McLuhan shares memories of artist Norval Morrisseau

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"Untitled", 19"x29", © 1971 Norval Morrisseau
~ Painted by Norval Morrisseau while in the Kenora Jail ~
/click on image to Enlarge/
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Daughter of great Canadian academic Marshall McLuhan among country’s most respected curators who have agreed to compile a comprehensive catalog of troubled painters' works
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Art historian Elizabeth McLuhan was still a student, when she first met Norval Morrisseau on the streets of Kenora. It was during his famous stay as a guest of the province, at the Kenora Jail, where he had one cell set up as his studio and another for sleeping quarters, she recalled.
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“We loved the jail period in Kenora, because it produced such wonderful pieces,” she said Saturday, during a return trip.
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Among those who agreed to share their stories from the time were Penny Cummine, who used to offer supplies to the struggling artist.
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A generation later, McLuhan is among a select group of the country’s most respected curators, who have agreed to compile a comprehensive catalog of Morrisseau’s work. It was a promise they’d made to him, in appreciation for his career, McLuhan explained, noting that he passed away before seeing it completed.
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Still, members of the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society (NMHS) have agreed to carry on the mammoth task of tracing the history of all his work, which could include thousands of pieces.
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It’s a tribute reserved for only a very few artists world-wide, such as Rembrandt or Van Gogh, McLuhan noted, acknowledging the pioneer of the Woodland Art Movement is still kept in very high regard, despite his very modest beginnings.
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Born in Sand Point Reserve, near Thunder Bay, he was taught both the traditional ways of the Ojibway, as well as the Christian religion through residential schools. His efforts to publicize the legends of his people were initially resisted by elders within his community, but eventually earned him international acclaim.
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McLuhan, who is the daughter of Marshall McLuhan the great Canadian academic, remembered visiting with the artist, who produced the signature piece Mishipizhiw (water deity), during this period. She recalled how he refused to go along with convention by including elements of West Coast styles, Inuit carvings or Group of Seven influences common at the time.
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Instead, he went his own way by interpreting the Anishinabe legends through symbols in vibrant colours, using a two-dimensional style. He would trace outlines in thick black paint, providing a sort of X-ray vision.
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His first showing in Toronto sold-out within hours and made the pages of Time magazine. He was soon a published author and the creator of a mural for Expo ‘67, the World’s Fair in Montreal.
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At a time when the uprising at Anishinabe Park was on the horizon, and the intolerant language of Bended Elbow captured an attentive audience, Morrisseau broke open the door for many native artists to follow.
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“He was a phenomenal artist, who rose to the occasion,” McLuhan agreed.
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His other famous exhibits included shows in Paris for the bicentennial of the French Revolution, and a solo show at the National Gallery of Canada in 2006, the first by a First Nations artist.
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Still, he would use money from the mural commission to take a cab ride home to Northwestern Ontario, where stories of his eccentricity became legend.
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“He’s not the only artist who has struggled with his demons,” she said, listing the names of many other masters.
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While there were times, when he was destitute, when a sketch or a painting might go for a few dollars, Morrisseau was known to charge a few thousand for his signature, knowing it would add greatly to the resale value.
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Even though he passed away more than a year ago, his legacy lingers. It was the picture of irony, when the Conservative cabinet had their picture taken at Rideau Hall, with Morrisseau’s work entitled Androgyny in the background, McLuhan noted, as she reflected on the clash of dark suits against vibrant colours in the shot.
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Anybody who may still have one of his works, and would like it to be registered in the official catalog, are encouraged to contact McLuhan by email: emcluhan.nmhs@gmail.com; or NMHS: norvalmorrisseauheritage@gmail.com.
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Mike Aiken-

Source: 'Lake of the Woods Enterprise'; Article ID# 1444435-
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REF: Postings with Norval Morrisseau's 'Kenora Jail' Series paintings...
- Collector's Corner III,
- Collector's Corner VI &
- Collectors' Corner VIII.-
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* Blog Master is thanking a collector for the submission of an image of the original painting by Norval Morrisseau and respects his/her decision to remain anonymous: "Untitled", 19"x29", © 1971 Norval Morrisseau