In a recent article for Bayview magazine, I told the story of a favourite pink velvet chair of my mother’s and its journey to a new home – a women-owned tattoo parlour in Thunder Bay. That article generated much interest, feedback and discussion about finding new homes for those hidden treasures in our lives.
While my article focused on one item that was passed down to me, Joanne McMacken was entrusted with many more treasures. She had been the keeper of many of Anishinaabe artist Samuel Ash’s works of art. Ash, who was born in Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation and passed away in 2021, was a great friend of Joanne’s. Ash was a deaf man and Joanne was his friend and American Sign Language (ASL) - English Interpreter for many years.
Ash wanted his paintings kept in a safe place, so Joanne held on to them at his request. After asking her to keep them safe, he gifted her with the paintings. Upon his death, she then donated the 29 paintings to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Many of these works, painted in 1985, had never been seen before. Thanks to Joanne McMacken, many of Samuel Ash’s works will be available for people to enjoy in traveling exhibits and as part of the permanent Woodland Art collection of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Ash didn’t want to make money through his art; he just wanted to share his art with others. This gift will ensure his work is recognized and appreciated by this and future generations.
The gallery showcased the Samuel Ash donation in a show called “People of the Eyes” in June, 2024. They describe the display as follows:
“People of the eyes is a phrase of identity and pride in the deaf community. These words describe people who process information visually and have little or no functional hearing. Because Sam Ash was a deaf artist, these words speak vividly to and of his work.
Ash’s work is all about the eyes.
As a deaf artist he depended on his eyes to live in the world and communicate with other people. As a characteristic of Woodland Style, Ash drew his figures, animals, and beings in profile. Each large, rounded eye brims with emotion. In several of his images, the figures are eyeless, or sightless. There are also two paintings of a hand, outstretched.
This pair of paintings can be understood as a reference to sign language and Ash’s identity as a deaf artist.”
The gallery hosted an opening for the show and the program was interpreted for the deaf, deafened and hard of hearing community with professional services provided by Indigenous Deaf Interpreter Crystal Wolfe and ASL-English Interpreter Jocelyn Cunningham. Sam Ash’s work, showcasing his pride and identity, will continue to provide inspiration for generations to come. Sam, or Sammy as his friends called him, recognized the value of friendship. His friendship with Joanne has now enabled all of us to celebrate his artistry.
