“Jane Ash Poitras” Episode 7 (2005, 24 minutes)

Jane Ash Poitras was born in Fort Chipewyan in northern Alberta. She completed a degree in microbiology and didn't really connect with her native heritage or art until she was 30. She has a BFA in print and design from Yale University and an MFA at Columbia University in New York. Her paintings incorporate emotive images and words and her work frequently explores the clash of Aboriginal and mainstream cultures.

This 26-part series of half-hour documentaries presents the work and thoughts of a diverse group of Aboriginal artists. Twenty-four of them are Canadian--from British Columbia, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Ontario; the other two are American--a painter from Montana and a glass blower from Seattle. By definition, artists are people who live on the edge, and Aboriginal artists have had a tougher journey than most.
The stories in this series are from artists who would not quit, even in the face of adversity and who have made a difference to both their communities and to the world of contemporary art.

Directed by: Raymond Yakeleya, Bill Stewart
Produced by: Raymond Yakeleya, Bill Stewart, Earth Magic Media

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