IceBear

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Artist Bio

This artist prefers not to take credit for his talent, or gift, as he prefers to call it; he says it was given him as a tool by the Creator so that he can fulfill his responsibilities: giving reality to the visions the Creator sends him. He signs the art Ice Bear to separate himself as an individual from the Creators artistic gift.

Ice Bear (Chris Johnson to his friends) is a status member of the Chippewas of Nawash at Cape Croker at Georgian Bay in Ontario. Chris, while still a teen, attended the Toronto Artists Workshop, and later Sheridan College. After college, he went to work in the advertising and communications industry, spending the next 25 years as designer and art director.

With his arrival on the west coast, in the early 80s, he felt a growing need to follow his dreams, fulfill his responsibilities and give the visions the chance to materialize. He moved to Vancouver Island, adopting the name Ice Bear for his art, and made a personal commitment to fine art.

Ice Bears work reflects his beliefs about the necessity of understanding the natural world around us, and learning to respect both this Earth and all our fellow travelers on it. Other themes are related to these beliefs, reflecting his cultural heritage, the mythologies of aboriginal peoples, and the conundrum of being aboriginal in a technological world.

Ice Bear's huge public art works (created between 1992 and 2001) have been extensively covered by local media, been front page photos and TV and newspaper headlines several times. Chris also received a 1999 Community Arts Award for the contribution he and his public art made to the Capital region.

Chris prefers to paint primarily with acrylic on canvas, although he has used watercolour and oils. He has created sculpture in soapstone, wood, composites, and winterstone, and has just released his first limited edition bronze.

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