Recommended readings (Part X)

-

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
"Shaman's Astral Journey in a Dream State", © 1995 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/
-
-
>>> Book Review
-
"Norval Morrisseau: Travels to the House of Invention"
© 1997 by Norval Morrisseau/Kinsman Robinson Galleries
Key Porter Books Limited, ISBN: 1-55013-880-4
-
-
Norval Morrisseau: Travels to the house of invention
Published in Windspeaker* on 11/01/1997-

I remember when I first saw a Norval Morrisseau painting up close. I was in an art gallery in Edmonton, casually looking over the paintings and sculptures, when I rounded this little corner and saw his painting. It was breathtaking. What struck me right away was the fantastic array of colors. I was overwhelmed by the colors. I couldn't take my eyes away from it. The images, the forms and lines started to register in my eyes later, but nothing was as impressive as the colors in this painting.
-
Morrisseau at the time had become something of a cause celebre in Edmonton. He had been seen on the streets, selling his paintings for bottles of booze. Sadly, that was just another battle he was losing in his war with alcohol. A photo of him sitting on the sidewalk with a small canvas on his lap ran in one of the local newspapers. To be honest, he did not look very good.
-
That image of him, drunk and homeless, contradicted with this glorious painting that was mesmerizing me with its color.
-
Now, many years later, Key Porter books has published a book filled with his paintings, both recent and archival, as well as some essays he's written about his art. The 66-year-old Ojibway artist, who now lives in Vancouver, is just as prolific as ever.
-
Once again, the power of his colors struck me. The paintings are well reproduced in the book, but they're much smaller and lose some of the power of the originals. These prints will impress you, but they are just a small taste of Morrisseau's talent.
-
His paintings are full of lines, connecting all the forms and images together. The beings within the paintings, whether animals, humans, plants or spirits, are either emerging from one another or connected by the lines.
-
The philosophy is very simple: all things are connected and are full of life.
-
But his essays about the House of Invention that give us some other insight into his art.
-
"Before the settlers and priests came from the Old World in Europe, the Native people all over America used their imaginations freely. There was a vast amount of culture. I believe the people were going to the House of Invention. By being unconditioned they were able to travel easily on the inner highways, right to the source of all knowledge and invention."
-
Morrisseau is not just an artist, he's a Grand Shaman. He's depicting dreams and visions that he's had whenever he visits the House of Invention. To him, this is the place were all human creativity comes from - it is the source all the inventions and works of art that humans will create.
-
The House of Invention also determined his incredible use of color.
-
"Color will make things brighter. We can learn how to heal people with color. The House of Invention gave me the color... All the color spectrum was there. So this is soul imprinted or imbued with all these colors. That's how you come to be a master of color. My art reminds a lot of people of what they are. They heal themselves."
-
As someone who's seen one of his original paintings, I can testify to the "healing" aspect of his work. His work warms you, calms you and mesmerizes you. Recent discoveries in psychology have determined that colors can affect mood. As far as Morrisseau is concerned, colors can also physically heal you.
-
Morrisseau is one of the most gifted artists this country has ever produced. As far as I'm concerned, the raw emotional power his work conveys rivals Picasso and Van Gogh. If they don't enrich your soul, then there's something really wrong with you.
-
Author unknown
-
* - Windspeaker, Canada's National Aboriginal News Source is published by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) which serves Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal readers throughout Canada, and increasingly, around the world. As Windspeaker prepares to enter its 26th year of publishing, it is firm in its commitment to maintain a current, relevant, objective and independent viewpoint while reporting news, and providing information, current affairs and entertainment features with the utmost accuracy.
---
-

-
~ Book reviewed in this posting: "Norval Morrisseau Travels to the House of Invention"; © 1997 by Norval Morrisseau/Kinsman Robinson Galleries; Key Porter Books Limited, ISBN: 1-55013-880-4/

Michael Moniz vs. CTV Globemedia Publishing Inc. /Court action CV-07-1776 SR/

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

--

-

-

"Father and Son"... has proven to be an authentic piece of art painted by Norval Morrisseau in 1977

-

-

This matter has been financially compensated between Michael Moniz (plaintiff) vs. (defendents) CTV Globemedia Publishing Inc. for damages rendered to the plaintiff. Action No. CV-07-1776 SR in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Brampton, Ontario this day 03/10/2009.

"I am very pleased about the POSITIVE compensatory outcome of this case in my favour. Now that it has been settled between myself and the CTV Globemedia Publishing Inc. I will sell the art of Norval Morrisseau with continued superior confidence to collectors World Wide."

-

Thank you,

-

Michael Moniz."

--

-

-

-

Reference Posts:

- Injustice for Norval Morrisseau (Part I),

- Injustice for Norval Morrisseau (Part II),

- Injustice for Norval Morrisseau (Part III),

- Justice for Norval Morrisseau (Part I) &

- Justice for Norval Morrisseau Found.

-

* The painting in this post: "Father and Son" (acrylic on canvas), 30"x30", © 1977 Norval Morrisseau /Private Collection/... Sold on eBay by Michael Moniz vendor 'bluenova999' in January 2007. Current eBay ID - *avalon*.

> Bid safe and buy with confidence... Art is a good long term investment! <

The Art of Norval Morrisseau in Galleries and Museums Around the World (Part V)

-
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma
/Norman, Oklahoma, USA/
-
-

-


-


-


-


-
-
-
-
-
-
"Soryteller of the Ages", © 1970 Norval Morrisseau
-
-
"It is our Ojibwa tradition to recall our history or obtain our history in an oral manner. It is important for our children and others to benefit through the process of continuing to recall and make history."
-
Norval Morrisseau-
-

--
-
>>> Reference postings:
- The Art of Norval Morrisseau in Galleries and Museums Around the World (Part I),
- The Art of Norval Morrisseau in Galleries and Museums Around the World (Part II),
- The Art of Norval Morrisseau in Galleries and Museums Around the World (Part III) &
- The Art of Norval Morrisseau in Galleries and Museums Around the World (Part IV).
-
-
* The painting in this posting: "Storyteller of the Ages", acrylic on canvas, approx. 51"x69", © 1970 Norval Morrisseau /Collection of Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma, Norman, USA - Gift of Dr. and Mrs. R. E. Mansfield, 2003; The Bridgeman Art Library; Image: FJJ 256488/

Recommended readings (Part IX)

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ISBN: 0-7710-7975-3, © 1969 by Herbert T. Schwartz/Norval Morrisseau;
McClelland and Stewart Limited /Click on image to Enlarge/
-
-
Windigo
and Other Tales of the Ojibways
-
Herbert T. Schwarz/Norval Morrisseau
-
"The time has come for us to record the story of our people," writes Norval Morrisseau. "I listened to many of these stories and to our legends and ancestral beliefs as they were told to me by the wise men of the Ojibway. I wrote some of them on paper, and I drew and painted them as best I could for the Ojibway and for all the children of our white brothers to see."
-
Retold by Herbert T. Schwarz, here are eight legends of the Ojibway, illustrated in the traditional style of the tribe with two-colour drawings by the Ojibway artist, Norval Morrisseau.
-
Windigo, an Indian trapper, is transformed by an evil spirit into a giant with an insati­able appetite. Three young braves defy the traditions of their ancestors and climb the Forbidden Mountain, where they are be­witched by a Thunderbird Woman. Red Bird of the Ojibways and Medicine Turtle of the Assiniboines, both great chiefs and conjurors, battle to see whose magic is more powerful. Pantenata sympathizes with the strange being Paakuk and hears the eerie story of his sin, which condemned him "for hundreds of years to fly around and around the world, between the moon and the sun, day in and day out, till the world's end." Silver Cloud suddenly becomes a bright red mushroom, right before his brother's eyes. Beautiful Ishka-Maatuk flees from an unwanted mar­riage in her father's village. Whisky-Jack angers the water spirit Mishipeshu with his arrogance, and is swallowed by a monstrous trout. His greed for silver causes the white trader Balthazar to deceive the friendly In­dians, and incurs the wrath of the great god Manitou...
-
Morrisseau recounted the tales that in­spired his paintings, and from his descrip­tions, Herbert T. Schwarz has built an im­aginative collection of stories for readers, young and old alike. These are tales that will interest those already familiar with Indian lore as well as those discovering the Thunderbird or Manitou for the first time.
-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Herbert T. Schwarz
-
Born in England, Herbert T. Schwarz gradu­ated from Sheffield University Medical School and the University of London, then emigrated to Canada in 1950 at the age of twenty-eight. He taught first at Ottawa University Medical School, and in 1952 moved to Montreal to join the University Clinic of the Royal Vic­toria Hospital and the Donner Building for Medical Research at McGill University. He soon became fascinated by French-Canadian history and culture and in 1965, opened La Galerie Cartier, an antique shop in the an­cient residence of Jacques Viger, the first mayor of Montreal. A year later, while con­sultant to the Quebec Pavilion, Dr. Schwarz met the Ojibway artist Norval Morrisseau, and this book began.
-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Norval Morrisseau
-
Born at Sand Point Indian Reserve on Lake Nipigon, Norval Morrisseau, whose tribal name is Copper Thunderbird, is descendant of Ojibway chiefs. Morrisseau is a self-taught artist, and he was discovered by the art dealer Jack Pollock who arranged his first show in 1962 at The Pollock Gallery in Toronto. 'Time' magazine (Canadian edition) commented about the event that "Few ex­hibits in Canadian art history have touched off a greater stir."
-
As well as being the single source of graphic expression of Ojibway legend and myth today, Norval Morrisseau is one of the few initiated members of the tribe who is willing to act as an interpreter of Indian learning and lore. The journals he kept were edited by Selwyn Dewdney and published in 1965 as Legends of My People: The Great Ojibway. When the artist met Dr. Schwarz, he was executing a sixteen-foot-high mural for the Indian Pavilion at Expo 67. They struck up an immediate friendship-which led to Dr. Schwarz's retelling of the Ojibway stories, and Norval Morrisseau's illustrations.
-
-

-
* 'Windigo and other tales of the Ojibways' ; ISBN: 0-7710-7975-3, © 1969 by Herbert T. Schwartz/Norval Morrisseau; McClelland and Stewart Limited

Honouring Benjamin Chee Chee (1944 - 1977)

--

-

© lostguide1

-

-
Benjamin's Dream; Lyrics & Music by Don Charbonneau

--

Dedicated to the memory of Benjamin Chee Chee and these other wonderful native artists who have left us a part of their world. Some have caught their train (as we must all catch ours one day) some are still here sharing a part of their world with us and I thank these artists: Norval Morrisseau, Carl Beam, Sky Polson and Leonard Beam... /more below/-

-
I got these colours in my head

And put them down for you to see

From someplace I used to know

Someplace in my dreams someplace in my dreams

-
[Chorus]

I'm waiting for my train to take me out of here

Take me to a place a place where I belong

I'm waiting for my train to take me out of here

Take me to a place a place where I belong
-
I'm sitting on these hotel steps

Waiting for you to buy another piece of my world

For just enough to get me by

This is your world now and for me there's no escape

Unless I hold out my hand with these pictures for sale

-

[Chorus]

-

This world sure has changed I don't know it any more

I'm lost in a land I once knew so very well

I paint these pictures with my hand

So you will understand just where it is I'm going to

I paint these pictures with my hand

So you will understand just where it is I'm going to

-
[Chorus]
-

I got these colours in my head

And put them down for you to see

From some place I used to know

Someplace in my dreams someplace in my dreams-

-

... Dedicated to the memory of native artist Benjamin Chee Chee. I wrote this song a couple of years ago after hearing this story told to me by a gentleman from Ottawa... "a friend of mine bought many of Benjamin Chee Chee's sketches in Ottawa. He used to go for a drink on Friday after work at a local hotel... on several occasions the artist would be there selling some of his work..."

Don Charbonneau-

-

>>> Reference posting: Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part III).-

-

-

>"You Tube" presentation<

-

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

-

"The Beaver" article about Norval Morrisseau (Part I)

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
--
-
-
-
© c.1971 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/
-
NORVAL MORRISEAU
-
For more than a decade the bright bold art of Norval Morriseau has portrayed mythical figures from the folklore of his people. In the beginning his work was stylized, semi-abstract, a compro­mise between Ojibwa law that demands sacred beliefs be kept secret, and his own passion to record the legends of his people. In recent years the mythical figures have taken more substantial form. His favourite theme of the thunderbird man appears more solidly human; his patterns of deep bold colour hold the eye like sunlight on stained glass. Light fanciful butterflies sometimes appear in his work, a contrast to solidly massed colour and a delight to his children.
-
Morriseau, born in 1931 at the Sand Point Reserve on Lake Nipigon in northern Ontario, states simply that he is a born artist with no formal training. His only consistent schooling was two winters at the Indian Residential School at Fort William. As a young boy he spent many hours with his grandfather who told him legends that he in turn had heard from his grandfather. The spirit figures filled the boy's imagination; he covered the cabin walls with his drawings.
-
He was first encouraged to continue his drawing and painting when he was employed at the Cochenour gold mine at Red Lake. Dr. Joseph Weinstein, the medical officer was himself an artist of some talent and a collector of primitive art. Morriseau's first show was held at the Pollock Gallery in Toronto in 1962. His work has since been seen in a sixteen-foot-high mural at Expo '67 and in exhibitions in Canada and the United States as well as at Saint Paul de Vence, France.
-
In 1960 Morriseau wrote the legends of his people down on paper for Selwyn Dewdney who edited his book Legends of my People, the Great Ojibway, published in 1965. A second book Windigo and other tales of the Ojibways was published in co-operation with Dr. Herbert T. Schwarz in 1969.
-
Morriseau says of the mythical figures: 'I drew and painted them as best I could for the Ojibwa and for all the children of our white brothers to see'.
-
Source: 'The Beaver'*** - MAGAZINE OF THE NORTH;
---------->>> Issue of SUMMER 1971; Pages: 24 & 25;
----------*** - Currently 'The Beaver' - CANADA'S HISTORY MAGAZINE.
---------------
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
* Text/Image: © 1971, Hudson's Bay Company; Painting: © c. 1971 Norval Morrisseau

Sacred Medicine Wheel /Forensic Report/

-
>>> NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG & Protecting the Legacy of Norval Morrisseau continues...-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- -
- -
-
-
-
-
"Sacred Medicine Wheel", 24"x24", © 1975 Norval Morrisseau
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
"Sacred Medicine Wheel", 24"x24", © 1975 Norval Morrisseau
/Inscription on the reverse side of canvas - Click on image to enlarge/-

-

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- -
-
-
-
"Sacred Medicine Wheel", 24"x24", © 1975 Norval Morrisseau
/Forensic signature analysis - Click on image to enlarge/-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-- -
-
--
-
"Sacred Medicine Wheel", 24"x24", © 1975 Norval Morrisseau
/Forensic signature analysis - Click on image to enlarge/
-
-
~ Previous owner of the above painting: Mr. Michael Moniz, Art Director for 'Avalon Treasure', eBay Vendor *avalon*.
-
Along with professional appraisal work done by Maslak Mcleod Gallery in Toronto Ontario by Mr. Joseph McLeod a member of the Canadian Public Appraisers. Further forensic work was conducted and found proof positive for the signature painted in black paint on the verso of 'SACRED MEDICINE WHEEL' dated 1975 by Mr. Brian Lindblom of 'The Document Examination Consultants Inc.'.
-
The 'Document Examination Consultants Inc.' are noted for their forensic expertise and called upon by various law enforcement agencies such as the RCMP to conduct forensic examinations to be used in a court of law. Go to "Personnel" section of their website to access PDF version of Mr. Brian Lindblom's CV.
-
This type of work is forensics at it's best and is quite costly to employ. This kind of examination was done under the eye of un-biased professional scrutiny.
-
The forensics work can only be conducted using many publicly known signature and writing sample specimens of Norval Morrisseua's signature as it is found on prints, personal letters and publicly known artwork created by Norval Morrisseau.
-
All specimens of writing archived by the examiners were used in determining the author of the signature and title painted on the verso of 'Sacred Medicine Wheel'.
-
A positive Identification of the signature was made and determined that it was done by the hand of 'Norval Morrisseau' Canadian Woodland Artist through a multiple point grade system.
The painting 'Sacred Medicine Wheel' can be sourced back to Khan Auction (currently 'Randy Potter Estate Auctions') sold by Mr. Randy Potter (auctioneer) to Mr. Michael Moniz which was sold at a later date on eBay.
-
Two paintings once owned by Mr. Joseph Otavnik were also examined by the document examiners and one painting Mr. Michael Moniz once owned and one still in his possession (Father and Son, 1977 and Sacred Medicine Bear, 1979). These four other paintings were found once again to have positive signature identifications authored by the brush of Norval Morrisseau.
-
Forensic work was also employed by Mr. James White who is an art dealer from Toronto on six paintings he had examined by the same forensic firm 'The Document Examination Consultants Inc.' years ago. Mr. Joseph Otavnik and Mr. Michael Moniz have used the same firm for a forensic signature evaluation of the paintings from their collections. The six paintings owned by Mr. James White came back also with proof positive signatures painted on the verso of each piece authored by Norval Morrisseau.
-
All of these paintings including 'Sacred Medicine Wheel' came from Randy Potter's auction house and through Mr. David Voss, a Thunder Bay art collector.
-
Follow the link www.norvalmorrisseaulawsuit.com for an in depth exploration of a court case Otavnik vs Vadas SC 07-51428-00 and see for yourself the importance and power of forensic science.
-
Spirit Walker
spiritwalker2008@gmail.com -
-
-


Reference postings:
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part I),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part II),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part III),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part IV),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part V),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part VI),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part VII),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part VIII),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part I),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part II),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part III),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part IV),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part V),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part VI),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part VII),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLegalDefenceFund_com,
- Justice for Norval Morrisseau Found &
- Michael Moniz vs. CTV Globemedia Publishing Inc.
-
~ For detailed information on Norval Morrisseau's Signature Study go to "Signature Identification Article 101"
-
* The painting in this posting: "Sacred Medicine Wheel", 24"x24", © 1975 Norval Morrisseau /Private Collection/

Thunder Bay's Norval Morrisseau vs. Jack Pollock's Norval Morrisseau (Part I)

-

~ Exclusive Report ~

--
>>> NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG & Protecting the Legacy of Norval Morrisseau continues...
-

- - "Shaman Takes Form of Spirit",
acrylic on canvas, 85"x70", © 1970 Norval Morrisseau

> The above image of an original Norval Morrisseau's painting was previously part of Mr. Rolf Schneider's Private Collection
--(Thunder Bay, Ontario) /Click on image to Enlarge/

---NOTE: The image is distorted due to improper picture taking!

--

"Ojibway Shaman Takes Form of Water Spirit",
acrylic on coloured matt board, 16"x14", © 1978 Norval Morrisseau

> The above presented image of an original Norval Morrisseau's painting was originally published on page 160 of THE ART OF NORVAL MORRISSEAU ('Jack Pollock's Book') /Lister Sinclair, Jack Pollock, and Norval Morrisseau/; ISBN: 0-458-93820-3 /Toronto, Ontario: Methuen, 1979./ Collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilization (Previously National Museum of Man) /Click on image to Enlarge/-
-
>>> Mr. Bryant Ross, who is the gallery director of the Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery, said: "the fact is that none of these 'questionable' paintings has surfaced that has provenance back to the Pollock Gallery. It is odd that none have had a Pollock Gallery sticker on it. The Pollock Gallery was Morrisseau’s main dealer at that time but none of the paintings that went through there were of the style of the paintings in question. “The Art Of Norval Morrisseau”, by Jack Pollock and Lister Sinclair, the definitive book on Morrisseau’s work from the 70’s does not contain one piece in the 'questionable' style." (click HERE to read this full comment by Mr. Bryant Ross in its original context).

It is interesting that Mr. Bryant Ross considers 'questionable' works as qenerally dark and ugly and that you do not need to be an expert to pick out these 'abominations' (the adjective Norval Morrisseau used for them, according to Mr. Bryant Ross). He also states that they do not show the colour palette of a master painter like Norval Morrisseau and at his website www.coghlanart.com (go to the 'The Morrisseau Chronicles' > 'Question of Authenticity') he directs readers to visit www.morrrisseau.com for comparison between 'questionable' and authentic works of Norval Morrisseau.

>>> IMPORTANT NOTE:

Due to the fact that Mr. Rolf Schneider's name has been mentioned several times on the internet in not very respectful way I decided to 'speak up' and defend his name and his involvment with issues in connection with authentic Norval Morrisseau's art pieces that came from his private collection at one time or another. At the same time I am introducing individual that was selling paintings that originated from Mr. Rolf Schneider's collection - Mr. Anthony (Tony) Martinenko; art dealer from Winnipeg, Manitoba; who is an important element in describing many of the issues involving Norval Morrisseau's art that have been offered for sale all across Canada in the past decade. He took over art dealing activities from Alan (Al) R. Swanson (08/10/1947-11/05/1998) who dealt with paintings from Mr. Rolf Schneider's collection. Another individual who sold many paintings that originated from the same source was Darcy Boylan (also deceased) from Thunder Bay, Ontario.

>>> BLOG MASTER'S COMMENT:

The painting that was in Mr. Rolf Schneider's private collection had been better executed and was done in a much larger scale than the painting that is currently in the collection at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and painted on coloured matt board. Both paintings have similar titles 'Shaman Takes Form of Spirit' vs. 'Ojibway Shaman Takes Form of Water Spirit'. The painting from Mr. Rolf Schneider's collection was executed eight years earlier in 1970 vs. 1978. Mr. Schneider's painting was done by Norval Morrisseau in 1970 and was duplicated in theme and structure by Norval Morrisseau 8 years later as presented in 'Jack Pollock's Book'!

Note also that Norval Morrisseau signed in Cree syllabics and in English the canvas and dated it on front as well (signature matches signing style as per commissioned report on the signatures in English 'Norval Morrisseau' found on the front and back of other paintings by The Document Examination Consultants Inc.). He also painted the copyright symbol © on the front of the canvas as well.

The title - SHAMAN TAKES FORM FROM SPIRIT - was done in a typical way that he would sign paintings from the 1970's and other decades by drawing a dash before and after the title as per explanation in the posting Understanding Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part I) on this blog.

As we can see both of the paintings above are executed in almost identical composition which proves , more than once in the presentations on this blog, that Norval Morrisseau repeated many times his images. Quite contrary, Mr. Bryant Ross of the "Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery" stated that Norval Morrisseau never copied (repeated) his images.

>>> ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Mr. Rolf Schneider acquired paintings for his collection from different sources one of which was Mr. David Voss who also supplied paintings for the Kahn Auction (currently 'Randy Potter Estate Auctions').

Mr. Schneider's collection was one of the major sources of Norval Morrisseau's paintings that were supplied to different galleries all across Canada by Mr. Anthony Martinenko who supplied paintings even to Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery, Aldergrove, BC for many years (click HERE, HERE & HERE). Among other galleries Mr. Anthony Martinenko was supplying Norval Morrisseau's paintings to Maslak McCleod Gallery, Toronto, Ontario and Bearclaw Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta.

My first Norval Morrisseau's painting was purchased from Mr. Anthony Martinenko who acquired it from Mr. Schneider (click HERE).

'Grandfather Speaks of Great Ancestral Warrior' - 1977 (click HERE) came from Mr. Rolf Schneider's collection. This magnificent painting has been blatantly labelled as a fake by Mr. Gabe Vadas (click HERE) and 'Wikipedia' (click HERE). Mr. Jonathan Browne who is a current owner of the painting in question started a website www.MorrisseauBuyersBeware.com because he felt that gallery which sold him the painting witheld vital information concerning the provenance of the art piece which he beleived was not particularly ethical (click HERE for detailed explanation). Unfortunately Mr. Jonathan Browne's website is making more harm than good to the Norval Morrisseau's art market but I do appreciate his concerns regarding the matter.

All of the paintings presented in "The Writing On The Wall... Norval Morrisseau Conspiracy Exposed" (click HERE) were acquired directly from Mr. Rolf Schneider, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Mr. Anthony Martinenko was also seen selling Norval Morrisseau's paintings on 'eBay' that he acquired directly from Mr. Schneider (click HERE).

It is worth mentioning the Thunder Bay Art Gallery which holds among the other art pieces from the Helen E. Bend Collection had received in 2002 a donation of an oil painting on natural birch bark 'After Spirit of the Fourth' (Item: 02.3.1) > 24.8 cm x 26.2 cm > 1958 which was directly donated from Mr. Rolf Schnieder's Private Collection.

>>> INVITATION TO ALL READERS:

There are many of you who possess important valuable information such as paintings, photographs and other printed/written materials which will greatly assist our common goal. I urge you to provide this information to me for public record. Norval Morrisseau has become one of Canada's greatest all time artists and is recognized for his importance Worldwide.
-
Your assistance is needed now! Your actions will greatly benefit your art as an investment and safeguard Norval Morrisseau's Legacy.
-
Meegwetch,
-
Spirit Walker
/spiritwalker2008@gmail.com/--

-
>>> Reference postings:
- Understanding Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part I),
- Understanding Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part II),
- Understanding Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part III),
- Understanding Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part IV),
- Norval Morrisseau Comparison Report (Part I) /Separated at Birth?/,
- Norval Morrisseau Comparison Report (Part I) /Revisited/,
- Morrisseau History Detective Stories (Part I),
- Morrisseau History Detective Stories (Part II),
- Morrisseau History Detective Stories (Part III),
- "The Writing On The Wall... Norval Morrisseau Conspiracy Exposed",
- www.NorvalMorrisseauLegalDefenceFund.com &
- Justice for Norval Morrisseau Found. -
-

David Voss about Donald Robinson

-
> Norval Morrisseau Conspiracy Exposed <
--
~ Previously published as one of the www.NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit.com postings
--/See the links listed below/

- - -
-
-
-
-
--
-
-

"Battle for Life", © 1978 Norval Morrisseau (1)
/Click on image to Enlarge/

I have collected native art all my life, as my father was a collector who planted the seed. I first became aware of Norval Morrisseau around the early 80’s, when I was introduced to him at a home of a friend in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was staying with him and used a large room in the house to paint in. This is where I had a chance to see him at work for the first time. It was shortly after this that he went to Kenora to sell some of his works to a large fishing resort on Lake of the Woods and wound up in jail. After that episode I began to collect his paintings.

A lot of my friends and work associates lived on and worked in or around native reserves, so this gave me access to large volumes of artwork at little expense. These pieces were mostly lesser known artists, but the odd piece would show up by Carl Ray, Roy Thomas, Lloyd Kakepetum, and even Morrisseau. This was always a nice surprise as I would pay the same for each piece no matter who was the artist. I found myself with hundreds of paintings by such a large array of artists that I decided to begin to trade them with other collectors. I used to joke that it reminded me of trading baseball cards when I was younger.

By the mid 90s, I owned some five hundred pieces by more well known artists, including Morrisseau.

With a falling business and a newborn child, I decided to sell off my collection. I contacted literally every auction house In Canada testing the market. Finally when I realized there were no real market other than galleries which in my opinion would take forever. I settled with doing business with a few auction houses in Southern Ontario because I have paid little and in some cases no money for the artwork my expectations were not market value but to break even or just better.
I know a lot of collectors, dealers, owners and in some cases artists in Northern Ontario Region and at no point in doing any sort of business with these people have I met anyone who tried to muscle their way into my business. It wasn't until I ventured into the Toronto world that I had this happen to me.

Donald Robinson* has sold over fifty paintings that once belonged to me. He did not sell them for me but for other collectors whom I did business with. He took 25 to 30 per cent for the resale of these pieces and I was told they sold for seven to eight thousand each. Not wanting to cause any animosity between these collectors and myself I did not contact Mr. Robinson to utilize as an outlet for sale. The collectors friendships are more important to me than selling some art so I sent to Randy Potter paintings by mostly Norval Morrisseau to sell them at auction. It was shortly after this that I had my first contact with Mr. Robinson. He told me to leave the auction house and to do business with only him and he could make me more money. Normally I would have taken his offer but it was the way he said it, more like a threat than an offer. I told him I wanted nothing to do with him and that in the future it would be better not to use threats to begin a business relationship. He has tried several times since then to contact me. The paintings are real and the tactics he used are low down if not dirty. A collector friend of mine has been sending pictures to Norval Morrisseau and getting them authenticated, these were once in my collection.

The Globe and Mail article on Morrisseau with painting “Battle for Life” (1) on the front page was a part of my collection. The painting in the Prime Minister’s office was part of it as well. I am sure you get the point.

I am frustrated to say the least, that people like Donald Robinson have such control over the market that he does what he wants and does not care who he hurts or what damage he does. Someone should remind him if it wasn’t for the small collectors he wouldn't exist.

Sincerely,

Signed on October 29th, 2001
/DAVID VOSS/

Source: www.NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit.com ----------/Additional Filings by the Plaintiff/
-
* - one of the founders of the Kinsman Robinson Galleries /Principal Morrisseau dealer - Representing Norval Morrisseau (1932-2007) and his artwork over the last nineteen years./
-
>>> IMPORTANT NOTE: The above David Voss' statement was signed five months after 'National Post' article 'Morrisseau fakes alleged' (Click HERE to read a corresponding posting previously published on this blog).
-
-
>>> Reference postings:
- Weekend of Awakening,
- "The Writing On The Wall... Norval Morrisseau Conspiracy Exposed",
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part I),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part II),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part III),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part IV),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part V),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part VI),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part VII) &
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLegalDefenceFund_com.

-
--
--
(1) An original acrylic painting on canvas titled "Battle for Life", 35"x120", © 1978 Norval Morrisseau; Published on the cover of the 'Globe and Mail' > 'Arts and Leisure' section: "Such a Long Journey" by Chris Dafoe > April 1999.

Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part VIII)

-
- Exhibit H.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
THE ART OF NORVAL MORRISSEAU
/Lister Sinclair, Jack Pollock, and Norval Morrisseau/; ISBN: 0-458-93820-3 /Toronto, Ontario: Methuen, 1979./-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Signatures of Lister Sinclair, Jack Pollock and Norval Morrisseau as a dedication for THE ART OF NORVAL MORRISSEAU book.
/Click on image to enlage/
-
Related story/link: In oder to provide legitimacy to their pieces collectors along with vendors including Toronto galleries who had pronounced the pieces genuine; commissioned a report on the signatures in English 'Norval Morrisseau' found on the front and back of the paintings. The Document Examination Consultants Inc. (who are a forensic services company based out in Ottawa Canada) were provided with publicly known letters/pictures and many signature specimens done by Norval Morrisseau and concluded that the signatures that were able to be read were in their 'expert opinion' done by the hand of Norval Morrisseau. This was considered solid evidence of the legitimacy of the pieces.
-
-
Blog Master's Comment: The reason why I started this blog 16 months ago was due to false statements made by Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery and individuals* (a List of Individuals presented at the end of this paragraph) closely associated with Norval Morrisseau regarding paintings in question. I felt the need to create a platform that will speak for Norval when this priviledge to speak for himself was put in the hands of others that were only interested in their personal financial gain by putting the Legacy of Norval Morrisseau aside.
-
I am dissapointed that Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society is not honouring their mission statement which states:
-
"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."
-
-Why are they silent? Is their silence approval for what has been presented on www.morrisseau.com? 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.
-
This website www.morrisseau.com is a disservice to Norval Morrisseau, his legacy and the people of Canada. It is full of lies put forth by the people who have little or no expertise to judge the authenticity of Norval Morrisseau's and who are acting only for greed of others using false histories as their methods of deception.
-
I am a strong believer that Norval Morrisseau's Legacy belongs to his people "the Great Ojibway" and to family that bears his name - Morrisseau Family.
-
"May the truth be told and known to all"
-
Megwetch

Spirit Walker
/spiritwalker2008@gmail.com /
-
-
* - Donald (Don) Robinson of the Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Bryant Ross of the Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery & Gabor (Gabe) Vadas, who for the last 20 years of Norval Morrisseau's life functioned as Mr. Morrisseau's guardian, business manager and 'adopted' (although not legally so) son.-
--
-
NOTE: In presented "Norval Morrisseau Signature Study" we are eager to introduce numerous examples to draw from known sources with provenance. We will use letters addressed by Norval Morrisseau/canvases/officially embossed signatures from Norval Morrisseau and serigraphs to anaylsis Norval Morrisseau's signature as it is found on his artwork. This study is to confirm and introduce to the novice and seasoned collector the many aspects of Norval Morrisseau's caligraphy found painted on the reverse/front of his canvases, signed limited edition serigraphs, books and correspondence.-
-
~ I am inviting all readers, collectors and admirers of Norval Morrisseau's art to share the images (drawings, paintings, newspaper articles and painted objects), handwritten and other documents pertaining to the artistic legacy of Norval Morrisseau.~ /spiritwalker2008@gmail.com /
-
-
>>> Reference postings:
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part I),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part II),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part III),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part IV),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part V),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part VI),
- Norval Morrisseau Signature Study (Part VII),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part I),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part II),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part III),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part IV),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part V),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part VI),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLawsuit_com (Part VII),
- www_NorvalMorrisseauLegalDefenceFund_com &
- Justice for Norval Morrisseau Found. --
--



* For detailed information on Norval Morrisseau's Signature Study go to "Signature Identification Article 101"