This is a Canadian documentary on native artist Beau Dick. I have a background in fine arts, so I was interested when I was asked to go see this film. I studied the fine arts in the early 1990's at college and frankly there was little studying of native artists. I had never heard of Dick and after viewing this I wonder how that was possible.
The documentary starts out with Dick at his studio. We see many of his pieces of art and it is undeniable that Dick is prolific and a master of his craft. Little by little, we are shown his native roots. We see that he is an important leader in his community.
Then we see Dick the humanist. I found the strength of the doc to be found in this middle section. We see amazing native ceremonies. Then Dick and other humanists take a massive walk to the British Columbia legislature for the breaking of the copper. Which is a symbolic shaming of the government. They care about the earth, all the animals, all the people, and are concerned about the government gutting environmental protections, and how corrupt corporate concerns are placed above those of the people, the animals, and the land.
The pinnacle of the film for me was an interview with Dick's daughter. The group stand on the legislature's steps and she talks about finding strength in meeting other people who think like her and her father. I was moved to tears because I feel many of us have felt the same way. We watch a society around us that hunts for status through material gain. It appears an unstoppable monster that will ultimately destroy the earth. How can my voice be heard?
My only criticism (and it's a minor one) was the final third of the film where we meet collectors and gallery directors who value Dick's work. I suppose this is to legitimatize his work in the main stream art world. Frankly, I didn't care if some wealthy collector from Vancouver loved Dick's work. Because Dick's importance as a man goes far beyond his art.
The capitalists will point out that Dick is nothing because he had no material wealth. Yet how could you watch this and not see the depth of his character. He has such a rich, fulfilling life. For me he is a wise man, a visionary. The best values that humanity has to offer and we could use many more just like him.
