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Originally from
Ste. Therese Point First Nation, the soft-spoken Manoakeesick won
an award for Artist of the Year at the 1996 Manitoba Aboriginal Youth
Achievement Awards. The awards gave him the opportunity to meet his
biological mother who he hasn't seen since he was an infant. Manoakeesick
was adopted and separated from his twin as a child and the reunion
with his mother is recent.
His
work has been on display at places like Portage Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba
and Artists on the Avenue. Opportunities to paint murals for different
businesses and organizations are presenting themselves because of
the exposure he has received in Winnipeg to date, as his work is viewed
by thousands of people everyday.
Manoakeesick
enjoys painting murals best because they are done, for the most part,
outdoors. He looks to other art, he says his paintbrush does all the
work. Regardless, he and his paintbrush paint pictures that are rich
with hidden layers and subtleties.
His
large yet intricate murals can be seen in several locations in Winnipeg:
Pioneer Street, Water Street, the Freight House on Isabel, and Selkirk
Avenue, as well as other various locations.
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Wisdom
and Honesty
This
remarkable piece was created for presentation in the Buffalo Point
Art Exhibit during the mid-90 's. This representation of a native
elder with an eagle in the back drop, suggests wisdom, and honesty.
While the buffalo further below makes the connection between the
spiritual and physical. Four feathers symbolize the four directions
as well as seasons.
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 The
Medicine Man and the Pipe
One
particular creation on Selkirk Avenue in Winnipeg's North End,
holds special meaning to the large Aboriginal population situated
within the neighborhood. This is a portrayal of a medicine man
on a vision quest. While fasting, taking neither food nor water,
it is said that visions that he received were far more potent.
Here, wise and mighty, eagle spirit, shown clutching a ceremonial
peace pipe, is meant to convey the idea that truth , justice and
social harmony is the one only true way. The size of the spirit
eagle is related directly it's cultural significance, and the
embodiment of the message itself.
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Untitled
Another
beautifully rendered painting that could be found on display at
the Buffalo Point Art Exhibit. The spirit of the eagle encompasses
all and watches over the sacred mother. The earth taken as a whole
represents all mankind as brothers tied to our sacred mother.
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Twin
Legends
This
contemporary piece, has its inspirational roots springing from
the fact that he was separated from his twin brother as a child.
Influences from the sacred twin legends are evident throughout
the work, the connection between the two worlds exists , they
are intertwined, are inseparable as day from night. This is meant
to reflect the fact that the twins grew up raised in separate
families.
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Untitled
This
painting is one of the many various works by this artist that
reside in private collections around the country. It is actually
representation of a vision seen by the artist himself. Set in
a stylized nature theme, it is easy to understand why Richard
Manoakeesic is destined to become an internationally celebrated
Aboriginal artist.
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Two
Wolves
Two
wolves and an eagle in the contemporary Oji-Cree style. A lone
wolf cries out to his spirit brother for guidance, the symbolism
between the night above and the dark spirit world below create
a mirror effect orchestrated by the use of a bold moon and smoke
spirit eagle, both representing guidance through the unknown.
The wolf is said to be blood brother to man, and his cries can
be heard on the other side.
Richard
sees his life as a resemblance to the wolves. Each are connected
by spiritual bonds yet separated by space and time. In the spirit
world they are one. They are a single body, a single unit, a single
entity.
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