Ojibwe artist depicts folklore through artwork in ‘Colors of My Inner Voice’ exhibit at Anoka-Ramsey

March 09, 2018

Shining light on the history and culture of the Anishinaabe and Ojibwe people, the artwork of Gordon Coons is featured in an exhibit entitled “Colors of My Inner Voice,” now on display in the Great River Gallery at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

“Colors of My Inner Voice” Exhibit
Exhibit: Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Friday, March 30
Artists Reception & Talk: Tuesday, March 20, 1 pm
Great River Gallery, Coon Rapids Campus
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Free and open to the public

Through reduction block art, acrylic pieces and oil paintings, Gordon Coons conveys the folklore and ages-old storytelling of Ojibwe clans, with a focus on northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. The vibrant artworks draw upon the land, animals and sights from the natural world, such as the moon and the sun, to illustrate the meaning of Native American stories and show the bond of tribes across the world.

With an Ojibwe heritage from Ottawa and the Lake Superior Chippewa Band, Coons is a member of the Bear clan. He explains that this honored animal represents courage, healing and education – three qualities that led him to follow a calling to create art and use it to teach students of all ages about the Ojibwe. Coons became a professional artist after a long and varied history. He was born on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation in Wisconsin, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, obtained a two-year degree from Eau Claire Vocational School, and worked for many years in the business world.

“I was always doing, always making, always creating art,” said Coons. “The Ojibwe tradition says the only time that you tell stories is the time that the snow is on the ground. The only issue I see with that is we miss the opportunity to educate students all year.”

He found inspiration in articles he read in art magazines and decided to study reduction block prints, then make a go of being an artist full time. He now creates oil and acrylic paintings as well as block prints, and he has expanded his art to unique media such as duct tape and mirrors, often using otters, ravens and thunderbirds to send an impactful message.

“We need to develop a relationship with the culture and history that was here before us. We were – all of the tribes – connected, but we’ve lost that connection over time,” said Coons. “A lot of the work I do is very educational and historical. It’s about telling those stories that have been carried through time and bringing them into the future.”

That’s why Coons devotes his life to making art and sharing the folklore that inspired each piece throughout the seasons. He spends a lot of time traveling across the U.S., and he’s been invited to exhibit his work for small and large art and historical institutions. He has also started to design curriculum for specific programs, working to educate students of all ages, from the very young to high school audiences, and even college and university classes.

“Today’s future is tomorrow’s history,” said Coons. “We’re not static; we don’t stay. I use new stories and old stories to teach students about our shared history.”

Through his art, Coons not only conveys deeply meaningful concepts from the Anishinaabe, but he also addresses historical events and landmarks that’ve made a mark on Minnesota and U.S. history. These artworks include a piece that challenges people to think about the land the Walker Art Center was built upon, and an artwork that revisits the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato, Minn., during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. The latter artwork has been exhibited at the Nicollet County Historical Society, where indigenous visitors were so moved that Coons said they ran their hand across the textured surface of this stylized American Flag.

The “Colors of My Inner Voice” exhibit runs through Friday, March 30, and it will include an artist reception and talk on Tuesday, March 20 at 1 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

Coons has a decorated history as an artist, with many awards and experience curating exhibits and completing commissioned works. Among many exhibitions, he has displayed his artwork in South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, including solo exhibits at the Indian Museum of North America and Crazy Horse Memorial, the Sioux Indian Museum in conjunction with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the MacRostie Art Center and the Two Rivers Gallery.

For more information about the Art Department at Anoka-Ramsey, visit AnokaRamsey.edu/academics/departments-faculty/art/.