Meet Artist Roy Henry

Saturday, June 22nd, 2024

Celebrating National Indigenous History Month 2024

Roy Henry with carvings

The artist with his "Dawn Song" carving

Dear Friends of Indigena,

In the month of June we celebrate National Indigenous History Month, honouring the many valuable contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Gallery Indigena is pleased to be showcasing a collection of early works by Haudenosaunee stone sculptor Roy Henry, a member of the Onondaga-Cayuga Nation.

On Saturday, June 22nd, Roy and his wife Fran will be visiting the Gallery. At 11:00am, Roy and Fran together will give a short presentation. Fran speaks Cayuga and teaches the language; Roy is a talented singer and carver and will give a carving demonstration outside the gallery until 4:00 pm.

The carvings in this exhibition were carved by Roy almost 30 years ago. Indigena was fortunate to purchase this earlier collection, and part of the proceeds will be shared with the artist.

Roy is an innovative and self-taught artist who embarked on his creative journey at the young age of twelve. He currently resides on his homeland, the Six Nations of the Grand River.

Roy's wife, Fran Henry, is actively engaged in teaching the Cayuga and Onondaga languages. Both Roy and Fran impart knowledge about the Haudenosaunee traditional longhouse ceremonies and songs to the younger members of their community, ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage and artistic traditions for years to come.

Enjoy viewing the following carvings. We look forward to seeing many of you in the gallery next Saturday.

Sincerely,

Erla, Doug and Patti

Moon Woman

Roy Henry

Brazilian Soapstone

13.5" x 9" x 12" (60328-S)

$3000

The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) society is based on a matrilineal system. It is through the female line that kinship is traced. Women are the clan mothers and leaders who play a major role in social and political activities.

Dawn Song

Roy Henry

Brazilian Soapstone

23" x 8" x 9" (60329-S)

$2800

Each Nation has their own sacred song. The “Dawn Song” belongs to the Seneca nation. The above carving shows a figure chanting while holding a seed rattle to welcome the daylight.

Keeper of the Hiawatha Belt

Roy Henry

Brazilian Soapstone

12" x 9" x 13" (60336-S)

$2800

Hiawatha was the founder of the Great Law of Peace, which lead to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, one of the longest established democracies on the planet. Hiawatha was the Peacemaker, bringing together the Five Nations, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and the Seneca, under the Great Law of Peace. In 1722, the Tuscarora joined the Five Nations, becoming what we now know as the Six Nations.

Unity

Roy Henry

Brazilian Soapstone

13" x 7" x 17.5" (60327-S)

$2500

The Five Nations Belt is illustrated in the above carving as five carved triangles along the side of the sculpture.

Corn Sister

Roy Henry

Brazilian Soapstone

11" x 10" x 17.5" (60335-S)

$2000

Corn was gifted from the Creator to the women in Haudenosaunee society. Women were considered to be strong and would look after the corn, growing and preserving it to continuously feed His people.

Birth of Good and Evil

Roy Henry

Brazilian Soapstone

5.5" x 15" x 27" (60331-S)

$3200

Sky Woman gave birth to twins.

"Even prior to their birth, these two sons are in conflict. The good twin is born in the natural way, while his evil brother, jealous of his sibling's being born first, pushes himself out his mother's side. The birth of the twins marks the beginning of the battle of good and evil on earth. The brothers grow quickly and begin to fill the world with their creations. One creates all that is good and useful to humans, while the other is destructive, and creates all that is bad. Eventually the good twin defeats his evil brother, and banishes him to a pit under the earth. From this pit the evil twin sends emissaries that continue to bring evil into the world."

-Vincent Bomberry, Artist, Six Nations

Thanking Grandmother

Roy Henry

Brazilian Soapstone

15" x 23" x 18" (60330-S)

One of the pleasures of working in the Gallery is reuniting art with the artist. This piece was originally called "Grandmother," and when Roy was here recently he said, "This really should be called 'Thanking Grandmother.'"

Gallery Indigena

69 Ontario St.

Stratford, Ontario

519-271-7881

www.galleryindigena.com

Remember - Art is Duty Free