"Copper Thunderbird": Norval Morrisseau

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Video compiled by "Mudhooks"

About this video:

"Norval Morrisseau is the creator of the Woodland School of Native art, a style which interweaves traditional aboriginal themes, iconography and beliefs in a unique artistic style. Norval Morrisseau, himself, was acknowledged as Grand Shaman of the Ojibway and fought against both disapproval from the Native community (for his use of spiritual themes) and bias in the traditional art community. His perseverance lead him to become the first Aboriginal artist to have a solo show at the National Gallery of Canada*, to receive the Order of Canada, and to be bestowed with an honorary Doctorate from McMaster University.

He has influenced three generations of Aboriginal artists.

* His solo show at the NGC is historic and heralded the "breaking of the race-barrier" at this institution. The NGC holds many works of art by aboriginal people, including the largest collection of Inuit sculptures in Canada. However, they have traditionally not been seen as equal in artistic merit to European art. Even the works of African American artists and artists from Asia have been shown along side that of "European" (ie "white" artists) while Native artists and their works have been sidelined, more considered for anthropological value that their true artistic merit.

Even while Morrisseau was accepted as a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art, the National Gallery was deferring his art to the Museum of Civilization."

"Mudhooks"

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The author of this compilation placed several comments on "You Tube":

-"It is interesting that, despite it being a very simplistic style, there are only a few artists who are able to make it so powerful. Even in something as basic as a pair of baby birds, Norval managed to give them such personality and spirit." ;

-"Norval was the quintessential "self-destructive genius". On one hand, he was a self-taught master and a shaman with deep insight into the spiritual world of his people... on the other, an alcoholic who, at one point, lived on the streets selling doodles for a few dollars for booze. He always said that the alcohol gave him his visions...";

-"While he was living on the streets the CBC, I believe it was, did a documentary on his life and unfortunately chose to air a very degrading scene of him being hauled off the streets by his friends, pants falling off him, sick... it was offensive. I wrote a letter of protest saying that is was an indignity that no human being deserved when they chose to air that segment. I am still sickened by the callousness."

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Notes: 2nd painting (in video) has to be rotated 90 degrees CW while 42nd painting is to be mirrored about vertical axis to view correctly; 35th painting titled "Togetherness" (18"x15", 1978) is an original work of the renowned Anishnaabe artist Roy Thomas (1949-2004).

* "You Tube" presentation

* To view all "You Tube" presentations on the NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG click HERE.