by Eoin Callan, The Independent
Some art belongs to a time and place. It is born of a moment, marking a turning point when historical forces coalesce. The paintings of Randy P. Smoke appear to have arrived at such a juncture.
The artist born and raised on the Alderville First Nation is producing a growing body of work that speaks to the ongoing cultural revival of communities emerging from a period when their heritage was suppressed or distorted.
The paintings and sculpture are attracting an international following and bringing an unexpectedly large number of visitors to a new gallery in the heart of Alderville built by Randy and his partner Alexis, who makes jewelry, candles and jams and other crafts.
The Anishnaabe artist says his paintings are meant to show people as they are and as they were. The oils and acrylic works depict First Nations people as mothers and fathers “who loved, made love, raised children” and function as an alternative to the “stereotypical historical garbage”, he says.
The works tend to blend historical scenes and living traditions, often drawing on modern faces. Members of the Alderville First Nation and dancers on the pow-wow circuit will likely recognize in many of the paintings friends and neighbours – as well as Randy himself, who can be quite shy and humble.
The artist says the key to his work is a desire to “show the beauty of this culture”. “I have a passion for First Nations culture.” “I aim to show the positives and not so much the negatives,” he says, adding: “That is kind of what I’m basing all the work I’m doing on”.
The artist says the focus on First Nations’ traditions serve as a form of outreach, but began as a process of self-education.
Ten years ago Randy was a residential contractor who had reached the end of his road, burnt out and physically wrecked from too many hard knocks. Art was a refuge. “I thought to myself: ‘I’d like to try art. I’ve always been told I’m pretty good at it’.” He found his mentor in the late Norman Greene of
He says most of the paintings depict “a time in my life when I was learning something from somebody.” He started out with classical subjects and scenes, but quickly combined his paintings with a new-found interest in traditional culture and ceremonies that had been taboo or explicitly forbidden when he was growing up, especially in the heavily-settled areas of southern
The artistic and cultural pursuits became firmly entwined when he won a place at the
Although Randy returned directly to Alderville – which has always been his home – the time at the institute helped him gain an international audience and earn notable fans, including a former president of the
Randy says his life-like style explains part of his paintings’ appeal.“People ar e looking for high-realism, almost to the point of classic realism, of fine art.” “The collectors started finding me,” he says, adding: “I’ve sold some paintings for $20,000 and $30,000.” The success helped encourage him to build the gallery, which opened in December. Despite launching in the dead of winter, it has already proven a huge success. “It has just been non-stop. It is way beyond anything I expected,” he says. Randy says most find their way to the gallery on Route 45 by word of mouth, including nationalities ranging from Americans to Russians. Yet to see a summer season, the gallery can quickly fill on the weekends with dozens of visitors, enticing many passersby to stop on the main route through the territory.
“The community already benefits from it. I employ six people,” he says. He plans to add more space before the summer to make room for a café and smoke shop to accommodate those that want to linger. “People won’t leave. They just sit and visit,” he says. Like many businesses in the territory, the gallery also sells hand rolled cigarettes and bags of tobacco that are sold tax free, in accordance with the rights of First Nations. The owner says it is important territories do not surrender their “inherent right to use natural products as a form of barter”. Randy is supportive of those on nearby territories waging high-profile campaigns to assert their rights. But says a big part of his personal mission is to accentuate similarities rather than differences.
He adds that he was drawn to examine his own culture more closely while “trying to seek out answers. Why so many people didn’t like us? Why they called us names?” The questions would be relevant in many communities across the country, but are particularly so in Alderville, which is a stones throw from Roseneath.
The two communities have lived side-by-side for the better part of the last century, but often led entirely separate existences, punctuated by spells of hostility. Randy says the once infamous tension between the two communities has eased and given way to a greater recognition of the shared heritage. “What makes First Nations the best people in the world to be among is that when push comes to shove they are there for you”. “It is like the old Canadian heritage spirit. If a farmers’ barn burned down everybody would rally round and help him rebuild it. It is what being Canadian is about,” he says.
