Published by *ms.b
on Monday, December 3, 2007 at 6:42 PM. 
Novel Morriseau’s ‘Water Spirit’ “scared the hell” out of a resident security guard who asked me my opinion on his works. “Would you hang this piece in your house?” the middle-aged guard at New York’s National Museum of the American Indian asked me while trying to make light conversation. It was obvious that his attempt to make a joke was to mask his lack of knowledge of Native American art.
Many spiritual works of art, when taken out of the context of religious beliefs, are often misunderstood. I can’t profess to understand the deep inner workings of Morrisseau’s Anishnaabe tradition -- if I did his art would probably have a more profound effect on me. However, even without a PHD in shamanism, one could appreciate the rich and multi-faceted symbolism in his works. In his piece ‘Observations of the Astral World’, Morrisseau shows the face to face interaction of two ‘worlds’: one of mundane society, and another of their ancestors. What is interesting is the interaction isn’t one sided, both are looking for help from the other side, which denotes a belief of interdependency between the two. It brings light to their concept that in the circle of life and death things are not disregarded once they die. Is this a concept that every individual will related to? I guess that would depend on how an individual views God, religion and life after death. Contrarily, if conceptualizing is too much deal with, one could always focus on the pretty colors, and simple depiction of the Natives in his paintings -- so I guess there is something for everyone.
One of the purposes of art is to capture the mindset of the artist and relay it to the masses, and Norval Morrisseau’s work gives insight to one of this hemisphere’s original people. There is a history in his painting that seems to be past down from generation to generation -- and in this brave new world it is refreshing to have a glimpse of their past. So when a security guard who is in the presence of this work daily has no other comment but to joke about how his painting is too scary to show his children, though I might chuckle at his ignorance, I implore him to open his mind. Because the works of Norval Morrisseau are not meant to entertain us with their pretty colors, instead they are created to communicate a deeper message.
Norval Morrisseau’s paintings are on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, at the George Gustav Heye Center, through January 20, 2008. For more information on the exhibit call 212-514-3888.
*ms. b
National Museum of the American Indian
George Gustav Heye Center
One Bowling Green
New York, NY 10004
Labels: Art