Goyce kakegamic biography definition

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One of the First Woodland Artists

Cree artist, Goyce Kakegamic, was born in Sandy Lake, Ontario in 1948.

He continues to paint and is represented by several Canadian galleries. Under the guidance of these two artists, Kakegamic and his brother Joshim began to paint.

Although  the brothers sold their original works, they had entered into an arrangement with a southern Ontario screen printer who took advantage of them. 

After learning printmaking techniques at Open Studio in Toronto, Goyce and his brothers Joshim and Henry Kakegamic opened the Triple K Co-Operative, a silk screening company in Red Lake.

Triple K Cooperative existed for ten years and became the largest and most successful Indigenous economic development initiative in Northwestern Ontario.

Throughout the 70's and 80's while in Red Lake, Goyce worked as a school counsellor.

Works by Goyce Kakegamic are in Major Collections

Goyce was represented in the England/Germany tour of woodland and Indian art in 1970.

It provided an infrastructure that resulted in many artists having their work exhibited and acquired by prominent art galleries and museums both nationally and globally. 

In 1974, Kakegamic and Joshim held a two-person exhibition at Toronto's Aggregation Gallery. Their intention was to represent themselves (as well as other native artists like Barry and Paddy Peters, Saul Williams and Norval Morrisseau) on their own terms, rather than being dependant upon the needs and expectations of non-native publishers.

By the early 1970s, both brothers had became successful professional artists.

Screenprinting would play a major part in Kakegamic’s career. He and his brother Josh had a major place show at Toronto's Aggregation Gallery in 1974. Several exhibitions followed, including at the McMichael Art Gallery and the Mohawk Institute in Brantford, Ontario.

Kakegamic’s style is usually described as being a part of the Woodland School of Art.

It is rich with spiritual imagery and symbolism, illustrating the heritage and legends of Ojibwe people.

His works can be found in numerous public and private collections throughout North America and Europe, including the permanent collections of the Museum of Civilization and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. 

Kakegamic continues to paint and is currently the Deputy Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

Triple K was modelled after one of Daphne Odjig's companies - Indian Prints of Canada Ltd. which she set up in 1970. Since then his work has been exhibited regularly and is represented in the McMichael Collection and the Mohawk Institute in Brantford.

Presently Goyce Kakegamic and his wife Lucy live in Thunder Bay where he works as Education Director for Keewaytinook Okimakanak (the Northern Chiefs) based out of Balmerton Ontario.

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His sister was married to the Ojibwa artist Norval Morrisseau who, after successfully selling his work in Toronto and elsewhere, encouraged teenage Goyce and his brother Joshim to try their hands at painting. 

Over the years, another Cree artist, Carl Ray, as well as Jackson Beardy, Alex Janvier and Daphne Odjig mentored the young men.

Kakegamic was born at the Sandy Lake Indian Reserve, Ontario. Based in Red Lake, Ontario, the company enabled the brothers and other artists, including Norval Morrisseau, Saul Williams, Barry and Paddy Peters to present their work in an unfiltered, independent, and unique way.

Shortly after opening for business Triple K decided to only produce limited edition silk screen prints from drawings not only designed specifically by the artist for the silk screening process but that involved the artist in the actual printing cess.

The production of the high quality prints made the new "woodland" imagery affordable and available to prospective buyers across the country.

He learned the craft at the Open Studio in Toronto; inspired by Daphne Odjig’s Indian Prints of Canada Ltd. Company, he and his brothers Joshim and Henry established the Triple K Cooperative printing company in 1973.