Norval Morrisseau: Medicine Paintings

Virtually unknown here, Morrisseau is revered in his native Canada. The influential Woodland style of painting he developed stemmed from an isolated childhood in northern Ontario, where he was inspired by petroglyphs and drawings on birchbark scrolls, but also cautioned by his elders against indulging his own visions. He eventually gave in to his artistic calling no less, meeting with instant success in southern Canada in the 60s as well as criticism and controversy from his own Ojibwe people, who believed he was selling out their legends and beliefs. But younger Native artists in northern Canada found his work inspiring, and as one writer has pointed out, better they follow one of their own tribe than go to art school in Santa Fe. This is Morrisseau’s first major gallery exhibit in the U.S.; next fall, the National Gallery of Canada’s retrospective of his work will open at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York. 2123 W. 21st Street, Minneapolis, 612-377-4669; www.bockleygallery.com”