M I S H I B I N I J I M A

MISHIBINIJIMA BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

2011-11-08T14:51:00.000-08:00

Biographical Information
Mishibinijima, one of Canada's foremost artist, has created a unique body of work over the four decades and established a loyal following in North America and overseas. He was born February 12, 1954 in Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island and grew up immersed in the legends of the Ojibwe people. As a youth he was known as James Alexander Simon, but now he's widely recognized as Mishibinijima. practitioner of many diverse styles and media. Over the years he has been awarded many First Place and Best of Show prizes at international art exhibitions. Currently, he serves as a judge and mentor for many North American juried art shows. He also develops curriculum materials for First Nations schools and continues to amaze art collectors with the detail and intricacy of his canvases.
From the 1970's to the present, Mishibinijima has explored many of the sacred places around Manitoulin Island and originated the sought- after MISHMOUNTAIN SERIES. among others. His uplifting philosophy has struck a chord with people who are seeking solace in the midst of tragedy and meaning in a world that is often confused and frightening. The themes depicted in his paintings have universal appeal and speak to all who yearn for spiritual sustenance. In his words he underscores the wisdom of the Grandfather teachings as a way to foster respect and peace. He also emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life and calls upon all nations to preserve our natural surroundings for the benefit of our children- Always. he urges us not to take the Earth for granted.
Mishibinijima takes his role as an artist in society very seriously by courageously examining the difficult questions facing humanity. For example: he has meditated on the horrendous atrocities of the 9/11 attacks and the Holocaust in order to touch and articulate the ancient truth that have the power to save us all. For those who have yet to discover the metaphysical depths of Anishnabe culture, Mishibinijima offers timeless teachings and universal values to guide the people of the New Millennium into a positive future.

1980-1985: MISHMOUNTAINS

2011-08-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

Title: COLLINS INLET
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 32" x 24"
Price: $ 38,400.00

Title: CROKER ISLAND
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 32" x 24"
Price: $ 38,400.00

Title: FLOWER POT ISLAND
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 32"
Price: $ 38,400.00

Title: DREAMERS ROCK

Medium: Acrylic On Canvas

Size: 24" x 32"

Price: $ 38,400.00

More informations about these paintings: james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MINIATURE MISHMOUNTAIN: 2011

2011-06-24T12:30:00.001-07:00

Title: MOTHER AND CHILD
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 6" x 6"
Price: $ 900.00 - SOLD

Title: ONE HUMAN, ONE EARTH
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 6" x 6"
Price: $ 900.00 - SOLD

Title: THE BEAVER IS THE ARCHITECT OF HUMAN SURVIVAL
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 6" x 6"
Price: $ 900.00 - SOLD

Title: LONELY ISLAND
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 6" x 6"
Price: $ 900.00 - SOLD
The last time I did miniature paintings was for my first international art exhibition in Germany 1977, And these MISHMOUNTAINS I do agree came out picture perfect.

MISHMOUNTAIN MAILING LIST

2011-06-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

MISHIBINIJIMA needs to make a new mailing list only for MISHMOUNTAINS ART COLLECTORS, if you don't respomd, you can't get new information about MISHIBINIJIMA INTERNATIONAL: mishmountains@gmail.com

FIRST MISHMOUNTAINS ART PROJECT: 1978 - 1989 - SOLD OUT

2011-06-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

MISHIBINIJIMA'S earlier Mishmountains

911 MISHMOUNTAIN PRESENTATION PROJECT: 2001 - 2004

2011-05-07T08:06:00.001-07:00

Title: ON SCARED GROUND
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"
Scared Ground: Mother Earth has many locations where human tragedy struck in some way and form. These area's served as spirit entrance's to people that moved into the spirit world and dialogue between people prevent these events from happening. When we lay tobacco on these properties, your making sure that the spirit has enough spiritual energy to arrive his or her new destination.

Title: STORY TIME IN MACKINAW
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 60" x 72"
STORY TIME IN MACKINAW: Grandfather teachings are past down from generation to generation and live by those teachings for a better world. A good teacher will explain true events with guidance to it's listener and that person sometime into the future will stand and prevent harm to it's fellow man.

Title: DREAMERS COVE
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 60" x 72"
DREAMERS COVE: It's human nature to miss love ones that entered the spirit world way before their time but mankind itself is design to have it's ultimate destiny.

Title: THE LAST WARRIOR
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 60" x 72"
The Last Warrior: The last warrior is the person that stands alone with a love one that entered the spirit world. He or she will defend everything alone from the promises made.

Title: Twin Towers ( Chi We Gwam ) means ( BIG HOUSE)

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 60" x 72"

TWIN TOWERS: Respect towards a house has degraded through the years as the house itself suppose to be your safest dwelling to live and sleep. As you look around you, you'll see everything was created from the ground you walk on. Society needs to plant a word phrase in peoples minds: " I RESPECT YOUR HOME."

Note: These are the images I painted after viewing the 9-11 tragedy unfolding on my television set. I needed to do something to ward off this dark light that was building inside me which sometimes become a painters block which is an awful time for an artist to go through.

This event offers a warning that society in general lost the art of dialogue towards helping people for basic survival. and this is my small part in society to offer these paintings as a gift properly - MISHIBINIJIMA - 2011

MOTHER AND CHILD

2010-12-28T10:38:00.001-08:00

Title: MOTHER AND CHILD
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16" x 20"
Price: $ 16,000.00

MOTHER AND CHILD: The legend to this painting began with the burining of Manitoulin during the time of my ancestors, I heard this story many years ago when the times that the chicken pox and measels rappened the land and people dieing from these diseases. Medicine men couldn't not fight off these new European diseases. So the medicine man came up with a very mportant decision that, to purify Manitoulin, they had to burn the island and it's growth.
Before traveling away from the island, a child was sacrificed on the island which was called SQUAW ISLAND so the spirit will watch over Home of the Great Spirit " Manitoulin ".

BLACK WATER LAKE

2010-12-28T10:35:00.001-08:00

Title: BLACK WATER LAKE

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 16" x 20"

Price: $ 16,000.00
james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

BLACK WATER LAKE: Everynow and then we come upon people who offer great respect towards the lands, waters of North America. These people feel the same land connection what the native people have towards there natural surroundings. What man does to it natural surrounds is what he does to himself and the future generations before him and all you have to do is look into your childrens eyes and see their children, what are you really saving for them.

SPIRIT BAY - SOLD

2010-12-10T08:32:00.001-08:00

COMMENT: There nothing to worry about MISHIBINIJIMA INTERNATIONAL shipping crates and I know your family will love the painting titled: SPIRIT BAY.

Title: SPIRIT BAY
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16" x 20"
Price: $ 16,000.00 - SOLD

SPIRIT BAY: Sound of the heart beat is the natural sound of the medicine bundle, this sound reflects your natural surrounds and needs all protection that you can offer it because mankind was given the rule to protect all living things above him. He was never ment to stand on top and look down, that only happens when he asks himself with this statement: "What have I done?"

BEAVER STONE - SOLD

2010-12-10T08:28:00.001-08:00

Title: BEAVER STONE BAY
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16" x 20"
Price: SOLD

Beaver Stone: Respect towards animal life has it's great importance, my mother worked with quills and birchbark for her livelhood all her 84 years of exisitance. She also suffered a diabetic problem which started during her 40's and well managed but one season, she failed to offer respect to the animal spirit she was working with, the porcupine quill which she stepped on, two years went by as the spirit of the porcupine did it's business and took her life in the end. I remember her saying, animals need great respect no matter what it is, man is no more or less important then a blade of grass on the ground. james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MOTHER LOON AND THE LIFE WITHIN

2010-11-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

Title: MOTHER LOON and the LIFE WITHIN
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16" x 20"
Price: $ 16,000.00

MOTHER LOON AND THE LIFE WITHIN: It's very important for mankind to understand that were part of this natural life on Mother Earth . Everything we need for human sustain-ability grows all around us especially the most important element. " water ". If we destroy water, we destroy ourselves.
People take everything for granted, if a sunburst happens for example and your electrical power is knocked out for a month, what will you do about water? People just need to stop and think where are we really heading in society.
james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

TURTLE ISLAND

2010-11-28T12:12:00.001-08:00

Title: TURTLE ISLAND
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16" x 20"
Price: $ 16,000.00

TURTLE ISLAND: The earth surface itself is called turtle island and each person has it's own unique way to express life. Each will speak about life and times in their own geographical area and share experience's in how to help each other too co-exisit. But when the monetary solutions were invented to man, that lving with peace changed forever. When elders speak about taking back to old ways, they talk about when man use to talk to each other with respect and not look down at each another. Will this time ever come back? you be the judge.
james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MISHMOUNTAINS: SPIRIT COVE

2010-11-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

Title: Spirit Cove
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 22" x 22"
Price: $ 24,200.00

SPIRIT COVE: Everynow and then as we roam the shores of Manitoulin, we come across stones that hold meaning, hold these grandfather stones close to your heart because they have chosen you.

MISHMOUNTAINS: WOLF CREEK

2010-11-12T11:31:00.000-08:00

Title: WOLF CREEK
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 22' x 22"
Price: $ 24,200.00

Wolf Creek: Our human spirit has a destiny that's very personal, each will enter the spirit world already designed from birth and just before entering, we need to cross water to reach that destiny.

MISHMOUNTAINS: EARTH LODGE

2010-02-15T05:51:00.000-08:00

Title: Earth Lodge
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 20" x 16"

Price: ( SOLD )

Earth Lodge: Mankind is going through misunderstandings and confusuion about survival on Mother Earth. These events are spoken inside the Native American cutlure where living in hardship will be no comparisence in what's in store if we don't change our ways.

The earth lodge sent signals of warnings in the past where man is walk on a wrong path towards it's future where it's livilihood of water and air will be unfit for him to use.

Time is here where the four nations of man needs to embrace life for it's future generations and where man becomes one with Mother Earth.
If man wants to live in peace towards each other, he needs to reflect in a whole new way towards Mother Earth and recognise he only has one home.

james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MISHMOUNTAIN: The Delegation of the Manitoulin Treaty

2010-02-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

Title: The Delegation of the Manitoulin Treaty

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 20" x 16"

Price: ( SOLD )

Delegation of drafting a native treaty usually involved heads of state such as a soldier, medicine man, chief, government and religion representative. I was thinking these native treaties should be printed in a book format and show the world what the GREAT WHITE FATHER promised to the native people. The treaty I belong too wasn't honored 100 years and think the contract was reneged from the day it was written.

james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MISHMOUNTAIN: Sacred Burial Grounds of Goat Island

2010-02-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

Title: The Sacred Burial Grounds of Goat Island

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 20" x 16"

Price: ( SOLD )

MISHMOUNTAIN: MATRIARCH:

2010-01-29T14:21:00.001-08:00

Title: Matriarch
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 20" x 16"
Price: Sold

MISHMOUNTAIN: EARTH

2010-01-29T14:19:00.000-08:00

Title: Earth Mountain
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 20" x 16"
Price: SOLD

MISHMOUNTAIN: ON SACRED GROUND - 9-11 PROJECT

2009-12-14T13:23:00.011-08:00

Title: ON SCARED GROUND
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"
Sacred Ground: Mother earth has many locations where tragedy has struck some way or another and why the people of today do not see the people that passed through the spirit world at any age. The area's need to remind the people of today that these spirits need sacred ceremonies to arrive their new destination to the spirit world such as tobacco offering that is transferred into spiritual light of energy.

MISHMOUNTAIN: Spirit of Manitoulin ( MANITOU )

2009-12-14T11:57:00.011-08:00

Title: SPIRIT OF MANITOULIN - ( MANITOU )
Medicum: Acrylic, Diamond on Canvas
Size: 48" x 94"
Price: $ 225,600.00
james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MISHMOUNTAIN: Thunder Mountain

2009-12-14T11:57:00.009-08:00

Title: THUNDER MOUNTAIN
Medium: Acrylic, Diamond on Canvas
Size: 48" x 96"
Price: $ 230,400.00
james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MISHMOUNTAIN: EARTH CHILD

2009-12-14T11:57:00.007-08:00

Title: EARTH CHILD

Medium: Acrylic, Diamond on Canvas

Size: 54" x 65"

Price: $ 175,500.00

james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MISHMOUNTAIN: STRAWBERRY ISLAND

2009-12-14T11:57:00.005-08:00

Title: STRAWBERRY ISLAND
Medium: Acrylic,Diamond on Canvas
Size: 78" x 44"
Price: $ 171,600.00
james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MISHMOUNTAIN: NIAGARA ESCARPMENT

2009-12-14T11:57:00.003-08:00

Title: Niagara Escarpment
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 56" x 67"
Price: $ 187,600.00

MISHMOUNTAINS: BEAR CLAN

2009-12-14T11:57:00.001-08:00

Title: BEAR CLAN
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"
Price: ( SOLD )

The leadership we teach today by example will be the teachers for the next generation.

MISHMOUNTAIN: BELONGING

2009-12-14T11:56:00.018-08:00

Title: BELONGING
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"
Price: SOLD

MISHMOUNTAIN: THE COVE

2009-12-14T11:56:00.017-08:00

Title: THE COVE
Medum: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"
Price: $ 38,000.00

MISHMOUNTAIN: THE GUARDIAN

2009-12-14T11:56:00.015-08:00

Title: THE GUARDIAN

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 24" x 30"

Price: $ 38,500.00

If a child runs to it's mother after a clap of thunder, that means that child wants love in it's life and when a child runs to it's father, that means that child wants protection. This is only and example, what we do in our life journey is a life long thunderstorm so look out for them and protect them after all, there's only two people who can do it.

MISHMOUNTAIN: THE PASSAGE

2009-12-14T11:56:00.013-08:00

Title: THE PASSAGE
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24: x 30"
Price: SOLD

MISHMOUNTAIN: Phillip Edward Island

2009-12-14T11:56:00.011-08:00

Title: PHILLIP EDWARD ISLAND
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 36" x 48"
Price: SOLD - ( 2011 updated needed Peter )
james.mishibinijima@gmail.com

MISHMOUNTAIN: TAMARACK

2009-12-14T11:56:00.001-08:00

Title: Tamarack

Mediumz: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 24" x 30"

Price: SOLD

MISHMOUNTAIN: SQUAW ISLAND

2009-12-14T11:55:00.012-08:00

Title: SQUAW ISLAND
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"
Price: SOLD

MISHMOUNTAIN: BE BE POINT

2009-12-14T11:55:00.011-08:00

Title: BE BE POINT
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 20" x 16"
Price: SOLD

MISHMOUNTAIN: SPIRIT COVE

2009-12-14T11:55:00.009-08:00

Title: SPIRIT COVE
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 20" x 16"
Price: SOLD

MISHMOUNTAIN: " My ROCK " of POPE JOHN PAUL II

2009-12-14T11:55:00.007-08:00

Mishibinijima International was asked to bring Pope John Paul II portrait personally to the Vatican and my crate survived the airline bagage system, another proof of Mishibinijima International Shipping Crates.

Title: " MY ROCK " of Pope John Paul II
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"
Price: $ 250.00 each print and less that 100 left
His Holiness John Paul II ask Mishibinijima to present this painting to him personally.

MISHMOUNTAIN: THE INLET

2009-12-14T11:55:00.005-08:00

Title: The INLET

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 36" x 24" = 91.5 cm x 61 cm

Price: No longer available for public viewing

MISHMOUNTAIN: The Daughter

2009-12-14T11:55:00.003-08:00

Title: The Daughter

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 36" x 24"

Price: $ 43,200.00

MISHMOUNTAIN SERIES

2009-12-14T11:54:00.001-08:00

Why would an artist place a diamond into his paintings and landscapes? If the landscapes reveal the living. sacred earth, what hidden aspect would a diamond convey?
When the Buddha realized Enlightenment, how did he know it? Legend tells us that this question was asked of him and he answered by pointing to the earth upon which he sat- the earth was withness to the moment of realization. The flash of realization, like reflection of a diamond, is not reached in stages or steps. Realization is sudden, the infinite is perceptable.

James Simon MISHIBINIJIMA transcends all duality-and decends into the vital center of consciousness-to the very experience of ultimate reality. What is the experience of infinity? What does the point of contact to ultimate reality look like? What does the artist see when he sees the union of the infinite source to the infinite earth, and himself?

The light of sudeen, ultimate realization is beyond thought and feeling. Alan W.Watts introduced Western consciousness to this experience when he wrote of Oriental Metaphysics in his 1957 publication " The Supreme Identity. (Nooday Press,NY,Sixth printing,1966). Watts defines metaphysic as the " imediate realization of ultimate reality which is the ground and cause if the universe, and thus the principle and meaning of human life..."(page 18)

The introduction of eastern philosophy is much closer to the spiritual consciousness of the Anishinabe culture, which may be the reason that westerners have been unable to recognize that the native people had a religion or culture at all.

Watts writes"in this realm religious and theological distinctions are transcended, not annihilated....difficult and dark from access of light as this realm may be... it is here that man actually realizes his ultimate meaning of destiny. If only relativity few ever reach this point at any one time, they anchor the rest of us to eternal sanity."(p.14)

Within this realm Mishibinijima places the experience of reality into the perception of reality - by placing a Diamond into a landscape. The preception is the experience - the Shamanic experience and Shamanic perception are revealed simultaneously, in the realm of timelessness in which they occur. How could he reveal this experience more completely, or more beautiful?

Knowledge of the infinate is rare but universal. the infinate, like art, speaks a universal language. The Anishinabe culture - very much alive - is oriented to the cosmological. It's unity, harmony. and balance is deliberate: "related to the untimate meaning and nature of the universe. Man... is seen a microcosm inseparably bound up with the macrocosm..." as Watts describes traditional cultures. (p.28)

Watts goes on to say " Societies of this kind have already exisited... there are the best reasons for saying that such societies are far more stabe and significant than our own. By "significant " we mean that they are related to universals. In the highest sense, that is significant which is related to the universal and eternal, which find it's true in the fullness of " Infinate Being."

James Simon MISHIBINIJIMA reveals this conciousness in his paintings and extends the experience of this consciousness in : The Diamond Series". The diamond is placed in the position that a dot inside an ancient Anishinabe pictograph is placed, to signify Gitchi Manitou- the Great Spriit.

The dot may be described as Watts describes it: "Many of the terms for the infinate employed in the various metaphysical traditions signify nothing so much as pure consciousness - the Self - the Light, Universal Mind... and even the void..., which Mahayana Buddhism denotes not so much mere emptiness as an absolute clarity and transparency. (p.57)

The Diamond. placed in this way, reveals the consciousness to see the Earth as scared and alive. This orientation to the infinate in Anishinabe spiritual culture is the orientation and consciousness of James Simon MISHIBINIJIMA.

Mishibinijima and E.C.Lewis Copyright 2008