Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XXIII)

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Joseph M. Sanchez (b. 1948)

Sanchez lived in Canada from the early to mid 1970s, and was a founding member of the "Professional Native Indian Artists Association”, otherwise known as the Indian Group of Seven. In Winnipeg he met Daphne Odjig, who had opened up the Warehouse Gallery in the early 1970's (now the Wahsa Gallery and currently owned by Gary Scherbain, the Winnipeg Free Press Reporter who originally dubbed the PNIAA the "Indian Group of Seven"). He exhibited in group shows in Canada, Europe, and the United States.
 

"Blue Fetish Landscape", 25"x19", © 1974 Joseph M. Sanchez


Since 1970 I have had the opportunity to work with many artists and art professionals around the world, develop artist organizations, curate exhibitions, direct museums, and share my experiences with school children. These experiences are informed by a cultural and ceremonial life with the guidance and wisdom of many elders. I was born just before the full moon on February 24, 1948 to mixed blood parents of Spanish, German and Pueblo descent.

Meeting Daphne Odjig in 1971 is the reason I am an artist today, as a mentor and peer she encouraged my talent and coached my ability as an artist and art professional, resulting in the amazing career I have as an artist, activist and art professional. Though mainly self taught, the opportunity to work with many artists and art professionals as a collaborator, assistant, exhibition designer, curator, and museum director provided many experiences, skills and valuable critique. I especially acknowledge my two mentors, Daphne Odjig  and Philip C. Curtis, (founder of the Phoenix Art Museum) who have been essential to my success as an artist.

In 1972 the gatherings at Odjig Indian Prints at 331 Donald Street were the seed that resulted in Professional Native Artist, Inc. aka The Native Group of Seven, officially incorporated in February of 1974. Although many more artists were invited only seven attended the meetings in Winnipeg that created the group, they were Daphne Odjig, Norval Morrisseau, Alex Janvier, Jackson Beardy, Carl Ray, Eddy Cobiness and, American Joseph M. Sanchez. This lead to exhibitions with the group in Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Winnipeg and London, England as well as smaller exhibitions in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Brantford, Ontario. A commission honouring the 1974 Winnipeg Centennial, Fertility Totem resulted in a nine foot sculpture of Manitoba cedar installed in Franco-Manitoban Center in St. Boniface, Manitoba. I returned to the United States under President Gerald Ford’s amnesty program in November of 1975.

A career in the museum world and my studio in Scottsdale, Arizona lasted 22 years when I married Margaret Burke and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1999.In 2002, I volunteered at the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, was hired as exhibition coordinator and went on to become Interim Director and Chief Curator for what is now called the Museum of Contemporary Native Art. Receiving the Allan Houser Memorial Award in 2006 for artistic excellence and community involvement is the highlight of a long career of artist groups and community activity. I retired from the Museum in November of 2009 to return to my work exclusively.

Joseph M. Sanchez
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Sources: (image) www.houseofthespiritbear.com-&
(text) www.hambletongalleries.com.
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>>> Reference posts:
- Norval Morrisseau a.k.a. Copper Thunderbird,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part I) /Carl Ray/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part II) /Daphne Odjig/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part III) /Benjamin Chee Chee/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part IV) /Jackson Beardy/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part V) /Joshim Kakegamic/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part VI) /Roy Thomas/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part VII) /Arthur Shilling/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part VIII) /Alex Janvier/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part IX) /Eddy Cobiness/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part X) /Martin Panamick/
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XI) /James A. Simon - MISHIBINIJIMA/,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XII) /Carl Beam/,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XIII) /Norman Knott/,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XIV) /Clemence Wescoupe/,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XV) /Cecil Youngfox/,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XVI) /Goyce Kakegamic/,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XVII) /Leland Bell BEBAMINOJMAT/,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XVIII) /Ahmoo Angeconeb,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XIX) /Saul Williams/,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XX) /Francis Kagige/,
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XXI) /Isaac Bignell/ &
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XXII) /Blake Debassige/.
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