Monday, May 30, 2011

Justice for Norval Morrisseau (Part II)

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The following is Melissa Fung's 'CBC News Report' aired in 2005.
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by Stardreamer7
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This 'You Tube' presentation was posted by Ritchie R. Sinclair a.k.a. Stardreamer who single-handedly caused the greatest harm to the Norval Morrisseau Art Market and whose name is infamously connected with the Legacy of Norval Morrisseau. Sinclair's actions were done out of jelousy and intentional malice to thwart the deserved international fame that is long due to Norval Morrisseau.
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The following is the analysis of the above video presentation:
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1) Randy Potter Estate Auctions - [0:11-0:26; 2:24-2:48]
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Auctioneer Randy Potter of Randy Potter Estate Auctions from Port Hope Ontario is shown selling authentic Norval Morrisseau paintings done by the artist Norval Morrisseau. The predominant decade of paintings coming from Randy Potter's auctions were from Norval Morrisseau's 1970's period of art. Hundreds of these paintings were sold at Randy Potter's auctions over many years without ever any refunds or returns and/or questions regarding their authenticities to hundreds of satisfied lucky customers to this day. Sandra Hayman who had been collecting Norval Morrisseau paintings for two years showed confidence in purchasing Norval Morrisseau's art at Randy Potter Estate Auctions and expressed disagreement that one gallery (Kinsman Robinson Galleries) could claim to be the only gallery selling authentic Norval Morrisseau artworks? 
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~ see Exhibits No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 8, No. 14, No. 15, No. 16, No. 18 & No. 20.
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2) Kinsman Robinson Galleries - [0:27-0:37]
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Norval Morrisseau genuine paintings shown on the Kinsman Robinson Galleries' walls.
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3) Aaron M. Milrad - [0:38-1:04]
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Aaron M. Milrad who was Norval Morrisseau and Gabor M. Vadas' lawyer (see Exhibit No. 17) expresses his concerns about 'the fraud issue' in the Norval Morrisseau Art Market. Milrad is shown flipping through the pages of a book titled "Norval Morrisseau: Travels to the House of Invention". A book published by Norval Morrisseau & Kinsman Robinson Galleries /Key Porter Books Limited, ISBN: 1-55013-880-4/. The poster of the above video, Ritchie R. Sinclair, ironically labeled several of Norval Morrisseau's geniune paintings as "Inferior Counterfeit Morrisseaus" - one of the paintings currently part of the Collection of the National Museum of the American Indian - NMAI (click HERE).
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>>> Ritchie R. Sinclair a.k.a. Stardreamer threatened to sue me for defamation after I exposed his dishonest behaviour publicly (click HERE - see item No. 8). Proof of this addmission was discovered in a court of law on March 18th 2010 Otavnik VS. Sinclair and is on public record through the court transcripts (click HERE).
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Also, see Exhibit No. 18 to read about the situation when Gabor M. Vadas together with his lawyer Aaron M. Milrad approving paintings being sold at one auction house (Empire Auctions) and dissing other paintings sold at another auction house (Randy Potter Estate Auctions). Both of these auction houses had acquired paintings from the same source (see Exhibit No. 9).
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s If you read Aaron M. Milrad's online biography (click HERE) you will see that he is representing the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) as well. I was quite surprised when I discovered that the AGO was showcasing and even selling Norval Morrisseau's art at their premisses (click HERE & HERE), Aaron M. Milrad would call fake or questionalble.The AGO had removed these paintings under pressure by Ritchie R. Sinclair (click HERE) and his associates (Bryant Ross and Mark Anthony Jacobson - click HERE & HERE to view opinions regarding these paintings by Bryant Ross and Mark Anthony Jacobson or click HERE & HERE for their comments' and screen captures). It is interesting that these two paintings that were removed from the Art Gallery of Ontario were from the collection of Maslak McLeod Gallery (click HERE to view these two painting being showcased and offered for sale at Maslak McLeod Gallery in Toronto, Ontario) - the third painting came from Kevin Hearn of the Barenaked Ladies music group (click HERE). I received a request to remove pertinent information from the NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG from Ms. Kirstin Mearns who is a General Manager, Retail - Art Gallery of Ontario. I acknowledged the receipt of her request but I decided to ignore it and allow the truth be known publicly.
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4) Norval Morrisseau - [1:05-1:17]
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Norval Morrisseau's painting being worked on [1990's recording]
(click HERE for artist's brief biography)
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5) Paul C. H. Robinson - [1:18-1:46]
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Paul C. H. Robinson who is the director for Kinsman Robinson Galleries stated that the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society (NMHS) "will look at the paintings and will determine which are by his hand and which are not" even knowing that NMHS has not authenticated even a SINGLE Norval Morrisseau painting it has collected in its registry (see Exhibit No. 25 read Mr. Richard H. Baker's letter sent to lawyer Ethan Rogers which was part of a court case Moniz vs. CTV Globemedia Publishing Inc. In this letter was also stated that "The Society (NMHS) has not yet dealt identifying the outside experts or galleries capable of authenticating Morrisseau art and it recognizes that Kinsman Robinson Galleries is a trusted dealer of Norval Morrisseau's art"). Also, see Exhibit No. 8 where Paul C. H. Robinson appraised paintings purchased by their clients at Randy Potter Estate Auctions (formerly Khan Auctions) and see that between late 1999 and early 2000 Paul's father, Donald C. Robinson, purchased 28 painting from the same auction house and he openly encouraged other people to buy them and had unsuccessfully bid on another 40 to 60 more paintings from the same auction house (see Exhibit No. 4 & for additional information click HERE).
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~ The CBC reporter Melissa Fung went on by saying that Norval Morrisseau had supposedly put up the notice that "only paintings sold at Kinsman Robinson Galleries are guaranteed to be real." This statement is false and untrue! >>> Click HERE for a list of auction houses and commercial art galleries also offering paintings 'GUARANTEED TO BE REAL'.
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NOTE: Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society is supposed to work at arm's length and be independent yet the only way to contact the NMHS was via post office box in Ottawa that was mentioned on Kinsman Robinson Galleries' web site. So much for independence and impartiality. 
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6) Joseph B. McLeod - [1:48-2:23]
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Mr. Joseph B. McLeod who had started buying Norval Morrisseau's artworks more than 40 years ago stated the following: "I can only believe that there is another purpose in setting up the board (NMHS) and I think it has to do with controling the market." Click HERE to view a genuine Norval Morrisseau painting titled "Norval Fighting Demon" (c. 1970's) which appears in this video, while Mr. McLeod was being interviewed, which is of the same style as the paintings sold in the past at Randy Potter Estate AuctionsSee Exhibit No. 14 for Kinsman Robinson Galleries' campaign to eliminate the greatest competition which is located just two blocks away: Maslak McLeod Gallery).
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~ It was also stated that Mr. Joseph B. McLeod and several other gallery owners filed a complaint to a Competition Bureau of Canada addressing their concern about development in the Norval Morrisseau Art Market.
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i To learn more about this "You Tube" video presentation read 'Globe and Mail" article titled "Paint Brawl", written by James Adams; published on April 23rd, 2005 (click HERE).
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FINAL NOTE: In regards to Ms. Fung's blanket statement "Authenticity, in this case, is in the eye of the collector." I write...
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... Authenticity is not in the eye of a biased collector but in the 'true author' of said artwork brushed by the hand of Norval Morrisseau. Like other Master artists; the likes of Piccasso, Dali, Rembrandt, Chagall and now Morrisseau... FORENSICS will prove the bottom line with expert un-biased opinion. Forensics have been deployed numerous times with Norval Morrisseau paintings that have been purchased at Randy Potter Estate Auctions. Forensics have proven successful at determining authenticity of the artwork authored by Norval Morrisseau's hand against publicly known signatures by Norval Morrisseau and his letters of correspondence. Forensics were conducted on the dry black brush signatures/titles and dates commonly found on the reverse of these genuine pieces of art by Norval Morrisseau. Many forensic reports have been publicly detailed in this Blog for all to see (see Exhibits No. 10, No. 24 & No. 25).
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a ALL PAINTINGS PRESENTED IN THIS "You Tube" VIDEO ARE AUTHENTIC ARTWORKS OF NORVAL MORRISSEAU-

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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Respecting Norval Morrisseau's art... (Part III)

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The ultimate resource for Norval Morrisseau's admirers, researchers, investigators, news reporters & art collectors
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Left: "Shaman Envelopes Soma", acrylic on canvas, 52"x42", © 1976 Norval Morrisseau - acquired on January 26th, 2000 from Kahn Auction in Pickering, Ontario /Private Collection, Mississauga, Ontario/;
Right: Receipt dated January 26th, 2000 made out to Donald C. Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario from Kahn Auctions in Pickering, Ontario /Click on image to Enlarge/
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~ This painting has been previously presented on October 8th, 2008 -

>>> This genuine Norval Morrisseau painting on canvas was bought by The Canadian 'Anglo-Boer War' Museum (Mississauga, Ontario) on the same day Donald C. Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries (Toronto, Ontario) purchased a series of paintings at Kahn Auctions, Pickering, Ontario (see 'Exhibit No. 4'). It is important to mention that Donald C. Robinson was the underbidder for "Shaman Envelopes Soma" and this artwork would have appeared on the above presented receipt as well if aggressive bidding by The Canadian 'Anglo-Boer War' Museum's curatorial staff had not prevailed to win the piece (click HERE or HERE for a screen capture dated September 18th, 2010 describing this and other issues in the Norval Morrisseau Art Market).

It was wrong that this painting sold by Mr. Randy Potter, an auctioneer and owner of the Kahn Auctions, to a private art collectors in Mississauga, Ontario had been labeled as an "Inferior Counterfeit Morrisseau" by Ritchie R. Sinclair a.k.a. Stardreamer (click HERE). Also, Ritchie R. Sinclair labeled other paintings "Inferior Counterfeit Morrisseaus" to which Donald C. Robinson was the underbidder (click HERE & HERE) and three others which are part of the same private collection from Mississauga, Ontario (click HERE, HERE & HERE).

Even stranger is the fact that Ritchie R. Sinclair is calling authentic Norval Morrisseau's paintings which were copyrighted by Norval Morrisseau and Kinsman Robinson Galleries as "Inferior Counterfeit Morrisseaus" which were published in "Norval Morrisseau: Travels to the House of Invention", 1997 (see 'Exhibit No. 28'; Incompetent Behaviour No. 5) and/or click HERE for additional information explaining in detail relationship between Donald C. Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries and Ritchie R. Sinclair a.k.a. Stardreamer.

I was quite surprised when I saw the post titled "Memorable moments with Norval" (04/04/2009) from the KRG blog. Where it was shown that in September 1997, Norval Morrisseau made a trip to the Kinsman Robinson Galleries to attend a book launch for "Norval Morrisseau: Travels to the House of Invention" (1997). Where he met, together with Gabor M. Vadas, Ritchie R. Sinclair and even had a supper with Donald C. Robinson's family. (click HERE to view unedited version of the "Memorable moments with Norval" and corresponding comments including a comment of Ritchie R. Sinclair which has also been deleted by the KRG blog editors).

It is really hard to explain why was Ritchie R. Sinclair supported by Donald C. Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries in a court case Otavnik Vs Sinclair SC 09-00082782-0000 considering the information ptesented above?

NOTE: Please, check 'Exhibit No. 24' & 'Exhibit No. 25' to read information about these paintings, that were acquired from the same source (Kahn Auctions, Pickering, Ontario/Randy Potter Estate Auctions, Port Hope, Ontario), which were once labeled as 'fakes' and at later dates proven to be authentic Norval Morrisseau artworks.

>>> There are many collectors who contacted me wanting to know about the role and achievements to date of the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society (NMHS) in regards to the issues involving the genuine Norval Morrisseau's paintings they acquired for their collections. They also expressed their disappointments about the NMHS board members who have remained silent on these issues to this day. 

~ Committee members of the NMHS are as follows: -

* Viviane Gray - Indian and Inuit Art Centre, Dept. of Indian Affairs & Northern Development (not a member anymore);
* Lee Ann Martin - Curator of Contemporary Canadian Aboriginal Art, Museum of Civilization (not a member anymore);
* Elizabeth McLuhan - Dept. of History, University of Winnipeg;
* Dr. Ruth Philips - Professor of Art History;
* Greg Hill - Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Canada;
* Richard H. Baker - Barrister and Solicitor.

> NMHS could be contacted at norvalmorrisseauheritage@gmail.com or you may click above on each NMHS members' names to e-mail them about your questions, concernes & satisfaction or dissatisfaction of their achievements to date.

BLOG MASTER'S COMMENT: I am dissapointed that the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society (est. 2005) is not honouring their mission statement:-

"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? If they truly care in "protecting the integrity of Norval Morrisseau's art" they should 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.

Ugo Matulić a.k.a. Spirit Walker
/spiritwalker2008@gmail.com/


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>>> Reference posts:
- Open Letter to the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society,

Saturday, May 28, 2011

George LĂ©pine about Norval Morrisseau

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"The World Is", 10'x12.5', © 1970s Norval Morrisseau
~ Acrylic paint on movie screen ~ /Click on image to Enlarge/


"THE LONGER YOU STAND IN FRONT OF ANY OF
HIS CREATIONS, THE MORE YOU ARE DRAWN IN
TO HIS WORLD. A SENSE OF ENLIGHTENMENT
IS EXPERIENCED AS TIME SEEMS TO STAND
STILL AND YOU ARE TAKEN TO A PLACE ONLY
HE COULD DESCRIBE. YOU HAVE STARTED A
JOURNEY AND ESTABLISHED A NEW STYLE
OF ART FOR ALL OF OUR YOUTH. CHI MEEGWIITCH
FOR EVERYTHING AND YOUR LEGACY!"

George LĂ©pine
Assinaboine - Manitoba





~ Permission to post this statement, written on December 8th, 2007 by Mr. George LĂ©pine at NORVAL MORRISSEAU MEMORIAL "GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE" which was held at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, given by the author on May 26th, 2011


* The art piece presented in this posting was painted with acrylic paint on movie screen in one of the movie theaters in Northern Ontario: "The World Is", 10'x12.5', © c. 1970s Norval Morrisseau /Private Collection/

Friday, May 27, 2011

Genuine Norval Morrisseau's artworks continue to be successfully auctioned at Sotheby's, Toronto, Ontario

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"IMPORTANT CANADIAN ART"- -











From left to right:
1) "Shaman Changes Into Thunderbird", © 1962 Norval Morrisseau
2) "Untitled", © 1973 Norval Morrisseau

3) "Nature's Balance", © 1975 Norval Morrisseau
4) "Ancestral Bear", © 1980s Norval Morrisseau

/Click on image to Enlarge/



These four genuine Norval Morrisseau's paintings presented above were sold at 'Sotheby's Art Auction House', Toronto, Ontario CANADA for the amount of $86,400 CAD.



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NOTE: Genuine Norval Morrisseau's paintings #1, #2 & #4 were sold on May 26th, 2011 at 'Sotheby's Art Auction House' and painting #3 was sold on behalf of the Sotheby's on November 23rd, 2010 at Royal Ontario Museum.



>>> Reference posts:
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part I); "LEVIS Online Auctions", Calgary, Alberta.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part II); WALKER'S Auction, Ottawa, Ontario.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part III); Randy Potters Estate Auctions, Port Hope, Ontario.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part IV); RITCHIES Auctioneers, Toronto, Ontario.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part V); HODGINS Art Auctions Ltd., Calgary, Alberta.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part VI); Heffel's Auction House, Toronto, Ontario.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part VII); SEAHAWK Auctions, Maple Ridge, BC.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part VIII); LUNDS Auctions, Victoria, BC.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part IX); EMPIRE AUCTIONS, Toronto, Ontario.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part X); "LEVIS Online Auctions", Calgary, Alberta.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XI); HODGINS Art Auctions Ltd., Calgary, Alberta.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XII); WALKER'S Auction, Ottawa, Ontario.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XIII); WADDINGTON'S Auction House, Toronto, Ontario.

- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XIV) Sotheby's Art Auction House, Toronto, Ontario.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XV); Sotheby's Art Auction House, Toronto, Ontario.
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- Tonight, Norval Morrisseau's art auctioned at Sotheby's Art Auction House, Toronto, Ontario.

* The acrylic paintings in this post: All © Norval Morrisseau; SOLD at Sotheby's Art Auction House' in Toronto, Ontario CANADA

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Tonight, Norval Morrisseau's art auctioned at Sotheby's Art Auction House, Toronto, Ontario

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"IMPORTANT CANADIAN ART" by Sotheby's  -
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"Ancestral Bear", 40"x48", © 1980s Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/


This, genuine Norval Morrisseau acrylic painting on canvas is being offered for sale TONIGHT @ 7:00 PM at 'Sotheby's Art Auction House', Toronto, Ontario CANADA; See Lot #112.
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Estimate: $8,000 - $10,000


Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium:  $15,600 CAD

Provenance: Private Collection, British Columbia.
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NOTE: For other genuine Norval Morrisseau's artwork also auctioned TONIGHT at Sotheby's Art Auction House see Lot#128 & Lot#163.

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For an example of a genuine Norval Morrisseau's artwork auctioned on behalf of the Sotheby's & sold on November 23rd, 2010 at Royal Ontario Museum click HERE and/or HERE.


>>> Reference posts:
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part I); "LEVIS Online Auctions", Calgary, Alberta.
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Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part II); WALKER'S Auction, Ottawa, Ontario.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part III); Randy Potters Estate Auctions, Port Hope, Ontario.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part IV); RITCHIES Auctioneers, Toronto, Ontario.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part V); HODGINS Art Auctions Ltd., Calgary, Alberta.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part VI); Heffel's Auction House, Toronto, Ontario.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part VII); SEAHAWK Auctions, Maple Ridge, BC.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part VIII); LUNDS Auctions, Victoria, BC.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part IX); EMPIRE AUCTIONS, Toronto, Ontario.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part X); "LEVIS Online Auctions", Calgary, Alberta.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XI); HODGINS Art Auctions Ltd., Calgary, Alberta.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XII); WALKER'S Auction, Ottawa, Ontario.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XIII); WADDINGTON'S Auction House, Toronto, Ontario.

- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XIV) Sotheby's Art Auction House, Toronto, Ontario.
- Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part XV); Sotheby's Art Auction House, Toronto, Ontario.-

* The acrylic painting on canvas in this post: "Ancestral Bear", 40"x48", © c. 1980s Norval Morrisseau; offered for sale at Sotheby's Art Auction House' in Toronto, Ontario CANADA; See Lot #112.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The great Masters belong to the World (Part I)

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Norval Morrisseau (1931-2007) 
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"Untitled", acrylic on canvas, © 1979 Norval Morrisseau

~ Norval Morrisseau at Nimkee Art Gallery in M'chigeeng, Ontario CANADA
/Click on image to Enlarge/


"When we think of Leonardo da Vinci, the last thing that comes to mind is the nationality of the artist. The great masters belong to the world."

Igor Babailov
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* The acrylic painting on canvas in this post: "Untitled", 58"x138, © 1979 Norval Morrisseau; Exhibited at Nimkee Art Gallery in M'chigeeng, Manitoulin Island, Ontario CANADA; Collection of Ms. Kathleen Debassige, former co-owner of Nimkee Art Gallery

Carl Ray's Masterful Lines (Part II)

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/Drawing vs. Painting/

 Carl Ray  (1943-1978)
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"Thunder Bird feeding her Young", 20"x16", © c. 1970 Carl Ray Estate
~ Ink Drawing on paper (used as illustrations for a book "Sacred Legends of the Sandy Lake Cree" by JAMES R. STEVENS  © 1971; Pages 92 & 93) /Click on image to Enlarge/


 ... "Ray's career developed in the shadow of Morrisseau's. He worked as an apprentice to Morrisseau on the mural for the Indians of Canada Pavillion of Expo '67 in Montreal. By this time Ray had developed a style of, and preference for, scenic painting. He approached the pictographic rigour of Morrisseau's work with an illustrator's interest." ...

... "Ray's linear style is appealing in its lyric naturalism and spiritual expressiveness. Birds and animals are rendered in silhouettes of subtle detail, while internally the creatures are raging or changing in mysterious ways." ... -























"Thunder Bird feeding her Young", 40"x39", © 1975 Carl Ray Estate
~ Acrylic painting on canvas 
/Click on image to Enlarge/


SOURCE (text): NORVAL MORRISSEAU AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE IMAGE MAKERS by Elizabeth McLuhan and Tom Hill; ISBN: 0-458-97390-4, Art Gallery of Ontario, 1984 /Methuen Publications/





>>> Reference posts: -
- Carl Ray's Masterful Lines (Part I),
- Recommended readings (Part XII)
/"Sacred Legends of the Sandy Lake Cree" by JAMES R. STEVENS/,

- Norval Morrisseau and EXPO '67 (Part I),
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Red Lake Woodland Arts Festival: A Tribute to Norval Morrisseau and the Woodland Artists in 2 DAYS!, - Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part I) &
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Honouring Carl Ray (1943-1978).
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