Jonathan
Thunder Brings an Unexpected look to native art. His exhibit Jonathan Thunder: The Politics of Dreams:
Defying Dilettantism is in the Edge Center Gallery in Bigfork from November
3 to December 3. Thunder’s images seem to be a mixture of Native American symbolism and
popular cartoon characters, such as Bugs Bunny. “The images I create,” Thunder says,
“are the dreamscape representation of the seen world I cohabitate every day in
my life and journey.” There is a free Opening Reception on Friday,
November 4 from 5-7 pm. There will also
be a showing of his animated films on the Big Screen of the Edge Center
stage at 6:00 and 6:30 that evening. The films will show what makes Thunder’s
work so unexpected.
His
paintings on the Gallery walls are brought to action in the films, which will
also be shown in the gallery on a monitor. But bringing the paintings to life is
just part of what the films do. Thunder
continues, “The characters in my paintings and
films come to me as any dream would, as messengers, and pivotal roles that carry
out the story. The work is spiritual by nature. Subjects wear masks of
animals, animals wear masks of humans and apparitions dress up so as not to
surprise us.”
How did this look develop?
His background and
heritage is Red Lake Ojibway and it appears in the design. His work is also
influenced greatly by the surrealists, impressionists, art deco, and cubists.
Pop imagery also appears in his work occasionally to reflect the contemporary
setting in which he find himself. His work brings
traditional motifs into the present digital world.
Jonathan Thunder is a younger generation
painter, digital media artist and film maker currently residing in Duluth , Minnesota .
He has
attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and received a Bachelor’s Degree in
Visual Effects, and Motion Graphics from the Art Institutes International
Minnesota. His work has been featured in many state, regional, national and
international exhibitions, as well as in local and international publications.
Thunder has won several awards in SWAIA’s annual Class ‘X’ Moving Images
competition.
The Edge Center Gallery is sponsoring a workshop forBigfork
School students in which to
participate by making an animated film under Jonathan Thunder’s directions on
Friday. The combination of Thunder’s
film making and teaching experiences makes this an unmatched learning
experience for the Bigfork students.
The Jonathan Thunder: The Politics of Dreams:
Defying Dilettantism
exhibit will be in the Edge Center Gallery until December 3rd. The opening reception is on November 4th from 5:00 to 7:00 with the showing of his animated films at 6:00 and
6:30. Plan to be there to meet the artist and experience his work. The regular Gallery hours are from
10:00AM-4:00PM on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays.
The The Edge Center Gallery is sponsoring a workshop for
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