Arnold Isbister

Cultural Background: Plains Cree Tribe, Ahtahkakoop, central Saskatchewan

Arnold attended the International Banff Centre of Fine Arts. In 1975, he enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. In his 3rd year, Arnold switched his major to psychology and in his 4th year, he was employed by the Regional Psychiatric Centre (a federal penitentiary) from 1980 – 1995.

In 1995, he re-established himself as an artist with an updated portfolio and enlightened perspective to his ideology in art. He resumed his abstract, surrealism, and expressionism instructed by the likes of Tak Tanabe, Graham Coughtry, Mary Ann Bobak. He was accepted for exhibitions in SOHO, Nashville, Seattle and New Jersey. Nationally, he exhibited in Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver; including his one-man show at the Wanuskewin Heritage Museum with HRH Prince Charles being present, where Arnold officially presented the prince with one of his paintings.

Writing has now been an integral part of his art, with a book being released though Wingate Press in June 2005 titled “Stories Moshum & Kokum Told Me” and this book was also shortlisted for the “ Aboriginal-Book-Of-The-Year”. He has now combined his paintings, his culture and short stories into a book of storytelling. One of his paintings was acquisitioned by a national jury for the permanent collection of the National Indian Art Centre in Ottawa. Poems, prose/verse are now also part of his portfolio. A novel, “Stirbugs & Screws” has been published in 2011.

Arnold was also employed contractually as a Visual Arts Teacher for troubled youth and continues helping emerging artists. Reaching and teaching these problematic young adults was something he loved and cherished. Arnold teaches native art, literature, story telling and how history and culture are passed on through cultural customs.

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Origine Culturelle: Plains Cree Tribe, Ahtahkakoop, central Saskatchewan

Arnold a étudié au Centre International des Beaux-Arts de Banff. En 1975, il s’inscrit à l’Université de la Saskatchewan dans le programme de baccalauréat en beaux-arts et en 3ème année, il fait une majeure en psychologie et en 4e année a travaillé pour le Centre Régional Psychiatrique (un pénitencier fédéral) de 1980 à 1995.

En 1995, il se rétablit en tant qu’artiste avec un portfolio amélioré et une perspective éclaircie à son idéologie de l’art. Il poursuit dans l’ abstrait, le surréalisme, et l’expressionnisme instruit par des gens comme Tak Tanabe, Graham Coughtry, Mary Ann Bobak. Il a appliqué et a été accepté pour des expositions à SOHO, Nashville, Seattle et New Jersey. Au niveau national, il expose à Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton et Vancouver, y compris son one-man show au Musée du patrimoine Wanuskewin où le Prince Charles était présent lorsque Arnold a présenté officiellement un de ses tableaux au Prince.