Obituary – Eddy Cobiness

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Clean simple lines mark artist's work, Winnipeg Eddy "Doc" Cobiness, a renowned Aboriginal Manitoba artist, died Jan. 1, 1996 of heart and kidney failure at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.

He was 62. Cobiness, a treaty Ojibwa, was born and raised in Warroad, Minn. He enlisted in the United States army in 1957, where he was a Golden Glove Boxer. Upon serving his term, Cobiness returned to Warroad where he worked as a fisherman, pulpcutter and accomplished artist. At one time, Cobiness had a studio in Buffalo Point on the shore of Lake of the Woods.

When he was taken ill in 1974, he moved to Winnipeg. He suffered a heart attack in 1994, had diabetes, and last September fell in the bathroom and broke his hip. Complications from this surgery led to his death. Cobiness was one of the Aboriginal Group of Seven, also known as the Woodlands Group of Seven.

Other artists in this group include such talent as Daphne Odjig, Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray, Jackson Beardy, Alex Janvier and Joe Sachez. Cobiness was known for his stylized images of animals whose essence he could capture in a few brush strokes. In an interview with Windspeaker in 1992, Cobiness told reporter David Hickey he was influenced y the painting of Picasso, his lines and use of color. Cobiness is survived by Helen, his wife of 34 years; sons, Eddy Jr., Ernest, Elmer and Elliott; daughters, Rose, Judy, Cindy and Bernice; and numerous grandchildren.