Shirley Bear
Published Saturday June 20th, 2009
Although the celebrated aboriginal artist has travelled extensively, Shirley Bear has always called Dobek, along the St. John River, home.
q Age?
a Born in 1936.
q Provenance?
a I was born on the Negootkook Reserve, now better known as Tobique (a french spelling of Dobek), along the St. John River near Perth Andover. Translated it means "a full river." I was schooled in Dobek, as well as St. Basil, near Edmundston. As an adult, I lived in New Hampshire; Lowell, Mass.; and Cherokee, N.C. I currently live in Truro, N.S., where I've been for about a year. Between all my travels I live in Dobek. I've had a home there since the mid-1970s.
q Why art?
a I've been drawing since I was very young. It's something that was just me. It's what I did. I guess when educators found I could draw, they paid special attention. I always found it most comfortable to do art.
q What would you be if you weren't an artist?
a I don't know that I'd ever be anyone else.
q Your current obsession?
a At my age, I just want to be comfortable, healthy and happy.
q What are you working on next?
a A novel. I've been working on this for some time, since before I launched Virgin Bones.
q What place on earth inspires you?
a Wherever I am.
q What place inspires you?
a Right now, Nova Scotia.
q Secret indulgence?
a Red wine and chocolate.
q Your favourite hero of fiction?
a South American writers; they are so dark.
q What is your greatest extravagance?
a Music and books.
q What is your greatest fear?
a Losing touch with my children.
q Greatest joy?
a Sunrise, because I'm awake to see it.
q What are you reading?
a C. Fuentez.
q What's on your iPod?
a It's very eclectic ... Daniel Lanois, Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris, Andrea Bocelli, especially, and Buffy Sainte-Marie - a friend of mine. I tend to buy music obsessively when I find an artist I enjoy. I also like showtunes sometimes.
q What talent would you like to have?
a Speaking several languages.
q Your most treasured possession?
a Life.
q What is your favourite art museum?
a I have not seen enough to know.
q What is the greatest public misconception about art?
a What is good sells.
q How would you like to die?
a Happy.
Editor's note: 'Nekt wikuhpon ehpit (Once there lived a woman ... ): The Painting, Poetry and Politics of Shirley Bear' opens today at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.
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