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Artist Statement:
Shamans Quest
The Masks of Ned Bear
Pawakon (spirit-helpers)are
beings or entities present (in
other realities) who are
interacting with you here to
facilitate with you in some
way. (In this instance, and as
artistically represented, this
interaction is via the energy
forms of these masks.) The
spirit-helper is a term for
any beings that are presently
working with you as spiritual
teachers. (They help you learn
something), as guardians (for
protection) and/or
spirit-helpers/beings who help
you stay on a predetermined
path. Historically, it was a
tradition of the Plains Cree
people (and most plains
cultures) to go off into the
wild on a “Vision Quest”,
usually at puberty, whereas
seclusion, fasting and often
crying or chanting was part of
the ritual in for their quest
for a “pawakon” which would
become their guide throughout
the rest of the lives.
As stated, it was a believed
that for the most part,
spirit-helpers work with
humans to help through the
complexities of human
experience, in supportive,
guidance or protective roles,
but first one had to decide to
move beyond ordinary limits
and all current experiences to
transform themselves, and
their soul to the deepest ...
Further Information
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Artist Exhibitions:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Galleries:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Reviews:
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Collections:
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Commissions:
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Edward Ned Bear Biography:
| Biographical information for Edward Ned Bear can be found below. The artist may choose what information to display. Sometimes the artist chooses not to display personal information to the general public. |
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Age
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100
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| Gender |
Male
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| Status |
Single
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| Children |
2
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| Religion |
Taoism (more of a Philosophy) |
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| Education |
Graduate Work |
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| Hobbies / Interests |
Fly-fishing; Photography; Canoe-Outings |
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| Favorite Artistic Medium |
Sculpture Wood
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| Favorite Arthistory Movement |
Naive Art - ( - )
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| Favorite Visual Artist |
Aztecs
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| Favorite Work of Art |
Venus of Willendorf
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| Biggest Artistic Inspiration |
Aztecs; Mayan;Toltec; Inca |
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| Why Did You Become An Artist |
Destiny ... |
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| Your Personal Biography |
Masks Of Ned Bear: Spirit-Guides of Nature
Ned Bear's carved masks are well known in regionally and nationally and his reputation for creating traditional spirit-masks is growing internationally. He currently resides in a Wolistoqiyik First Nation Community, located within the city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. His late father, a Plains Cree from Saskatchewan, met Ned's mother while stationed in New Brunswick proir and to being sent to France in the 2nd World War. Raised in a family of 9 siblings, Bear recalls that his family only barely got by, most times. His father was wounded in the war, and thus received a small pension, and his mother supplemented with occasional long hours of housework and childcare, which paid a mere $3.50 per.
Today, Bear attributes his artistic ability, partly to his boyhood experiences, of living in abject poverty. His belief of these particular episodes, of a lack of any material possession, affected his world-view perception. This is reflected through his creative approach, and how he attempt to express any artistic concepts, and are essentially.... spiritual in nature, or perhaps, spirits of nature.
Bear has always felt a communion with these spiritual aspects of life. As a young boy, Bear was once playing within the community, when he stumbled upon a white-haired native elder .... carving in a workshop. Immediately, he felt he had to stop and watch the old man. And as he did so, he began to feel very calm and reassured, and felt at once deep within his spirit, to do what he had just observed. For Bear, this was an extra-ordinary, if not phenonmenal experience. Yet now, he is still not quite certain, if this chance event actually did happen, or, if it was a waking dream or vision.
Whichever it was, the experience inspired Bear, and therefore became determined to be an accomplished carver.
With very little support from his community, he pursued his dream independently, and became a practicing sculptor of natural media, now for the past 20 years.
Bear got formal training from the 'New Brunswick College of Craft and Design', and was the first aboriginal student to graduate from the institution, with honors. He followed Native Art studies at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, Regina Sask. (currently known as 'The First Nations University of Canada')and then moved on to study at 'The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, ' Halifax NS. He also attained a Bachelor of Education Degree from 'University of New Brunswick (UNB)' Fredericton Campus....his major being Native Art Education, then continuing this discipline into a UNB Master's degree program.
Bear's focus, is on giving a contemporary interpretation to traditional spiritual beliefs. He expresses this, in hand-carved masks of wood, and also in sculpts figure-forms of marble/limestones. He Continues to research the production, and playing of the Native American flute. But he does, and has participated in numerous group and solo shows, presenting art that is guided by his keen sense of spiritual values.
Each day brings new challenges to Bear. His art is a path of self-discovery and is continually rediscovering creative facets of his inner self. This path of inspirational creativity is a way to connect to a spiritual dimension for the artist. From a very early age he felt a very close affinity to all that existed in nature. At one time,understanding these feelings were difficult, and nobody took the time to explain. Trying to relate to these feelings and to others of influence, he was ridiculed, in his youth. Feelings and beliefs were taken away by people influenced by greater forces, by society expectations and the current religious or educational institutional value system and its practices.
So as time passed, Bear learned to dismiss how he truly felt. Of course, he now realize this was a mistake.... now reclaims these stolen beliefs through his work.
For Bear, spirits exist at all levels, and he feels humankind is very presumptuous, in believing that their spiritual attributes are superior to those of the natural world. He, in his mid-teens, discovered the concepts of Taoism, and was attracted to its similarity with the idea of the Great Spirit within the traditional native beliefs. We are all related and connected by spirit. Many people see this spirit, when they look at his work. A mask can be a portal into an intimate dimension. Through the ritual of wearing a mask, we have the opportunity to access the power of transformation, and can embrace the spiritual significance of the 'Pawakon' ...or spiritual helper. When creating his art, Bear considers himself as a path for an energy that flows from the eternal great spirit to the medium he is using. Preparation requires no preliminary designs or sketches, for any of his work,thereby allowing the inner-spirit to guide, and the medium to speak for itself.
The masks are named in Plains Cree dialect, and thus relates a story the artist is told, as each work is revealed..taking the time to 'listen'.
Ned, was a recent recipient of a Smithson Institute fellowship, in which he intends to further his research into the historic records and collections of the prestigious collections, located in New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Boston, within their Smithsonian's centers.
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