IN MEMORIAM: NORVAL MORRISSEAU

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NORVAL MORRISSEAU (1931-2007)
"We Are All One in Spirit"

NORVAL MORRISSEAU AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE IMAGE MAKERS /Excerpts/

... "It may seem surprising that Indian art in Canada has had such a long struggle for recognition. There are a number of reasons for this neglect. First and foremost, the term "Indian art" has been carelessly defined to include those many and varied arts and crafts that have been created by Indians to reflect their traditional cultures. It is important for the understanding of Indian art that the period of time be specified when discussing any work, because since the time of European contact there has been no "pristine" Indian art that has never been modified or influenced by the dominant Euro-Canadian culture.

This essay explores three areas of Indian art - ceremonial art, the crafted arts, and the new art, examining some of the forces that eventually led to the recognition and recent acceptance of Indian art. It is intended to provide an historical perspective to the development of Indian art generally in Canada, and more specifically to provide the historical context for the acceptance of the style of painting originated by Norval Morrisseau."...

Tom Hill - a Seneca from the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario, is Museum Director at the Woodland Indian Cultural Educational Centre in Brantford. An artist and graduate of the Ontario College of Art, he worked for eight years for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in Ottawa, primarily as Head of the Cultural Secretariat. Beginning in 1978 he was with the Toronto Office of the Secretary of State, responsible for the Native Citizens' Program, and with the Multicultural Directorate, responsible for the visual and performing arts. He has written many articles on Native art and has organized Indian art exhibitions for travel to Brazil, Europe, and Japan.

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... "This book is a visual journey following one man's search for a style that would bridge two cultures, a style that could communicate the essence of Ojibwa values and perceptions to contemporary Native and non-Native viewers alike. In the course of his career, or spirit quest, Norval Morrisseau's work has evolved, as have his own beliefs and paths of self-knowledge. He has been joined on his journey by other artists also concerned with redefining their Indianness and with transmitting Indian culture to new generations. In this book we examine their particular style, but do not do full justice to any single artist."...

Elizabeth McLuhan - a Curator of the Thunder Bay National Exhibition Centre and Centre for Indian Art, a public gallery devoted to contemporary Indjan art. Previously she spent seven years as Native Arts Consultant for the governmentof Ontario, and has worked at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. She holds an M.A. in Indian and Inuit Art History from the University of New Mexico, and has published many articles and organized exhibitions on Native art. She, also, is a committee member of the NORVAL MORRISSEAU HERITAGE SOCIETY (NMHS).

Source: NORVAL MORRISSEAU AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE IMAGE MAKERS; ISBN: 0-458-97390-4, Art Gallery of Ontario, 1984 /Methuen Publications/
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Note: This book is recommended for better understanding of the Anishnaabe/Woodland Art Movement and development of art of Norval Morrisseau. /Out of print but could be found at www.abebooks.com /
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* The painting in this posting: "Homage to Morrisseau", 24"x 20", painted 1979-1980, is an authentic work of © Saul Williams. The image of Saul Williams' painting was used for the front cover of the above mentioned book /Private Collection/