February First Friday Art Walk Opening

Watermark Art Center (formerly Bemidji Community Art Center) and Paul Bunyan Communications present the opening of “Asiniig” with artist Duane Goodwin as a part of the February First Friday Art Walk.  The Anishinaabe word for “stones” ~ Asiniig represents a collection of work by Goodwin featuring his stone sculpture along with paintings, beadwork and carvings from his personal collection.  Join us for the opening reception on Friday, February 7^th from 5pm to 7pm featuring an artist talk by Goodwin and special guest and artist, Carl Gawboy starting at 6pm.

“When Duane  Goodwin returned from New Mexico in the  early 70’s he was determined to create a world where American Indian art was a regional cultural force.  He set about  learning and  recreating the rich Ojibwe traditional art’s of clothing adornment. He taught himself oil and watercolor painting. But is in the field of sculpture that Goodwin excels.  Bison, Eagles and Indian faces emerge from stones; but the stones are still stones.  Massive , solid, patterned, smooth, or rough…The figures emerging from his stones seem to be the result of natural forces; wind, rain and frost  shaping mountains.”   ~ Carl Gawboy

Other Special Guests on Friday include: Bob Jourdain, Darryl Northbird and John Romer

Thanks to our Business Partner and Corporate Sponsor for this exhibit – 

For more information about other First Friday Art Walk events and exhibits go to our First Friday page.

I’ve been carving since 1971 when I first began working with native pipe stone. The year 1973 I started my first formal art education at the Institute of American Indian Arts. There I received training under the famous Allan Houser who later became my mentor and friend. It was then my sculptural interest evolved into a life dream of becoming an artist. Allan’s influence and teaching methods became a solid foundation in what would be a lifelong learning experience. Today much of what I teach and sculpt is based on Allan’s influence.

I employ the basic principles of what learned at IAIA to achieve aesthetic results in all my sculptures. I’m of indigenous origin, Anishinaabe and Lakota descent, and proudly recognize both cultures. My sculptures represent the strengths of both tribes.

Working with a variety of choice rock from around the world inspires me to be selective with my subject.

My favorite subjects are horses, buffalo, birds of prey and family orientated sculptures.  My sculptures are moderate in size ranging from 50 pounds to 350 pounds but I’m always open to for larger commissions.

I’m very proud of the life size sculpture I carved for the 2006 Minnesota Rocks International Sculpture Symposium. The sculpture is proudly placed on the banks of Mississippi River overlooking the ancient Lakota burial grounds in Mounds Parks, St. Paul.

Creating art needs to be nurtured with patience, it provides an outlet for thought and compassion.  Creativity  nourishes my soul with happiness and contentment, keeping my focused of what important my culture, family and artistic expression.  My philosophy is empowering the spirit with beauty, vision and strength.  These values are translated into my work, by capturing the elegance of an eagle or the beauty of the horse.

Legends of the Anishinaabe inspire me to create sculptures of vision and strength.  My inspirations are also discovered in simple every day experience, my home, barn/studio and natural surrounds has been a great source.

I feel stone is the right medium for I enjoy the challenge, each stone has it’s qualities and flaws.  Experience has taught me to appreciate the variety of that I work I select rock for it’s sculptural consistencies and beauty.”

– Duane “Dewey” Goodwin 

Duane Goodwin – Artist and Educator

Duane Goodwin is a 2012 Community Spirit Award Honoree with the First Peoples Fund –  First Peoples Fund chooses its Community Spirit Award honorees for their commitment to sustaining the cultural values of Native people.  For more than 28 years, Stone Sculptor Duane Goodwin has made countless contributions in art education and art appreciation in Bemidji and the Leech Lake Reservation.  Melissa Pond, a colleague at LeechLakeTribalCollege where Goodwin teaches, says, “As an artist, Dewey Goodwin demonstrates a gift for creation, storytelling and sharing in his work. His sculptures, in particular, are renowned for their ability to unite both the spirit of the stone and the spirit of the subject.”

Leech Lake Tribal College Director of Advancement Kyle Erickson who nominated Goodwin for the award said, “While Dewey is probably best known for his work with stone, he has also taught students at Leech Lake Tribal College about drawing, painting, pottery and a host of traditional Anishinaabe arts and crafts.  Students take pride in the works that they create under Dewey’s instruction, and that pride translates into a better self image and better outlook on life.” 

Duane Goodwin – International Recognition

In 2006 I was selected as one of fourteen carvers to represent at the Minnesota Rocks! International Stone Carving Symposium where carvers from Minnesota, China, Italy, Japan, Germany, Egypt, Africa, Finland and Mexico would congregate.

The magnitude of this experience was inspirational, living and working with master carvers for six weeks was a tremendous opportunity. The education was incredible learning foreign language, cultural values, creative process and carving techniques from the finest carvers in the world.

My sculpture, “Sacred Bowl” created as a part of this symposium, was inspired by a site over looking the ancient Lakota burial grounds on the banks of Mississippi river in MoundsPark, St. Paul. My vision was creating a culturally appropriate monument blending into the landscape, a grandmother holding a offering bowl (sage holder) would evolve to capture the essence of time and beauty.

Native limestone (Dolomite) well known for constructional qualities was determined by stone experts that it would be substantial for the harsh Minnesota climate.  Winona Limestone company provided the best quality blocks inspected and cut by professionals at the quarry. Several pieces of Pipestone were also used on the front and back of the sculpture. The installation and dedication would follow in October of 2006.

 

Hear Duane talk about his work during an interview on KAXE/KBXE Northern Community Radio.  He was interviewed by Maggie Montgomery and Robert Saxton on Wednesday, February 5th as a part of the upcoming First Friday Art Walk review for Bemidji and Grand Rapids.