Self-taught Native artist sells work world-wide
By Sharon Weatherall
BEAUSOLEIL FIRST NATION – For 35 years now Ojibwe artist William Anthony Monague – “Abwaudung” – The Visionary or Dreamer, has been creating colourful original art in a style he developed on his own.
A forerunner in the much sought after Native art movement, the self-taught Beausoleil First Nation (BFN) artist began reproducing his original works about ten years ago and now sells Giclee canvass wrap prints of all sizes through a Canadian publisher. His art reproductions bring royalties from across Canada and farther.
“The art started moving a lot quicker when the reproductions came along, but I still do original painting,” said Monague who is independent and owns the copy write on all his work.
“My very first show was in Peterborough, Ontario along with other Native artists including Norman Knott – a lot of them have passed away now. I sold out at my first show so that to me was a good indication that I had a future in it.”
As a boy on Christian Island Monague says he fooled around doodling with cartoon characters which drew the attention of family members that encouraged him to continue. Monague had no access to formal education or training in the arts. As he became older he set out creating native beadwork crafts and carvings before turning his attention more to painting in acrylics. Initially he was using the woodland style but soon developed his own more contemporary style of art.
During the 1970’s and 80’s Monague followed the Pow Wow circuit in a van with his family down to Mexico and experienced lots of sales in stores throughout the States. He returned and made his home in Mission, British Columbia where Monague Native Crafts Ltd. was established. The business bestowed with his name is now one of Canada’s leading global producers and suppliers of native products.
On the Pow Wow circuit a lot of Monague’s work ended up in the museums of curators seeking out native art. The Washington Museum of Fine Art, Turtle Art Gallery in New York, Royal Ontario Museum and Whetung’s Art Gallery among others now display his work. Monague currently has a quilled armband on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. He spent 15 years living in British Columbia and moved back to Midland Ontario in 1993.
Over the years Monague has received much deserved recognition for his work.
During the Alberta and British Columbia shows in the 1980’s Monague was awarded Most Unique Native Artist and in 2012 he received the Seven Grandfather Award of ‘Humility’ from his home band BFN. In 1994 he was nominated for a Canadian Arts Council Award for a painting called ‘Mystic Village’ depicting a colourful mountainous scene from BC. He said the painting emerged like a dream when he experienced having to leave his family, the mountains of BC and the beauty of the Northern Lights. In this beautiful painting he used a method of crystallizing acrylic paints, tie dye and heat to create the mountains and Northern Lights effect. Last year the painting was chosen for the December page of the inspirational 2014 Multifaith Calendar – ‘Transcendence’. The calendar highlights many aspects of world religion. The original of this works by Monague hangs appropriately on display at Christian Island.
Monague says his drive to paint “just happens”. He begins by painting the background spending as much time on it as the rest. Monague is highly motivated by area landscapes and colours holding the visions in his head until he puts brush to canvass. He enjoys painting pine trees and sometimes put faces on them. The first time he started drawing faces on pines trees was when his sister passed away.
Monague remains dedicated to his lifelong journey and helping others. He donates his time and artwork to many worthwhile causes.
“I see my work now in inspiring artists and don’t mind that they are doing the same as me as I took my inspiration from other artists too in the beginning. It is an honour and I don’t mind when they do it,” said Monague. “I feel my art speaks to my culture. I have made a name for myself with my work and reputation but it has taken a long time.”
Monague continues to do about eight shows per year and with the next two coming up at Huronia Museum in Midland on November 22 between 10 am – 4 pm and the Rama Christmas Show at the Seniors Complex December 5. Monague has a gallery on Yonge Street in Midland where he resides in a century old Victorian home with his family. The business is family based.
For more details on William Monague’s life and work, as well as online sales visit the web site: www.williammonaguenativeart.com