Gordon AhnAhnsisi
Portrait
Born:
1965 In Toronto Ontario
Education:
University of British
Columbia Law, Graduate Studies, present
Professional Legal Training Course for B.C., completed 2003
University of British
Columbia Law, Graduate 2002University of British
Columbia, 3rd year, GBA, 1998‑2000
York University, 4th
year, English/Theatre, 1986‑1990
Gordon has been taught painting and carving by his uncles. He has
been taught stories by his grandfather. He has recently worked and
studied with Pitchegigwaneh who was taught by Norval Morriseau.
About the artist:
Donald Gordon
AhnAhnsisi McIntyre paints in acrylics using a Woodland style, taught by his
uncles, Martin and Wayne King, and Daniel Pitchegigwaneh, who studied under
Norval Morriseau. He also makes wood
carvings, hand-drums and rattles. As well as canvas, Gordon has used paper,
wood, walls, jars, drums, rattles and refrigerators to hold his images.
He worked with the Shamballa Festival,
National Aboriginal Day, Aboriginal Awareness Week at the VAG, and at Britannia
Elementary School as a special carving instructor. Before, in an attempt to not
miss out on anything Don has been a lumberjack, waiter, fire-fighter, actor,
stunt-man, teacher, painter, renovator, roofer, ranch-hand, roadie, advocate,
stage-director, fisherman, consultant, playwright, guide, stage manger,
coffee-bar owner, foster parent, director of a specialized residential youth
resource and a professional kite-flyer. Don has written over nine plays
from one act to full length. He has had
numerous short stories published in Fugue, Review and others. He has work shopped the works of
Saskatchewan playwright Pam Bustin (Saddles in the Rain and Magpie), as well as
his own (Circle Games). He has acted as
consultant for Ten Dollar Word Publishing in Vancouver. He has worked in various administrative
roles in the arts community including theatre management throughout Toronto,
assistant stage manager for the 1990 PEN festival, Front of House for Theatre
Passe Muraille.
Intentions:
Gordon attempts to juxtapose the traditional style of his people
with the modern world and the influences of life in the city. He
combines traditional subjects and colours with non-traditional ideas
and aspects to create images that stand out as his own.
Artist Residencies:
He lives in Vancouver with his daughter Jake and her snake.
Works and Exibitions:
- Commissioned Poster for Vancouver Aboriginal Day 2006
Commissioned Album Cover for Aboriginal Blues at the Yale November 2005
Latin Quarter, Vancouver BC – July 2005- March 2007
Indigenous Bar Association Home Office- October 2005-present
Installation commissioned UBC Law School
Michaels & Co. offices – July 2004
Law Offices (Alphonse & Associates)-2006
UBC- Rattles & Drums display September 2003