https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/norval-morrisseau/biography/
I was first introduced to paintings of the indigenous canadian artist Norval Morrisseau when I was living in Nanaimo. A professor at Vancouver Island University (though it was Malaspina College back in my day…) showed our class some different pieces as examples of ways that parts of a culture adapts to the surrounding cultures that influence it. Two days later, at my job as an optican in an Optometrist office, a gentleman came in and asked if I could put this new prescription into an old pair of glasses. The Name on the prescription was Norval Morrisseau (no, the guy standing in front of me wasn’t him; just a friend). I stared for a second at the piece of paper and said, “I just studied about him in my anthropology class.” The gentleman smiled and asked if I could take care of the glasses… which I did.
I believe that Morrisseau’s works are a fantastic example of Indigenous cultures adapting to other cultures and technology. He was highly influenced by the art of surrounding cultures, incorporating some aspects of it, but never forgets his own cultural traditions. I especially love his use of such vibrant palette; colours that were not used in traditional indigenous art. Yet he never loses touch with his connection to the land or his history; there are always aspects there in his works.
His friend picked up the finished glasseshim, so I never met Morrisseau, but I have always felt a connection with him and his paintings… and that’s my brush with fame.