Grandfather Will Come Again
Artist
Bob Boyer
(Canadian, 1948 - 2004)
Date1987
Mediumoil, acrylic, chalk pastel, charcoal on blanket
Dimensions192 x 231.4 cm
Credit LineThe Mendel Art Gallery Collection at Remai Modern. Purchased with funds from the Canada Council Special Purchase Assistance Program 1987.
Object number1987.3
Classificationspainting
On View
Not on viewWhile Bob Boyer worked in a variety of media throughout his career, he is perhaps best known for his blanket paintings. Using flannel blankets as the painting surface, Boyer combined contemporary art practices with historical Northern Plains design and personal symbols. He describes the imagery in this painting the following way:
“Within the Ghost Dance–based on Christian/Indian Philosophy–all the deceased Indians of North America will rise up from the dead and resume ownership of the Americas. The word Grandfather has many meanings and in the Indian Languages there are many Grandfathers.”
These “blanket statements” are politically-charged depictions of the devastating impact of colonial imperatives upon Indigenous philosophies, land, religions and cultures. A life-long resident of Saskatchewan, Boyer’s work was inspired by his extensive travels throughout North and Central America, Asia, Europe and Scandinavia. Throughout his career he worked in a number of education, art, and community positions. He was a mentor and teacher of visual art and art history, and held a position as Head of the Department of Indian Fine Arts at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (now First Nations University of Canada).
“Within the Ghost Dance–based on Christian/Indian Philosophy–all the deceased Indians of North America will rise up from the dead and resume ownership of the Americas. The word Grandfather has many meanings and in the Indian Languages there are many Grandfathers.”
These “blanket statements” are politically-charged depictions of the devastating impact of colonial imperatives upon Indigenous philosophies, land, religions and cultures. A life-long resident of Saskatchewan, Boyer’s work was inspired by his extensive travels throughout North and Central America, Asia, Europe and Scandinavia. Throughout his career he worked in a number of education, art, and community positions. He was a mentor and teacher of visual art and art history, and held a position as Head of the Department of Indian Fine Arts at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (now First Nations University of Canada).
