother’s Day is just a few m0nths away, and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Contact mich@redkettle.com for details regarding artist, size and shipping.

The above watercolour original by Carl Froschl is dated 1914 and is nicely framed in  art deco style. It depicts the moment just before this curious cat overbalances the wastebasket in a flurry of papers and scurrying kitty. This expertly accomplished little study is a small slice of family life in the popular genre of that time in Europe and would look especially good in one of the many urban homes across Canada from the early 20th century that are being rehabbed just now.  Framed, signed and ready to hang at a very modest $199 plus shipping, this original will set an authentic note in your period home.

Another small animal study – just 6×6, this pencil sketch depicts a young cat in various poses – again, it is nicely and simply framed and will look lovely perhaps as one of a grouping, or placed by itself in a vignette of small objects on a bookshelf or fireplace mantel – again this lovely little piece will go to you for $199 plus shipping. contact mich@redkettle.com to learn more about this study by Robert Fuchs.

**********************************************************************

 

The  pastel original of a rabbit comes from Austria and of the same period as the other two small pieces and is reminiscent of an Albrecht Durer study done several centuries earlier. It is a masterful work which is so serene that it takes a while to realize the technical skills displayed in it. Mich tells me he is happy to keep this piece as he is very happy with it – always a good recommendation.

Framed, this lovely original can be yours for $225 plus shipping. Contact mich@redkettle.com.

Fresh Art for the New Year and Some Old Friends, too!

I hope you’ve had a lovely holiday, complete with family and friends and lots of chance to relax and visit. My back do0r here on the West Hall’s Harbour Road is ajar and I’d like you to come in and discuss art with Mich and I for a while.  There’s always time in this spell between Christmas and New Year’s Day – and aren’t visits from old friends and new ones what the season is all about. Come in the coffee is on and the woodstove is pumping out heat!

We’ve been focussing on business plan, and disussing the direction Mich’s gallery will take. In the New Year, as ever, Mich will continue to collect art from Canada’s First Peoples as his main focus and secondarily classic Canadian art with a scattering of International pieces as they show up and appeal to him.

A newer goal is to concentrate on supporting the emerging, younger, less affluent collector – making it easier to acquire those first few pieces will be an important goal and we want to encourage you to discuss with Mich an installment or layaway plan – several monthly equal payments including shipping with delivery to take place as the final payment clears.

To the end of presenting you with affordable options Mich will always have an inventory of good pieces at excellent prices and from time to time we will concentrate on how to display fine art in your home.

A case in point are these two small prints, beautifully framed and modestly priced, by Henry Moore. Moore was known for his massive, very simple statues of bronze, meant to be viewed in an outdoors setting.

He was also a fine and very capable draftsman. We may not all have a beautifully landscaped sculpture garden for his huge brozes but we have room on our walls for these lovely small pieces and can afford the very reasonable price.

                                   *****************************************

I promised you a glimpse of an old friend – and here it is – this lovely original painting is of Drag River by John Joy – the colours are lovely and the particular brilliant light of a northern winter day is captured with ease. This painting is waiting to go home to you for a very reasonable price. Contact mich@redkettle.com for details.

                             **********************************************

 

And finally – three West Coast native pieces: the Floyd Joseph print shown in Mich’s living room was the starting piece of years of collecting – Wolf Dancing with the Moon – Mich was recently browsing around and was surprised to find this beautiful print offered for sale – of course he had to have it in his home again! But it is for sale, so act fast and it can become yours. Framed and ready for your wall.

                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don’t think I have shown this James Leslie Salish ceremonial mask of a deer’s head before – last week I did show the Kwakiutl Raven mask and did a post on Leslie and on West Coast Haida ceremonial masks. Both pieces are for sale – contact mich@redkettle.com for details.

Until next week – which is also next year – Mich and I wish you a very happy and prosperous 2012!

A Striking Kwakiutl Mask by James Leslie

 

Perhaps one of the most exciting things about sharing a post with you each week is the opportunity, through research, to learn more about the art of our vast country and to learn more too about Canada’s  history and diverse peoples.

 

 

This week I will be sharing some of the sites I looked through today in my search for information to inform my appreciation of this magnificent Kwakiutl ceremonial mask By James Leslie. I urge you to use these links to read further :

http://www.spiritsofthewestcoast.com/artist/tony_hunt_jr_/

 

http://ring.uvic.ca:8080/culture/kwagulth-artist-and-hereditary-chief-tony-hunt-restores-landmark-uvic-totem-pole

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hunt_(artist)

This beautifully carved, woven and paint decorated ceremonial clacker mask of a Kwakiutl Raven has been created by James Leslie, who  studied and trained under both Tony Hunt Sr and Jr on Vancouver Island. As you will discover by reading the content of the above-noted websites, the Hunts were instrumental in saving the carving traditions of their forebears for future generations and are descended from a long line of ceremonial carvers.

 

 

James Leslie’s mask has been carved from cedar and paint decorated using the colours and symbolry of the Kwakiutl people. The mask was worn on top of the head, as shown in the photograph at the top of this post, and the  fringe hid the dancer from sight while allowing him to see out through the braided strands of cedar bark.

The mask merasures 29x9x9 inches and comes complete with the stand on which it is displayed.

On top of the raven’s head is a small carved human skull, nestled in a nest of cedar bark.

This magnificent one-of-a-kind mask can form the focal point of your West Coast Native Art collection! Contact mich@redkettle.com for details regarding pricing and shipping to your address. As always, Mich is willing to discuss several equal monthly payments so that acquiring this lovely original piece of art is feasible for you!

 

*******************************************************************

In closing, Mich and I wish all our readers a happy and safe holiday season and for there to be Peace and Plenty on earth this Christmas.

Until 2012 – Season’s Greetings from Mich and Janet