>>> Simone McLeod's views about Norval Morrisseau & his artworks from collection of Ugo Matulic (Norval Morrisseau Blog Master)



"Spirits of the Mountains" by Simone McLeod
/Click on Image to Enlarge/

Norval's footsteps blazed a trail for us all

"When I began painting in the mid-nineties it was quite the experience to sit and feel a heavy heart at what I believed to be "revealing the ceremonial secrets of my people". It was then that I recalled hearing about Norval Morrisseau.

I remember that when I heard others speaking of him they always seemed to be focused on his subject and less on him as the growing father of the first nations art movement. I cannot imagine how alone and in turmoil he may have been in feeling this need to share the "old ways" publicly. Perhaps he was before his time in seeing that one day, media outlets would be thee best way to reach out and help our lost peoples recognize the spirituality of his work and therefore begin the stirrings to search within ourselves and find the spirit memory that has been our way since the sun first shone.

I as an artist and as an Anishinaabe woman, will be forever indebted to him for reawakening within me, my path, my memories, my history and my duty as a storyteller and artist and to carry on, on the road he started walking down. His footsteps blazed a trail that will be forever easier for the next one who chooses to follow it."

Meeting Ugo Matulic

Norval Morrisseau - I do not consider myself an expert on him or his work but I know enough to say that as an artist and as a member of the Anishinaabe people, that I've seen his work in books, at school when I was a little girl and of course in my Art 100 class in university.

My mother was very artistic when I was growing up. My sister just recently shared with me, how my mother sat us down at the table one day and proceeded to nurture the inner artists that she believed each of us was born with. I loved it from the beginning. I would watch my beautiful mother paint or sketch with pencil crayons the most beautiful images. She even took burned out embers from the wood stove and showed me how to use it as charcoals. I wanted to be just like her when I grew up.

Over the course of many years, as we all grew older, I watched as we all struggled with the aftermath of the residential school era. It did not matter if we went to the schools or not for the schools had a way of reaching into our homes to choke our culture out of us and replace it with just trying to survive.

It's this survival technique that I recognize in my peoples artwork immediately. I know where it stems from and I feel it reaching inside me as it demands recognition. I'm no longer only an artist, I've become one who can understand and feel in art, things a lot of others can only see.

I reflect back now to a time two years ago when I met Ugo Matulić for coffee. I didn't know anything about him and I'm glad for that. The reason is simple. To listen to or indulge in idle gossip about others sets you up to not get a chance to see who a person really is.

He's turned out to be a very good and respectful friend. I've never met a person more open minded to learning and understanding aboriginal people as people first. His lack of preconceived notions and harsh judgments allows him to keep his mind and his heart opened to building strong and loyal relationships with others.

A few months ago I joined him in his condo in downtown Calgary. We talked a lot over the years about his love for First Nation Artists work and his fondness for Norval Morrisseau. Needless to say, as an artist myself, with my love for artists and the unique way each expresses his or herself through their chosen mediums, we've talked for many many many hours over many many many meetings.

As I entered his condo, my breath caught in my throat. The Morrisseau's on the walls enhanced by great lighting were so vibrant and so full of life. It was obvious to me that this man has a great deal of respect for Norval. It became more obvious his vast knowledge was gained through diligence and researching this great artists work as we sat and I got to see the true depth of his collection.

I had warned him that I like to touch the paintings and close my eyes and let my fingers take me back to when the pieces were being created. I think he knew that I would be very careful and I was extremely happy and honoured when he agreed that I can feel the textures of the paints.

As he rolled out canvas after canvas, I touched each piece carefully and could feel how Norval applied the paints. I could feel emotions building inside me as I could see each story hiding inside each piece. Big canvasses, medium canvasses, arches watercolour paintings, birch bark paintings, even very early works where inks or pencil crayons were applied to very old pages from primary school books.

I began to recognize the brush strokes, the similarities of application. The finger tip eyes, the deep need to lay down the colour without worry about the translucency of the paint. I recognized this the most because as an artist myself, I take great pains in reapplying coats until the colours are true and saturated.

What intrigued me the most was the early works on the primary papers leading into the birch bark paintings. It was a though he had his visions or spirit memory begin so early and fast that he just had to get these first images onto a medium, any medium so that he would not risk losing them by the act of living and surviving. I saw many variations of the earlier visions grow and transform into larger images on canvasses and other mediums later on in his career.

I was so honoured and so humbled to see how Ugo had acquired a record in chronological order, the growth of Norval Morrisseau throughout his career. It was amazing to see that each piece had been signed on the backs in black and some were also signed in pencil and quite a few ink drawings were not signed in English at all, only in syllabics on the front. Some early works were just signed with his initials NM.

The ones with sentiments to the piece contained short writing at time and provided me with insight as to what he was thinking. He must have been a very interesting man indeed. What a privilege to have been given the opportunity to take that journey.

...

"Ugo, these words I sent you are the truth. The love and respect I have for you can be written but only with care. You're really amazing Ugo. Your passion is the most beautiful thing about you. While I see it on your face when you're holding a Morrisseau, what I understand about your heart after getting to know you is like poetry."

 

Simone McLeod / Aki-egwaniizid, April 2015





Links: http://www.fisherstarcreations.com/ 
          (WEBSITE)
          http://zhaawanart.blogspot.com/ 
          (ART BLOG I) &
          http://simonemcleodblog.blogspot.ca/ 
          (ART BLOG II).      


>>> Reference posts:
- Great Anishinaabe/Woodland Artists (Part XXIV)
   /Ref. Simone McLeod/,
- "Is it OKAY if we share information with others about our ceremonies?", /Ref. Writing by Simone McLeod/,
- Simone McLeod about "Copper Thunderbird: The Art of Norval Morrisseau" at First Nations University of Canada (FNUC).
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Earth Day 2015

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Portrait of Norval Morrisseau (detail) Illustration by Spirit Walker

© Susan Murar; Photography by Lucinda Jones

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Portrait (White clay): 6'-4" x 3'-6" x 2'-2" (Height x Width x Depth)

Staff (White clay): 3'-10" x 1'-10" x 10" (Height x Width x Depth)

/The portrait has not yet been cast into bronze/

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* Inquires from patrons and cultural institutions wordwide will be welcomed-

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SHAMAN ARTIST-

Norval Morrisseau has not left us, love never leaves, it defines life. He was aware as an artist in this world that the quest and the goal of all life is to reach the pinnacle of understanding the concept of love. The subtext of all his life's work - and he heard it in Spirit - "It is essential that all life respect life". Love. His creations were defined by love. Humankind is in the process of discover­ing the definition of love, and Norval was well aware of this in every cell of his Being. He did everything that was within his powers to move us closer to this understanding, through his paintings.
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He has told us that he is a child of the stars, and he tried to tell us that we too are star children. He demonstrated beautifully, artistically, that there is no balance between spirit life and physical life, there is no contest - the Spirit is always #1. Because of this and he understood this instinctively, joy is our legacy, "wherever joy is, you are". Norval knew this and he gave this to us intimately as "Copper Thunderbird" shaman artist.

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He has not left us, he is here celebrating his gifts to us as we continue to receive them. For generations to come - the joy of his creations will speak to us of this great artist, and we will wonder and certainly rejoice as he was so much a part of us, and we of him. As we are all - always in all ways - he was a messenger.

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"All is well, blessings be."-

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Susan Murar, Sculptor
BA, MFA, AOCAD

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>>> Reference post:

- Susan Murar about Norval Morrisseau, 
- The Sculpture of Norval Morrisseau by Susan Murar (Part I),
- The Sculpture of Norval Morrisseau by Susan Murar (Part II),
--/ARTIST STATEMENT/

- The Sculpture of Norval Morrisseau by Susan Murar (Part III)
--/HOW THE NORVAL MORRISSEAU WAS SCULPTED?/ &

- The Sculpture of Norval Morrisseau by Susan Murar (Part IV)
--/"LEARNING TO CREATE ART THROUGH THE EYES OF YOUR HEART"/.
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>>> Genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings offered for sale at 'LEVIS Auctions' THIS SUNDAY...

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Levis Fine Art Auctions & Appraisals
/Calgary, Alberta CANADA/

Lot #60

"Your in the Fourth Dimension" 1976 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge and/or click HERE for canvas VERSO/
Source: Private Collection of Mr. Rolf Schneiders, Thunder Bay, ON
Note: This painting is in direct connection with a landmark court decision confirming the authenticity of thousands of Norval Morrisseau paintings (click HERE & HERE.)


This and two additional genuine Norval Morrisseau painting are going to be offered for sale on April 19th, 2015 at 1:00 PM (Sunday) at "LEVIS Fine Art Auctions & Appraisals" @ Mount Royal University Roderick Mah Centre in Calgary, Alberta (Click HERE to see Lot #60 of the painting above; Lot 059 has the same provenance as the Lot #60; Lot 59.1 was originally purchased from Donald Robinson's Kinsman Robinson Galleries.)

Notes: Signed in syllabics lower left; signed, titled and dated verso; framed.

Reference: Lot includes certificate of authenticity from the artist with signature and thumb print 2002 as well as a copy of a forensic Examination Report on the artist’s signature done by Worldwide Forensic Services and Dr. Atul Singla using the signature done for the certificate of this painting.

Provenance: purchased from Thom Denomme at Vision Quest Gallery, Calgary, 2006; private collection, Calgary; Acquired from Mr. William (Bill) Wallace who got it from private collection of Mr. Rolf Schneiders, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Estimate: $9,000/12,000

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Norval Morrisseau saw the painting “Your in the Fourth Dimension 1976” in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he signed its Certificate of Authenticity on April 12, 2002.

To see the Certificate of Authenticity for “Your in the Fourth Dimension 1976” click HERE.

This new known signature, brought to 18, the number of known signatures Dr. Singla used for reference. The new signature merely served to confirm Dr. Singla in his original “Wheel of Life 1979” forensic finding, as it being an original Morrisseau, and signed on the back in black dry brush paint by the artist.

And he further concluded that no one else could have been the author of the work, or its signature.

To download Dr. Singla’s #2 Supplementary “Wheel of Life 1979” (Dec. 22, 2011) forensic report CLICK HERE.

~ This Forensic report has listed as an important reference the following documents:

1)  Statutory Declaration by Mr. Deiter John Voss, /' Witnessing Norval Morrisseau signing the paintings with a dry brush (DB) technique'/ &

2) Downloadable Norval Morrisseau Forensic Reports (Part IV)  /' Witnessing Norval Morrisseau signing the Certificates of Authenticity for paintings signed with a dry brush (DB) technique'/

NOTE: This painting was previously offered for purchase at Webster Galleries Inc., Calgary, Alberta.

BLOG MASTER'S NOTE: I have personally inspected this painting and I am giving it the seal of approval.
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Lot #59

"Sacred Animal Totem" 1975 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge and/or click HERE for canvas VERSO/
Source: Private Collection of Mr. Rolf Schneiders, Thunder Bay, ON
Note: This painting is signed by the artist with a dry brush (DB) technique on front of the canvas; Canvas VERSO is left blank!

Notes: Signed in syllabics lower right; signed, titled and dated along bottom; framed.

Provenance: purchased from Thom Denomme at Vision Quest Gallery, Calgary, 2006; private collection, Calgary; Acquired from Mr. William (Bill) Wallace who got it from private collection of Mr. Rolf Schneiders, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Estimate: $30,000/40,000

Note: This painting has been previously presented on this platform on December 3rd, 2007 & on March 6th, 2008.

BLOG MASTER'S NOTE: I have personally inspected this painting and I am giving it the seal of approval.
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> This video was originally published by CTV News (Canada AM) on Wednesday, Apr. 23, 20s14 showing Dr. Atul Singla explaining the authenticity of genuine Norval Morrisseau painting, also signed by the artist with a dry brush (DB) technique as the painting at "LEVIS Fine Art Auctions & Appraisals" presented above.

/ © 2014 Bell Media All rights reserved/

NOTE: This video has been republished as a matter of significant public interest

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>>> In a recent court judgement "Hatfield vs. Artworld of Sherway" /Court File No. SC-09-087264-0000/ Judge Paul J. Martial stated the following:

"Mr. Robinson (of Kinsman Robinson Galleries) was qualified as an expert in the area of valuation and appraisal. His testimony however overlapped into the area of handwriting and included an analysis of syllabic and English handwriting, areas for which he was not qualified.

"He has no formal training as an expert witness in handwriting analysis and his evidence is rejected. (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 37)

"Dr. Singla's forensic evidence is preferred in this regard and his finding that it is highly probable that the painting "Wheel of Life" was painted by Norval Morrisseau was supported by his detailed technical analysis of known signatures of' Norval Morrisseau. (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 37)

"The Court finds that there is overwhelming evidence that Norval Morrisseau signed paintings in black brush paint.” (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 34)

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NOTES:
 
1. "The Hatfield case was unique in that it represented the first time a Morrisseau authentication joust had proceeded through a complete trial – it required five hearings spanning about two and a half years and resulting in 750 pages of published evidence – and ended with a judicial ruling." ~ 'The Globe and Mail'

2. Genuine Norval Morrisseau painting involved in this court case was also acquired from Randy Potter Estate Auctions and appraised by Mr. Joseph McLeod.
  

>>> Reference posts:
- THREAT OF LAWSUITS TRIGGERS BELATED CTV VIDEO &
- "Famed tenor drops suit alleging art dealer sold him fake Morrisseau paintings" by James Adams.


~ As per decision of the SUPREME COURT OF CANADA (December 22, 2009), journalists and other media, including bloggers, will be protected from lawsuits if they diligently try to verify information on matters that are in the public interest (click HERE for more information and/or check NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG's DISCLAIMER @ the bottom of this page ). ~ -

Ritchie Sinclair's 'Norval Morrisseau Blog' Deleted (Deactivated for the past SIX MONTHS) in Order to Cover-up His Malicious Activities Towards Norval Morrisseau's Legacy...

> Mr. Sinclair is not interested at all in protecting Norval Morrisseau's legacy as he continues to ignore the conclusive findings of the three top internationally recognized Forensic Document Examiners and Handwriting Experts from Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary-


http://www.norvalmorrisseaublog.com

~ As per Mr. Sinclair's words his blog: "has been launched to stimulate and inspire artists, educators, students, patrons and art lovers..."

>>> Ritchie Sinclair is an individual 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 - recently supported by Donald C. Robinson in a court case Otavnik Vs Sinclair (Court File No. SC 09-00082782-0000) and served, together with Donald C. Robinson, as the plaintiff's only witnesses in a court case Hatfield, Margaret Lorraine vs. Child, Donna and Artworld of Sherway * (Court File No. SC-09-087264-0000)...

Note: Both of these paintings which were involved in these two court cases had been proven authentic Norval Morrisseau artworks by forensic science on August 24th, 2010/May 27th, 2011 & December 19th, 2011 (click HERE).

... Mr. Sinclair is an individual whose alleged "efforts to identify Norval’s true artistic legacy" are recognized by Donald C. Robinson of Kinsman Robinson Galleries ["AN EXAMINATION INTO THE AUTHENTICITY OF AN ALLEGED 1970'S NORVAL MORRISSEAU PAINTING" - EXPERT REPORT; September 10th, 2009; Page 74].

* - Both, Donald Robinson and Ritchie Sinclair were discredited in this pivotal court case relevant to authenticity of Norval Morrisseau artworks (click HERE). 

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>>> In a court judgement Hatfield vs. Artworld of Sherway /Court File No. SC-09-087264-0000/ Judge Paul J. Martial stated the following:

"The Court finds that there is overwhelming evidence that Norval Morrisseau signed paintings in black brush paint.” (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 34)

"His (Ritchie Sinclair's) methodology in identifying forgeries is clearly inadequate and suspect since he testified that he does not even view the original paintings before condemning them as fakes." (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 16)

~ Additionally, in the appeal for this court case Madame Justice Mary Anne Sanderson ruled the following:

"Similarly, the trial Judge was entitled to reject the evidence of Sinclair and to conclude it was unsupported and unreliable. Sinclair could produce no documentary evidence to support his assertions that a well organized forgery ring painted the works auctioned by Kahn Auctions." (Ruling by Madame Justice Mary Anne Sanderson: December 17th, 2013 - [18] Page 3)

NOTES:
 
1. "The Hatfield case was unique in that it represented the first time a Morrisseau authentication joust had proceeded through a complete trial – it required five hearings spanning about two and a half years and resulting in 750 pages of published evidence – and ended with a judicial ruling." ~ 'The Globe and Mail'

2. Genuine Norval Morrisseau painting involved in this court case was also acquired from Randy Potter Estate Auctions and appraised by Mr. Joseph McLeod.

>>> Reference posts:
- THREAT OF LAWSUITS TRIGGERS BELATED CTV VIDEO &
- "Famed tenor drops suit alleging art dealer sold him fake Morrisseau paintings" by James Adams.


~ As per decision of the SUPREME COURT OF CANADA (December 22, 2009), journalists and other media, including bloggers, will be protected from lawsuits if they diligently try to verify information on matters that are in the public interest (click HERE for more information and/or check NORVAL MORRISSEAU BLOG's DISCLAIMER @ the bottom of this page ). ~ -

Second Anniversary of Michael Moniz's passing...

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Rui Miguel DeAguiar Moniz (September 11, 1965 - April 13, 2013)




















He Humbled a Canadian Media Giant…

Exposed a Top Arts Journalist’s Professional Disgrace…

And saved a fine Morrisseau BDP* from the trash heap of history.

Alone against the “Establishment” this Canadian Morrisseau collector took on the biggest media giant in Canada (CTV Globemedia) and won a stunning moral, legal, and cultural victory, on March 10, 2009, on behalf of Canada, and all Canadians, and the artistic heritage of Norval Morrisseau.

The lonely battle he fought, at great personal expense, and distress, over two years, served to expose for all Canadians, how – from the very beginning - serial journalistic incompetence continues to be the main tool harnessed by those who attack the painting legacy of Norval Morrisseau, and in the process – together – grievously undermine and devalue the legitimate Aboriginal cultural heritage of Canada.

* - Paintings signed by the artist with a dry brush (DB) technique.


Source: theMorrisseauHoaxExposedBlog.com
             "Moniz vs. CTVglobemedia" &
             "Great Canadian Cultural Heritage Hero #1".
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>>> Reference posts:

- Justice for Norval Morrisseau (Part I) /Ref. CV-07-1776 SR/
- Signatures on Norval Morrisseau artworks certified by Forensic Science, - Downloadable Norval Morrisseau Forensic Reports (Part III), - Michael Moniz vs. CTV Globemedia Publishing Inc,
- Hatfield vs. Artworld of Sherway (Part IV), - After 3 years of RCMP & Thunder Bay Police Service investigation no evidence of fraud found & - Norval Morrisseau Conspiracy & Art Market Competition.