Waterbird's Nest: Featured Performer

Dale Auger

Dale Auger: On Art, Blood and Kindred Spirits
by Terri Mason

Defining Dale Auger in one sentence is akin to releasing the colours of a diamond in one cut. It can’t be done. It’s the many facets that release a diamond’s true brilliance, as it is the many facets of Auger’s life, education, ancestry, experiences and beliefs that have shaped and polished his work into the internationally acclaimed and collected artist that he is today.

Born a Sakaw Cree from the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta, Auger’s education began as a young boy when his mother would take him to be with the elders. “I used to say to myself, ‘Why is she leaving me with these old people?’ – but today I see the reason; I was being taught in the old way.”

Auger’s respect for traditional teachings led him on a journey to study art, opening the door to a doctorate in education. He is a talented playwright, speaker and visual artist whose vividly coloured acrylics have captured the attention of collectors that reads like an international ‘Who’s Who’ spanning English to Hollywood royalty. The essence of his work is communication, and now Dr. Auger has come full circle, interpreting the life of his culture – from the everyday to the sacred - through the cross-cultural medium of art.

Read the rest here:

http://www.daleauger.com/printversionbio.cfm

Monday, February 25, 2008

Featured Performer - Mark Thunderwolf

Mark ThunderWolf is a Native American flutist and recording artist of Lakota and Eastern Band Cherokee Wolf Clan descent. He was born in Chattanooga, TN, the son of a musician who had mastered many instruments during his lifetime. As a child, Mark watched and listened to his father play guitar, fiddle, organ and piano all by ear. Mark often dreamed of being a musician on stage and as a teenager bought an acoustic twelve-string guitar and later a dobro acoustic guitar but never quite connected with either instrument. While in high school he was given a harmonica and quickly mastered it playing along with popular songs on the radio. Over the years he jammed with friends and bands at bars and made many guest appearances with local bands across the country but always felt something was missing.

In the spring of 2001 while working in southern California he visited a wolf sanctuary where the woman who ran it gifted him his first flute. Mark cannot read or write music but as his father had taught him to do with any instrument began playing by ear. It didn't take long to for him to learn the rudiments of the Native American instrument. As he practiced every weekend at the sanctuary the wolves, eagles, redtail hawks and ravens taught him how to connect to them though his flutes. He sold his beloved Harley-Davidson named "Ethel" and used the money to record his first CD, "Thru the Eyes…of My Brother" after playing for only eight months.

During the past six years Mark's Native American flute music has developed an explosive following across North America and the United Kingdom where he has been featured several times on the BBC World Series program and network. The Celtic regions of the UK and France air his music regularly and love the ethereal, haunting sounds of his music. His stage appearances and performances include the US and Canada, being the featured artist on NativeRadio.com and a recent interview with NPR, which aired in September and November of 2004. He has received nominations in the Native American Music Awards (NAMMY's), received 2nd Place for Best Album in the 2004 Just Plain Folks Music Awards in November 2004 and selected in 2005 as a showcase performer for the 17th Annual Folk Alliance International Music Conference in Montreal, Canada. Therapists, doctors and people everywhere are recognizing the healing quality of the meditative music that he is given by the animals and living elements of the earth.

Samples of his music can be found here: http://payplay.cd/mthunderwolf2