100 Years Quantum Mysteries mixed media on paper, 30" × 22" |
New Time, 1983 watercolour on paper, 30" × 40" |
Untitled (Buffalo Shields), 1979 watercolour, 23" × 32" |
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Johnny Cash mixed media on paper, 30" x 22" |
Ojibwe Ancestors-2, 1999 mixed media on paper, 30" x 22" |
Black Box Flight Recorder (No Exit), 1999 mixed media on paper, 30" x 22" |
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Three Graveside Figures, 1984 artist proof print, 46" × 30" |
X-Ray Hand mixed media on paper, 30" × 22" |
Various Concerns of the Artist, 1984 artist proof print, 46" × 30" |
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Neo-Glyphs-1, 1984 coloured etching, A/P, 32" × 48" |
By Then Koan, 1985 photo transfer on Japanese paper, 38" × 25" |
Two White Spaces mixed media on paper , 30" × 22" |
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Interview photo transfer, 13¾" × 11" |
Red Box, 1999 oil on canvas , 62" × 47" |
Straight Graphic Work - 1 mixed media on paper, 30" × 22" |
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Untitled (Mishibijiw - Underwater Panther), 1992 ceramic, 10" x 12.5" |
Untitled, 2000 mixed media on paper, 11.5" x 16" |
100 Years Mchigeeng
mixed media on paper, 30" × 22" |
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Antlers/Fish, 1983
collage on plywood, 43" x 56" x 15" |
Carl Beam, R.C.A. (1943-2005) Artist Biography
Carl Beam R.C.A. (May 24, 1943 July 30, 2005), born Carl Edward Migwans, made Canadian art history in 1986 as the first artist of Native Ancestry (Ojibwe), to have his work purchased by the National Gallery of Canada as contemporary art.
Beam worked in various photographic mediums, mixed media, oil, acrylic, spontaneously scripted text on canvas, works on paper, Plexiglas, stone, cement, wood, handmade ceramic pottery, and found objects, in addition to etching, lithography, and screen process.
Through these mediums he juxtaposed his personal history, traditional Woodland Native imagery and historical events to create and illustrate a politically charged message. By adopting a mixed media approach to his work, Beam distanced himself from the traditional school of art and developed a new platform to speak out against the unequal treatment of native peoples. He not only voiced his anger on his own past experiences, but ventured into commentary of significant historical eras. The Columbus Project is the largest series of work to this effect. In this suite, Beam directly challenges how history remembers the accomplishments of Christopher Columbus while downplaying the resulting turmoil on native peoples.
A major retrospective of his work, organized by the National Gallery of Canada, was on display from October 22, 2010 to January 16, 2011 and went on tour to different cities in Canada and the United States. It recognizes Beam as one of Canada's most influential artists who succeeded in eliminating the boundary between aboriginal and contemporary art.