Celebrating Ned Bear

Gallery On Queen invites you to join us in Celebrating Ned Bear on Saturday, March 7, starting at 2PM. Alongside family, friends and dignitaries, we want to honour his legacy with a celebration of his life and his formidable presence as an iconic artist that history will remember him for generations.

The humanity, beauty, vulnerability and strength of his work, all qualities that he embodied as a human being, will continue to communicate to audiences for years to come.

Ned Bear was a master carver from the Wolastoqiyik First Nations Community in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Ned Bear has made significant contributions as an instructor of Native art and culture, a curator, a guest speaker, and a juror. He has served as the Director of Education for Saint Mary’s First Nation and as a member of the New Brunswick Arts Board. In 2006, he won first prize at the prestigious Face the Nation competition at the UC Davis Design Museum.

“We delve into so many past wrongs of our lives that we forget to revel in the present. Learn to capture what you may never have again, now! Do what makes you content for this time, and begin to realize the true purpose of life.” – Ned Bear

For the Celebration of Ned Bear, opening remarks and a eulogy will be given by Saint Mary’s Chief Polchies and John Leroux. Ned’s daughter Charity will be reading a poem he had written, and Sisters of the Drum will be performing. Everyone is welcome to join us for this celebration, and we encourage anyone to share their own stories of Ned Bear.

We also want to give a very special thanks to the Saint Mary’s Council and the Chief for generously sponsoring the reception and the entertainment for this wonderful event.