One of the Most Important Appraisals of Genuine Norval Morrisseau artworks by the late Mr. Joseph McLeod (1928-2017)

Kevin Hearn Vs. Joseph B. McLeod and Maslak McLeod Gallery Inc.
/Court File No. CV-12-455650/

"SPIRIT ENERGY OF MOTHER EARTH HAS NOT BEEN PROVED TO BE A FORGED OR FAKE MORRISEAU. FROM THE LAW'S POINT OF VIEW, IT IS THEREFORE A REAL NORVAL MORRISSEAU PAINTING."-

~ Justice Edward M. Morgan, May 24, 2018























Mr. Gabe Vadas proudly posing in front of "Arrangement of Underworld Spirits, 1980" with Norval Morrisseau and Blair Debassige /The Manitoulin Expositor/ at an eagle feather ceremony held on September 24, 1999 at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation (OCF); M'Chigeeng, Ontario. Hanging on the wall the genuine Norval Morrisseau painting "Arrangement of Underworld Spirits, 1980". 





















Norval Morrisseau and Gabe Vadas during the ceremony at OFC
/Click on image to Enlarge/


--

-

Norval Morrisseau with OCF executive director Paul Nadjiwan

/Click on image to Enlarge/

Gabe Vadas, Norval Morrisseau and Blair Debassige smiling in front of genuine Norval Morrisseau painting at OFC ceremony
/Click on image to Enlarge/ (click HERE for more info)

Norval Morrisseau with a proud owner Josie Schywiola (Collinwood, Ontario) of the genuine Norval Morrisseau painting "Arrangement of Underworld Spirits, 1980" at OFC ceremony /Click on image to Enlarge/

"Arrangement of Underworld Spirits" 54"x68", © 1980 Norval Morrisseau; Source: Collection of Mr. Rolf Schnieders (1925-2015), Thunder Bay, Ontario; Sold to Mr. Blair Debassige of Nimkee Art Gallery, M'Chigeeng, Ontario by Alan R. Swanson (1947-1998) of Winnipeg, Manitoba  /Click on image to Enlarge/

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. 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." (click HERE **; see Page 14) 

* - Full Professor at Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario; Formerly an associate professor of contemporary Aboriginal art history in the Department of Visual Arts, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan; E-mail: carmen.robertson@carleton.ca... also a  Member of the defunct Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society (NMHS)

** - Professor C. Robertson “expert report” on Hearn’s “Spirit Energy of Mother Earth”
-
----------------------------------------------------------------

The painting "Arrangement of Underworld Spirits" 54"x68", © 1980 Norval Morrisseau was appraised by Mr. Joseph McLeod (1928-2017) of Maslak McLeod Gallery on March 11th, 2008. Mr. McLeod was, at the time of signing, a member of the Art Dealers Association of Canada /Click on image to Enlarge/

Note: Mr. Joseph McLeod gave incorrect title "Spirits Searching Centre" as the writing on the canvas VERSO was obscured for proper reading of the title. The image below shows high resolution signature photo with artwork's title that had been evaluated by Questioned Document Examiner Mr.  Kenneth J. Davies of Calgary, Alberta.

"Arrangement of Underworld Spirits" 54"x68", © 1980 Norval Morrisseau; Source: Private Collection of Mr. Rolf Schnieders (1925-2015), Thunder Bay, Ontario /Click on image to Enlarge to view the signature signed with large letters in black dry brush paint on the canvas VERSO/

* This painting has also be proven to be signed by Norval Morrisseau as per December 19, 2011 Forensic Report by Mr. Kenneth J. Davies of 'Hawkeye Studios (Grapho-Lab® Services)'. (Click HERE for downloadable Report)

Morrisseau presented with eagle feather

Neil Zacharjewicz, The Manitoulin Recorder, published September 29, 1999

M'CHIGEENG - Norval Morrisseau saved the life of Blair Debassige. "He taught me who I am inside," suggested Debassige, artist and resi­dent of the M'Chigeeng First Nation. Morrisseau, the Father of Woodland Indian Art who has been compared to such well-renowned artists as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, was presented with aneagle feather by Debassige in a ceremony held at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation (OCF) Centre held on September 24, 1999.

The recognizing of a person with an eagle feather, indicated OCF Director Paul Nadjiwan, is one of the highest honors a person can receive. An eagle feather provides a person with an opportuni­ty to speak directly to the spirits, he said, with a straight mind and heart. It conveys a persons thoughts and feelings.

The power of the eagle feather comes from the thunderbirds, the most powerful bird in creation, Nadjiwan explained. According to legend, the thunderbirds gave each eagle four of their feathers, which granted the eagles a part of their pow­ers. The thunderbirds rec­ognize the bearer of an eagle feather as being able to use its powers.

Debassige expressed his appreciation to all who turned out to participate in the ceremony. He said he was very honored to have been able to give an eagle feather to Morrisseau. "He is really something... this man, to me," Debassige stated. Morrisseau indicated his visit to Manitoulin meant a great deal to him. He said he had been planning to visit the area for a long time, as it is a sacred place.

"I thank my brother, (Morrisseau), for visiting, us here," Nadjiwan said. Everyone can appreciate the contributions he has made to native culture through his works: Nadjiwan suggested, particularly in his work based on the myths of creation. Morrisseau planned to continue his visit to Manitoulin until Tuesday of this week.

--

Source:

- "Morrisseau presented with eagle feather"
---/to view an original The Manitoulin Recorder's article click above/

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Joseph McLeod (1928-2017) of Maslak McLeod Gallery in front of genuine Norval Morrisseau painting 'Norval Fighting Demon', c. 1970's - Click HERE

Maslak-McLeod Gallery



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

“He demonstrated a superior depth of knowledge of Morrisseau…” (Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 25)

“The testimony of Mr. Joseph McLeod is indicative of his care and the detailed effort to confirm provenance, including the hiring of a forensic expert to examine the signature on the back of the painting indicate that he took his role to provide appraisals seriously. His testimony… demonstrates his depth of knowledge of the painter due to his lengthy association with the artist.”
(Judgment by Judge Paul J Martial: March 25th, 2013 - Page 35)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


> An art expert with a comprehensive knowledge of an artist's work who generated adequate consensus within the art community to establish the authenticity of Norval Morrisseau's works of art.

Mr. Joseph McLeod is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts in Canadian 'Woodland Art' and his Maslak McLeod Gallery had built an impressive reputation in the art world for more than 30 years.

He had been a qualified expert witness for the Crown in Federal Court with respect to Norval Morrisseau's art in a pivotal Tax Court of Canada case relevant to cultural property donation program [see Zelinski, Whent, Pustina v. The Queen, (No. 92-424)].

Recently, Mr. Joseph McLeod testified in a pivotal court case relevant to authenticity of Norval Morrisseau artworks [see Hatfield, Margaret Lorraine vs. Child, Donna and Artworld of Sherway].

Mr. McLeod had also been called upon by numerous auction houses such as Sotheby's to help authenticate Norval Morrisseau artworks with his professional expertise.

Mr. McLeod was a member of Art Dealers Association of Canada (ADAC) and had a membership with The Canadian Association of Personal Property Appraisers (CPPA).

>> Mr. Joseph McLeod was instrumental in bringing Canadian Native Art to Germany, Italy, Brazil, Japan, China, France and Puerto Rico.

>>> Affiliations Curatorial and Appraisal Work of Joseph McLeod:

Art Dealers Association of Canada;
Canada Council for Aboriginal Buisness;
The Government of Canada;
Museum of Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay, Ontario CANADA;
Smithsonian National Museum of American Art, U.S.A.;
The Paul R. Macpherson Woodland Collection of Art,
McMaster University Museum, Hamilton, Ontario; 
Sotheby's.com - Master Dealer;
Institute of American Indian Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.A.;
The Pequot Museum, Conneticut, U.S.A.;
The Heard Museum, Pheonix, Arizona, U.S.A.;
Govenor's Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.A.;
Volkunder Museum, Munich, GERMANY &
Exposicao de Arte Indigena, Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL.




-