With deep appreciation and excitement, the Mackenzie Art Gallery, in Regina, Saskatchewan, announces a transformational gift facilitated by Westerkirk Works of Art and from the Westerkirk Foundation (WWoA) in support of ongoing research on the life and legacy of Norval Morrisseau, the mishomis (grandfather) of Indigenous art. Over the past three years, the MacKenzie has partnered with The Morrisseau Project 1955-1985, a multi-institution research group based out of Carleton University, most significantly on the launch of morrisseaustorylines.com last year. As The Morrisseau Project 1955-1985 completes their research project, a new endowment (established by WWoA and housed at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation) will allow the MacKenzie to continue the groundbreaking work began by the Morrisseau Project and act as steward for its significant digital database of Morrisseau records and research.

As of November 5, the MacKenzie Art Gallery has become the sole steward and manager of the database, formerly housed at Carleton University, and is now able to begin work on a multi-year project to produce a publicly accessible version of the database that will expand on free online resources dedicated to the art and legacy of Morrisseau. The Morrisseau Project database houses records on roughly 3,000 works of art, in addition to stories, letters, videos, and other multi-media from throughout Norval Morrisseau’s life. Under the stewardship of the MacKenzie, this dynamic database will offer new ways to consider the impact of Norval Morrisseau’s art today and in the future.

“We are honoured to carry on this important work, begun by an incredible group of researchers led by Carmen Robertson,” says John G. Hampton, Executive Director & CEO, MacKenzie Art Gallery. “This database helps us understand the true depth of Indigenous and Canadian art history, and we are humbled to be entrusted with helping to tell that story, to continue our 50-year history of championing Indigenous artists, curators, and researchers. WWoA’s visionary support will help ensure that a legacy that has been an inspiration to our current generation of artists can continue to reach the next generation of Indigenous youth, and countless more through ongoing research and presentation.”

To support the Morrisseau Project’s ongoing development, WWoA created the Morrisseau Project Fund at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation to support research, documentation, publications, and discourse on Norval Morrisseau’s life, work and legacy. This includes advancing the preservation, promotion, and exhibition of his artwork as part of the MacKenzie’s long history of championing Indigenous art and culture. The Gallery also plans to use the Fund to support Indigenous artistry, inspire Indigenous art collection, and strengthen Western Canada’s role in our national identity.

“The Morrisseau Project Fund endows, in perpetuity, work to broaden the public’s appreciation of Morrisseau’s artwork and his place in the history of Canadian and international art,” says Jessica Wilson, Curator, Westerkirk Works of Art. “The Fund will allow more people, whether living in Canada or abroad, to experience the magic of Morrisseau’s art and explore his vision; understand and appreciate Indigenous ways of knowing, concepts of the Land and practices of healing and communication; find hope, healing, and inspiration by connecting with the work of Morrisseau; and come to recognize Morrisseau’s enduring legacy.”

With the transfer of ownership and management of the Morrisseau Project database, the MacKenzie is poised to advance the research of the Anishinaabe painter’s art and life, as well as promote his work through the continued development of the Norval Morrisseau: Storylines project—an interactive internet and accessible publication launched in 2024. The MacKenzie has already been working with Métis curator Michelle McGeough on an exhibition of two-spirit art that grew from work started with the Morrisseau Project, and will deliver further projects that help expand and build upon Morrisseau’s lasting legacy and influence. The MacKenzie’s first task will be to hire a newly created position of Morrisseau Director of Research, to guide and support this work.

Founding Morrisseau Project partners, including Carleton, the Norval Morrisseau Heritage Society, Westerkirk Works of Art, as well as many other art institutions, embarked on creating the database in 2019 to create a comprehensive narrative of Morrisseau’s life and work during his formative decades (1955-1985). Their vision for and dedication to recognizing the impact of Norval Morrisseau’s work and his life stories created a solid foundation for the MacKenzie to carry forward.

The earlier partnership between the Morrisseau Project research team and the MacKenzie Art Gallery to create Norval Morrisseau: Storylines underscored the Gallery’s dynamic approach to creating awareness and understanding of Indigenous arts on the regional, national, and international stages.

“The MacKenzie has an impressive history of championing Indigenous art and artists—the Morrisseau database and Storylines project are in great hands,” says Carmen Robertson, Canada Research Chair in North American Indigenous Visual and Material Culture, Carleton University. “I look forward to seeing the next phase of research, development, and promotion of Norval Morrisseau’s work.”

The Morrisseau Project strengthens Canadian identity through the continued exploration of the work of the most prolific and recognized Indigenous artist in the country. Norval Morrisseau had a monumental influence on Indigenous and Canadian art history. Renowned as the mishomis of a new artistic movement within Indigenous contemporary art, Morrisseau challenged the Canadian art establishment to embrace discourse related to Indigenous aesthetics and spirituality, leaving a lasting mark on generations of Indigenous artists and expanding art appreciation and ways of knowing nationally and globally.

ABOUT THE MACKENZIE

The MacKenzie Art Gallery envisions a world where art inspires and heals across generations. Located in Treaty 4 territory / oskana kâ-asastêki / Regina, the MacKenzie is Saskatchewan’s oldest public art gallery, with a 50-year history of championing Indigenous art from Indigenous perspectives. The MacKenzie embraces its unique position within the Canadian and international art landscape, celebrating the diverse perspectives of all artists within the Plains region and Canada. It has a focus on Indigenous and contemporary art, contextualized through select historic and international work.

ABOUT WESTERKIRK WORKS OF ART

Westerkirk Works of Art preserves Canadian heritage through the collection and preservation of Indigenous art and plays a crucial role in making Norval Morrisseau’s art available to the public. Westerkirk holds one of the largest collections of Morrisseau’s artwork in Canada.

MEDIA CONTACT

Allison Weed

Communications Manager

MacKenzie Art Gallery

aweed@mackenzie.art

(306)-584-4250 x4284

Image Credit: Installation view, Miskwaabik Animiiki Power Lines: The Work of Norval Morrisseau, The MacKenzie Art Gallery, 2021. Photo by: Don Hall

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