IceBear, Chippewa Nation. IceBear is from the Ojibway nation and a member of the Chippewas of Nawash at Cape Croker on Georgian Bay, Ontario. As a child, the elders say he was never without a drawing tool in his hands, always making pictures. They say he was born ‘Dreamer’, or one who listens to people tell of their dreams, and draws them pictures in the sand, to help them understand.
As a teenager, Chris attended the Toronto Artist’s Workshop and later, Sheridan College, both of which furthered his future career in the arts. After college, he went to work in the advertising and communications industry, spending the next 25 years as a designer and art director in Toronto and Vancouver.
With his arrival on the west coast, in the early 80s, he felt a growing need to follow his dreams, and fulfill his “responsibilities” and give the Visions which constantly filled his mind the chance to materialize. He moved to Vancouver Island, adopting the name Ice Bear for his art, and made a personal commitment to fine art.