Wednesday, February 23, 2011

'Purchased from the artist - Norval Morrisseau'

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"Hill's Native Art Gallery Exposé"
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* North America's Largest Northwest Coast Native Art Gallery
--est. 1946
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Genuine Morrisseau painting 'Purchased directly from the artist'
at Hill's Native Art Gallery, 165 Water Street - Gastown, Vancouver, BC
© c. 1970s Norval Morrisseau /Click on image to Enlarge/
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~ Click HERE to view this painting as one of the artworks available for sale and used as an illustration for Hill's Native Art Gallery's brochure published for season 2006/2007 (see Page 2)
/File size: 3.13 MB/
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>>> As per conversation with Mr. Danny Pitt, who is Hill's Native Art's store manager on January 20th, 2011. I had confirmed with him that all Norval Morrisseau's artworks offered for sale at their gallery were purchased from Norval Morrisseau and his agent Gabor M. Vadas directly. As stated clearly in Hill's Native Art's policy that all art that they sell is aquired directly from the artists. Their policy can be found noted in 'Frequently Asked Questions' on their website at http://www.hillsnativeart.com/more/faq.php (see answers for FAQs No. 9, 10 & 13; or click HERE for additional info).
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Mr. Danny Pitt also confirmed that Hill's Native Art Gallery used the same artworks acquired directly from the artists as illustrations in their publications, such as the gallery's brochures as the one presented in this post (click HERE). He also informed me that the last time Norval Morrisseau came to their gallery was in 2005 for a book signing; "Norval Morrisseau: Returns to the House of Invention" published by Kinsman Robinson Galleries of Toronto, ON.
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The painting that shows up in the Hill's Native Art Gallery brochure (click HERE; Page 2) is a typical 1970's styled painting done by the late Norval Morrisseau. It was aquired by Hill's directly from the artist. Ironically this painting and many others like it were included in sworn affidavits (dated 2003-2005) to be not done by Norval Morrisseau?
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Below we have presented a comparison which clearly shows the similarity in excution and style of this painting. When one compares this painting at Hill's Native Art Gallery to all the other Genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings labeled as 'fakes and imitations' found listed in the affidavits we see that the affidavits are full of descrepencies and false information.
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This information leads us to believe that Gabor M. Vadas might have manipulated Norval Morrisseau on the affidavits. The affidavits list paintings in a 1970's style but at the same time we have here a painting of that style being sold and advertised quite nicely by Hill's Native Art Gallery aquired directly from the artist in the time period after the affidavits were signed by Norval Morrisseau?
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Ref.: The following Norval Morrisseau's sworn affidavits in 'PDF' format are involving the following galleries and/or individuals:
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1. Maslak McLeod Gallery, Toronto, Ontario (click HERE and HERE);
----/Signed by Norval Morrisseau on March 14th and April 24th, 2003/
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2. Artworld of Sherway, Toronto, Ontario (click HERE);
---/Signed by Norval Morrisseau on September 22nd, 2004/
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3. Gallery Sunami, North York, Ontario (click HERE);
---/Signed by Norval Morrisseau on November 30th, 2004/
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4. Bearclaw, Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta (click HERE);
---/Signed by Norval Morrisseau on April 8th, 2005/
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5. Randy Potter Auctions, Port Hope, Ontario (click HERE) &
---/Signed by Norval Morrisseau on November 30th, 2004/
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6. Mr. Gary Lamont, Thunder Bay, Ontario (click HERE).
---/Signed by Norval Morrisseau on November 30th, 2004/-


ADDENDUM #1:
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~ Dated April 24th, 2009
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This comment was placed on KRG blog on the same day after I published their post 'Will the real SpiritWalker please stand up?'. Which was published on their blog almost a year earlier. My response to their racial provocation was posted at the same time with my post 'The real Spirit Walker is standing up!'.
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~ I strongly recommend reading these two posts with all pertaining comments.
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The above presented comment was posted by the Kinsman Robinson Galleries on their blog http://genuinemorrisseau.blogspot.com. Which was removed on June 26th, 2009 by the Kinsman Robinson Galleries!? Their blog was reinstated on August 06, 2009, but this time it was opened to invited readers only. NOW it is active with all previous content deleted and directing readers to their twitter address at http://twitter.com/KinsmanRobinson.
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In the above posted KRG comment it was stated clearly by the Kinsman Robinson Galleries that 'disparging remarks on the NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG about KRG's professional reputation were both malicious and libellous' - I am only presenting the facts and inconsistencies which Kinsman Robinson Galleries continues to ignore because they have expressed full support of the affidavits listed above.-
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ADDENDUM #2:
/Comparisons/
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AUTHENTIC MORRISSEAU PAINTINGS LABELED AS A "FAKES" vs. AUTHENTIC NORVAL MORRISSEAU PAINTINGS from a catalogue "Norval Morrisseau: The Development of the Woodland School of Art" © Maslak McLeod Gallery, Toronto and were part of the Norval Morrisseau's sworn affidavit signed on April 24th, 2003 (click HERE and/or see 'Exhibit No. 13').
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/Click on image to Enlarge/-
------------------------------------Vs.
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/Click on image to Enlarge/
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OR see below for side-by-side comparison of genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings excluded from the 'fakes and imitations' list of the artwork presented in a catalogue "Norval Morrisseau: The Development of the Woodland School of Art", a genuine Morrisseau from Hill's Native Art Gallery and a genuine Morrisseaus which were offered for sale at Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery in 2005.
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-/Click on image to Enlarge/
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NOTE: One of the paintings presented in this collage ('Water Spirits', 1979) was defaced on January 27, 2010 by Bryant Ross who is director of Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery in Aldergrove, BC.
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However, this same painting was exhibited and offered for sale at Bryant Ross' 'Norval Morrisseau Online Gallery' on April 2005! Approximately five years after acquiring the piece from art dealer from Winnipeg, Mr. Anthony Martinenko and after all of the 'questionable' Norval Morrisseau's affidavits were signed!? Note that all of the affidavits were 'produced' from March 14th, 2003 to April 8th, 2005.
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Bryant Ross stated in his 'Norval Morrisseau Online Gallery' that "These paintings were guaranteed to be original and authentic and were obtained from the artist or authenticated by him." (click HERE for screen capture of the original web page as it appeared in May 2005 and/or click HERE for additional information).
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BLOG MASTER'S COMMENTS: The above 15 paintings (approx. 25% of 61 presented in Maslak McLeod Gallery's catalouge "Norval Morrisseau: The Development of the Woodland School of Art") as per 'Exhibit No. 13' are executed in a typical 1970's style: #2, #9, #11, #15, #20, #21, #22, #24, #28, #34, #35, #46, #49, #57 & #61. These paintings are not listed as 'fakes and imitations' in the affidavit by Norval Morrisseau dated 24 April 2003?
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Note that painting #34 titled "Ancestral Spirit with Evil Serpent" was labeled fake by Donald C. Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries in 'National Post' article from May 18, 2001 (see 'Exhibit No. 5'). This painting was excluded on April 24th, 2003 from the 'fakes and imitations' list of the Norval Morrisseau's sworn affidavit. This same painting titled "Ancestral Spirit with Evil Serpent" came proof positive to be signed by Norval Morrisseau as per forensic report (see 'Exhibit No. 10').
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Also, the painting #49 titled "Interdependents" which was labeled as a fake on March 14th, 2003 (see 'Exhibit No. 12') a month later was re-labeled as an authentic Norval Morrisseau painting but this time re-titled as "Arrangement in Blue" on April 24th, 2003 (see 'Exhibit No. 13')?
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ADDITIONAL NOTES: In statement from the art collectors Tammy and John MacDougall, from Hamden, Connecticut directed to Mr. Joseph McLeod of Maslak Mcleod Gallery and referring to the paintings listed in a catalouge "Norval Morrisseau: The Development of the Woodland School of Art" it is clear that Mr. Donald C. Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries brings up the issue of having a strict provenance traceable back to the artist as a central feature of his argument. Without this as per Mr. Robinson's words: "the piece had virtually no value". Mr. Robinson even stated that many pieces from the 1970's were 'fakes' and he further supports this ideal by mentioning the fact that Norval Morrisseau has provided several signed affidavits as listed above (see 'Exhibit No. 14').
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Also, Mr. Robinson purchased many of these 1970's paintings at Kahn Auctions, later 'Randy Potter Estate Auction' in Port Hope, Ontario (see 'Exhibit No. 4'). It is funny that this same auction house where Mr. Robinson purchased his Morrisseaus now calling them 'fakes' were appraised and authenticated by his own gallery as being 'authentic' (see 'Exhibit No. 8').
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• How could these two geniune Norval Morrisseau's artworks be proclaimed 'fakes and imitations' and at a later date be labeled as 'authentic'?
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• How could Norval Morrisseau together with his manager Gabor M. Vadas label these paintings 'fakes and imitations' in the above presented affidavits and at the same time exclude a large number of genuine paintings, painted in the predominant style of the 1970s from the 'fakes and imitations' list?
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• How could Norval Morrisseau together with his manager Gabor M. Vadas label these paintings 'fakes and imitations' in the above presented affidavits while they were still selling the same paintings also of the predominant style of the 1970s through Hill's Native Art Gallery in Vancouver BC and Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery in Aldergrove BC as identified above?
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• How could Kinsman Robinson Galleries support these affidavits which are full of inconsistencies (see material presented above and posted reference links below)?
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• These affidavits clearly indicate questionable behaviours by both Gabor M. Vadas and Norval Morrisseau? Or did Gabor M. Vadas manipulate Norval Morrisseau into signing these affidavits for profitable reasons? The decrepencies in the affidavits show that Gabor M.Vadas and Norval Morrisseau have been cought in the act of market espionage? Which is what the Norval Morrisseau Conspiracy is all about.
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• Would you as a collector trust the veracity of these affidavits or would you question them?
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CLOSING STATEMENT: I am dissapointed that Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society (est. 2005) is not honouring their mission statement:
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"The Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society was established at the request of Norval Morrisseau to research, document and preserve his artistic achievement and protect the integrity of his art. It seeks to achieve this mission by establishing and maintaining a registry of his works, publishing and updating a catalogue raisonne of his artistic output and providing the necessary expertise to authenticate his art."
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Mission Statement-
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Why are they silent? Is their silence approval for what has been happening in the Norval Morrisseau Art Market? If they truly care in "protecting the integrity of Norval Morrisseau's art" they would need to speak up. Their silence is hurting the legacy of the man they are supposed to protect and the longer they wait to publish a public statement regarding this matter presented herein, the longer the legacy of Norval Morrisseau will suffer.
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Ugo Matulić a.k.a. Spirit Walker
/spiritwalker2008@gmail.com/
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>>> Reference posts:
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* The acrylic paintings on canvas in the beginning of this post: "Title not Known", © c. 1970's Norval Morrisseau /Private Collection/
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