Norval Morrisseau's way of expressing the appreciation

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"A Separate Reality", 10'x21',  © 1984 Norval Morrisseau 


"This picture is a pastime. I've been at it now for maybe six or seven months. Maybe I'll be at it for another four months or three months. When its finished the way I want to see it I want to present it to the people of Canada. To all the children of Canada. Indian and Native, Chinese, coloured or whatever they are. They're all great souls. These are the people we want to give it to. To appreciate it. Here... hang it up. This is my appreciation for this medal that you have given me.

First you drive me down to the pits of the bottom of hell by your Missionaries and then later on you lift me up with medals... and no matter what I was behind... that's gone. That was the experience that I went through. If I never went through this bottom thing or the upper thing I would never be this great artist. I wouldn't be here to show... Here, here's my appreciation for trying to understand who I am."

Norval Morrisseau, 1981

>>> Reference post:

- Norval Morrisseau, a member of the Order of Canada &
- Canadian History Through the Art of Norval Morrisseau (Part I).
  /Ref.: Canadian Residential School System/

* The acrylic painting on canvas in this post: "A Separate Reality", painted from 1979 to 1984, © 1984 Norval Morrisseau /Collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ottawa, Canada/