Saturday, January 27, 2018

> Genuine Norval Morrisseau painting defaced by Mr. Bryant Ross authenticated by Forensic Science (Part II)


> IMPORTANT POST... EIGHT YEARS IN THE MAKING <

~ In-depth analysis of incident when Bryant Ross defaced genuine Norval Morrisseau painting, calling it ABOMINATION & FAKE!




























"Water Spirits," 54" x 46", © 1979 Norval Morrisseau
  Photography by John Goldi








"Water Spirits," 54" x 46", © 1979 Norval Morrisseau
  Photography by John Goldi
 /CANVAS VERSO/


PROVENANCE: Mr. Bryant Ross acquired this acrylic painting on canvas from an art dealer Mr. Anthony Martinenko of Winnipeg, Manitoba who acquired it from personal collection of Mr. Rolf Schnieders (1928-2015) of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
/Click on images to Enlarge/


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Ms. Carmen Robertson* noted that Mr. Schnieders was "well-known conduit for Morrisseau's paintings in the Thunder Bay region" and was "actively handling works by the artist since 1960s. He operated small store on May St., in Thunder Bay ON called 'Yesterday's Treasures' for a number of years and this was one way he sold works by Morrisseau." 

* - An associate professor of contemporary Aboriginal art history in the Department of Visual Arts, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan & Member of the defunct Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society (NMHS)

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Published on Jan 28, 2010


~ This painting, authenticated by Norval Morrisseau(**), was defaced Eight Years Ago TODAY on January 27, 2010 by Mr. Bryant Ross who is director of Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery in Aldergrove, BC.



(**) - Bryant Ross stated at his 'Norval Morrisseau Online Gallery' that "These paintings were guaranteed to be original and authentic and were obtained from the artist or authenticated by him." (click HERE for screen capture of the original web page as it appeared in May 2005).

NOTE: Bryant Ross' cowardly act was witnessed by Pat Bruderer, Gabor (Gabe) Vadas and Mark Anthony Jacobson a.k.a. PEY-SIM-AWAY-APEY-BINASI who gave him full support and approval to his actions - click HERE.







FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER'S FINDINGS:

> The signature painted with a dry brush (DB) technique on the verso of the above presented acrylic painting on canvas has been positively identified to have been authored by Canadian Anishinaabe/Woodland artist Norval Morrisseau. 


These discoveries were conducted and documented by Full Time Forensic Document Examiner Mr. Kenneth J. Davies of 'Hawkeye Studios (Grapho-Lab® Services)' (Calgary, Alberta).

This report is dated September 28th, 2017.

>> This report has been generated for Ugo Matulić of Calgary, Alberta and it is the eight in a series of Forensic Reports done by Mr. Davies analyzing the Signatures on artworks done by Norval Morrisseau. 


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~ Dated September 28th, 2017
/Click on image to Download/


> Forensic Report analysis /File No. 3442-1/ by Full Time Forensic Document Examiner Mr. Kenneth J. Davies of 'Hawkeye Studios (Grapho-Lab® Services)' (Calgary, Alberta); Click on image above for the report and for the Statement of Qualifications for Mr. Davies.

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Summary Report
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Examination of Dry Brush Signature / Titling 

on reverse side of presented “ Norval Morrisseau” painting
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By request of Ugo Matulic of Calgary, Alberta, this analyst has undertaken an examination and comparative analysis of the dry brush signature, titling, dating and symbols as appearing on reverse side of the painting identified as


“Water Spirits” – 1979

presented as by artist Norval Morrisseau

to make a determination as to authenticity of the dry brush signature, titling, dating and symbols on the reverse of that subject painting.

The undersigned examiner, as prescribed by the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, understands his duty to serve the truth, to assist the judicial process if so called upon, and to not advocate for any party in this or any such undertaking. To that end, all statements in this report are true and objective determinations based upon forensic comparative analysis of the subject material. 


Methodology and Basis of the Examination:

Professional practices of document examination pertinent to questioned handwriting and signatures have been applied in this undertaking, whereby stroke characteristics broadly categorized as letter formation, slant, slope, rhythm, pressure, compression / expansion and sequence of strokes – collectively referred to as handwriting or signature writing habit – are studied, characterized and compared to determine authenticity or authorship. Examinations for authenticity may utilize macroscopic, microscopic and high resolution digital scan analysis, as well as UV, IR, light table and other dedicated light source applications, all as may be appropriate to a specific analytic requirement. 


The undersigned analyst has examined more than eighty Norval Morrisseau works, to date of this report, on canvas and other media, and is thereby intimately familiar with the character and stroke detail that was the authentic dry brush style and technique of signing the reverse side of Norval Morrisseau paintings. This analyst has drawn on that extensive experience and on comparative analysis with known Norval Morrisseau works variously bearing ink, pencil, and, most importantly and prolifically, dry brush signatures, handwritten titling, dating and symbols.

Paintings include, but are not limited to, non-disputed, Affidavit supported Sacred Medicine Bear Changes 1979, SoaringThunderbird 1979; as well as Shaman Envelopes Soma 1976 and Wheel of Life 1979, both authenticated at 100% by document examiner Dr. Atul K. Singla

Dr. Atul K. Singla's forensic handwriting analysis, authenticating Norval Morrisseau's signature on Wheel of Life 1979 was upheld in Hatfield v. Child in a judgment of March 25, 2013, issued by Toronto DeputyJudge Paul J. Martial. It led him to dismiss the case which had claimed Wheel of Life 1979 was a forgery and to declare it a genuine Morrisseau (Ontario Small Claims Court file SC-09-07264-00). 

Deputy Judge Martial's judgment, regarding the authenticity of the signature and painting, Wheel of Life 1979, was upheld in an Appeal hearing on December 6, 2013 by the Hon. Madam Justice Mary AnnSanderson in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice/Divisional Court. She dismissed the Appeal, agreeing with Judge Martial that both the signature and the painting, Wheel of Life 1979, were genuine and authentically signed by Norval Morrisseau (Ontario Divisional Court file 2013 ONSC 7801, Dec.17, 2013). 

The public Canlii reference number for this Divisional Court hearing can be found at: www.canlii.org/en/on/onscdc/doc/2013/2013onsc7801/2013onsc7801.html

“Water Spirits” – 1979:






"Water Spirits",  © 1979 Norval Morrisseau

~ Click on image to view FRONT & the inscription on canvas VERSO


Examination:

The dry brush signature, titling, dating and symbols appearing on the reverse side of the subject painting, Water Spirits – 1979, was examined by this analyst as high resolution photographic images.

The referenced image of the signature, titling, dating and symbols (page 3 of this report) presented only moderate over all clarity of the dry brush work, wherein the detail of brush stroke of signature and titling, in particular, varies throughout.

This analyst was able to enhance the clarity of the dry brush work to some degree through digital contrast and gamma adjustment of the referenced digital image, such that the referenced image was improved in over all clarity to the point where sufficient brush stroke image and detail supports the examination and comparative analysis of the dry brush signature, titling and symbols on the reverse of that painting.

In the examination and comparison of that enhanced image, the following has been determined by this analyst:

a) To the degree that can be determined from the referenced image, the style, semi-cursive formation, rhythm, pressure, slant, slope, compression characteristics of the signature present as consistent within the Morrisseau style of the period.

b) To the degree that can be determined from the referenced image, the style, formation, rhythm, pressure, slant, slope and compression characteristics of the titling, including the 'dash' marks style and placement in the titling, present as consistent within the Morrisseau style of the period.

c) The style, formation and placement of the dating and the copyright symbol present as consistent within the Morrisseau style of the period.

d) The relative placement of the dry brush work (upper right section) and the relative arrangement of the dry brush elements thereon present as consistent within the Morrisseau style of the period.

Conclusion of the Examination:

Solely on the basis of the examination of the referenced image of the dry brush signature, titling, dating and symbols as appearing on the reverse side of the subject painting, “Water Spirits” - 1979, and with due consideration of the moderate clarity of the examined image as referenced in this report, and acknowledging that this analyst has not viewed the actual painting to date of this report.



It is the reserved opinion of this analyst that it is within a *high degree of probability that the dry brush signature, titling and symbols on the reverse side of the subject painting, “Water Spirits” - 1979, is the authentic dry brush 'signature' of Norval Morrisseau.


Evaluation Scale:
High Degree of Certainty : beyond any doubt - 90%+
Reasonable Degree of Certainty : highly confident result- 80-90%
* High Degree of Probability : has strong support - 70-80%
Reasonable Degree of Probability : support weighs in favour - 60-70%
Inconclusive : insufficient / deficient documentation


Note: A more definitive finding than the results and conclusion stated in this report may only be obtained from examination of the original dry brush 'signature' subject of this report.

Signed

Kenneth J. Davies, B.SC C.Ga CFC
Examiner, Questioned Documents / Handwriting & Signatures
Grapho-Lab® Services - Hawkeye Studios

75 Bernard Drive NW Calgary AB Canada T3K2B5 ph. 403.295.3556 fax 403.398.1522 





ADDENDUM: 


Mr. Greg Hill in 2014 approved posting of this and two other genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings to be part of "F is for Fake" art exhibition at SAW Gallery in Ottawa, Ontario; all funded entirely by the Canadian tax-paying public (see video below). The paintings included in this exhibition were: "Wheel of Life, 1979" (*) ; "Upper and Lower Worlds, 1978" ; "Water Spirits, 1979".






by Global NATIONAL
Published on Jun 21, 2014



(*) The capstone of proof of authenticity of these "black dry brush, signed, titled and dated" paintings like "Wheel of Life 1979” came from a top international forensics and handwriting expert, Dr. Atul K. Singla of Worldwide Forensic Services Inc. (Toronto, Ontario) who, after a long and detailed forensic examination of the “Questioned Signatures” on the back of the “Wheel of Life 1979” and ten other Norval Morrisseau paintings, concluded they were all signed by the artist himself (click HERE for 2010 downloadable Forensic report). Court ruled that this disputed Morrisseau, which was part of Hatfield, Margaret Lorraine vs. Child, Donna and Artworld of Sherway, is authentic.









Courtesy of http://themorrisseauhoaxexposedblog.com/

Also, Mr. Greg Hill (Curator of Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Canada & member of the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators - CAPC), together with Dr. Ruth Phillips (Professor of Art History at Carleton University), who are directors* of the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society (NMHS), falsely identified five genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings owned by Blog Master Mr. Ugo Matulic as FAKES in Red Lake, Ontario in July 2008. These paintings were removed from the book "Norval Morrisseau and the Woodland Artists: The Red Lake Years 1959 - 1980"(click HERE for more information)


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:







"Water Spirits," 54" x 46", © 1979 Norval Morrisseau



Mr. Ritchie Sinclair gave strong compliment to the above presented genuine Norval Morrisseau painting titled "Water Spirits, 1979":

"And a beautiful Morrisseau it is - so embued with Vision!"
24 December, 2007 01:58
only to label it at a later date as an "Inferior Counterfeit Morrisseau" at www.morrisseau.com (click HERE or HERE).

This acrylic painting on canvas titled "Water Spirts, 1979" was acquired by Mr. Ross from Mr. Anthony Martinenko, an art dealer from Winnipeg, Manitoba and originally came from private collection of Mr. Rolf Schnieders (1928-2015), Thunder Bay, Ontario.


~ The first ever genuine Norval Morrisseau painting in my art collection was also acquired from Mr. Anthony Martinenko and it also came from Mr. Rolf Schnieders' private collection (click HERE). Also, other galleries to which Mr. Anthony Martinenko was supplying genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings were Maslak McLeod Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; Bearclaw Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta and Northern Art Impressions Gallery, Lake Louise, Alberta; to name but a few.

The "Water Spirts, 1979" came from same source as the paintings from my private collection which were authenticated by Norval Morrisseau and forensically certified by Forensic Document Examiners and Handwriting Expert Dr. Atul K. Singla of Worldwide Forensic Services Inc. (click HERE). Also, click HERE to view how elements of Norval Morrisseau's visual vocabulary of this painting compare with other genuine artworks by this great Canadian painter.  

  
Interurban Gallery - One East Hastings, Vancouver -
This place will be remembered in history for a public destruction of genuine Norval Morrisseau painting on January 27, 2010
/Click on image to Enlarge/ 

  
Click HERE to view "You Tube" video of this most disturbing moment that I have ever experienced as a Norval Morrisseau collector and admirer of his art. This video (Part 5 of 6) was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA; AHA MEDIA labeled this genuine Norval Morrisseau artwork as a "Fake Norval Morrisseau painting." This action by Mr. Bryant Ross  was witnessed, in front of the audience, by Ms. Pat Bruderer,  Mr. Gabor (Gabe) Vadas and Mr. Mark Anthony Jacobson who gave him full support and approval of his actions (see the image above).

To view six part series of this genuine Norval Morrisseau destruction, recorded on January 27th, 2010 by April Smith of AHA MEDIA click HERE (Part 1: Introduction), HERE (Part 2: Gabor Vadas), HERE (Part 3: Mark Anthony Jacobson), HERE (Part 4: Bryant Ross - Intro), HERE (Part 5: Bryant Ross - Destruction of genuine Norval Morrisseau painting) & HERE (Part 6: Mark Anthony Jacobson - "Sacred Healing Circle").

~ You may view Mr. Mark Anthony Jacobson's opinions about two genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings "Water Spirit, 1979" and "Upper and Lower Worlds, 1978" which were authenticated by Norval Morrisseau in 2005 (click HERE).


Mr. Jacobson considers "Water Spirit, 1979" to be "an absolute piece of garbage" and goes on by saying that "this piece of shit painting deserves to be burned at stake." Also, for "Upper and Lower Worlds, 1978", in his opinion, he considers this painting "is fitting to be used as "ass wipe" and is suggesting to "use this roll of garbage at your discretion" as "you may not want to get "any on you"." Click HERE for the screen capture of this Mr. Mark Anthony Jacobson's blog post dated December 1st, 2009 describing his opinion about genuine Norval Morrisseau artworks.

This screen capture also comes with defamatory comments which are all deleted together with all defamatory post attacking all of those who supports the findings of forensic document examiners who confirmed that the paintings in question are genuine works of Norval Morrisseau.

If you pay attention to the comment of December 2nd, 2009; 4:45 PM you will see that Mr. Mark Anthony Jacobson approved the words to be posted where I was labeled as "an absolute criminal" and "blatant liar" who committed "cultural crimes', and that I am connected with "criminal empire" and "art fraud enterprise".


Mr. Jacobson was linking the readers of his blog to Dr. Jonathan Browne's www.morrisseaubyuersbeware.com, one of Mr. Ritchie Sinclair's websites and his "Norval Morrisseau Blog" (side bar) and to Kinsman Robinson Galleries website (bottom) - click HERE. 

As per his latest blog post of June 25th, 2013 Mr. Mark Anthony Jacobson is advocating the destruction of thousands of genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings (click HERE or HERE).  

~ Mr. Jacobson is actually only one of a handful individuals who have chosen to completely disregard forensic science particularly when it comes to authenticity of genuine Norval Morrisseau paintings signed by the artist in black paint using drybrush (DB) technique.


Pat Bruderer, Gabor Vadas, Bryant Ross and Mark Anthony Jacobson at Interurban Gallery, One East Hastings, Vancouver - January 27, 2010
/Click on image to Enlarge/

This act of cultural genocide by Mr. Bryant Ross of Coghlan Art Studio & Gallery was reported by Ms. Katie Mercer ("The Province" reporter) in "Portrait of a scandal" article which content was in full support by Kinsman Robinson Galleries posted on their twitter account at  http://twitter.com/KinsmanRobinson (click HERE to view a twit which surfaced on the day of Ms. Katie Mercer's print/online article or click HERE for this twit's screen capture).




~ I even offered to pay for forensics to be conducted on 'Water Spirits, 1979' for signature proof analysis. Furthermore I was willing to pay to Mr. Bryant Ross for the painting regardless of the outcome for him to recover his purchasing loss ten years ago with Mr. Anthony Martinenko. Also, If the forensics came back proof positive I was willing to pay him the $25,000.00 for what the painting was valued at before his defacing of this genuine Norval Morrisseau painting. Mr. Ross never responded to my offer. For more information click HERE.

This online article "Portrait of a scandal" has been deleted by "The Province" editors and as of August 2010 it is not available for viewing anymore (click HERE for a screen capture of this online article).


NOTE: It is important to note that Ms. Katie Mercer commenced an interview with me which lasted approx. 45 minutes and in spite of saying that she did not want take any sides in the debate regarding Norval Morrisseau's art authenticity issues she clearly took the side of Bryant Ross, Gabor M. Vadas and Mark Anthony Jacobson!?

* More information regarding my interview with Ms. Katie Mercer will be presented on these pages soon.

~ Click HERE for more...



A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU NOTE TO MR. JOHN GOLDI:

"KEY DISCLOSURE - in anticipation of, and preparatory to the Hearn lawsuit, I have, over the years, sought out key original paintings which the fraudsters called "fakes" for forensic examination. I was singularly successful." ~ John Goldi, copyright 2017

















Image/text by Mr. John Goldi CSC, Copyright 2017.

~ “CSC” – Canada’s highest honour for a director of cinematography – “for outstanding achievement in the art of cinematography” by the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, the professional organization of Canada’s film and television cinematographers.






>>> REFERENCE POSTS:


"THE INFORMATION PRESENTED ON THIS PLATFORM IS BASED ON DATA COLLECTED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND OTHER VERIFIABLE SOURCES WHICH CAN BE PUT FORTH ACCORDINGLY AS SUBMISSIBLE EVIDENCE IN A CANADIAN COURT OF LAW IF THE NEED SHOULD ARISE AGAIN."-

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1 comment:

Spirit Walker said...

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The Norval Morrisseau Blog is an educational initiative dedicated to the promotion of one of Canada’s most renowned Aboriginal artists and creation of a digital archive to honour the legacy of his life’s work.

We have published more than 2,320 posts, thousands of pictures, hundreds of documents (e.g. accredited professional Forensic Document Examiner's reports), related to the art of Norval Morrisseau, so that people around the world who regularly view our blog - museum curators, archivists, fine art collectors, academics, educators, and admirers of fine art - can have a better understanding and appreciation of the long career and singular achievements of this landmark Canadian artist, who was hailed as a “genius” at the very first exhibition he ever held at The Pollock Gallery in September 1962.

Norval was also the most prolific artist in world history, having produced well over 23,000 original artworks. We dedicate this blog to the loyal Norval Morrisseau collectors around the world who represent a legion of collectors outnumbering more than any other leading artist. We are thankful for the tremendous support our educational blog has garnered from countless Morrisseau fans around the world.

We will not be deterred from our single-minded effort to continue to publish the information of the artistic record of this phenomenal Canadian artist.

Miigwetch,

Ugo Matulić