Artists of the Woodlands- Morrisseau, Odjig and Chee Chee

Norval Morrisseau

Untitled (Shaman Traveller to Other Worlds for Blessings)1990 / Untitled (Merman and Child) c. 1958-1969 / Untitled (Shaman) c. 1971

Begin at the National Gallery Website –

  • Go to the ‘cybermuse’ link

and use an ‘advanced search’ (under the alphabetical search) to type in the name of the artist.

  • Begin with Norval Morrisseau.
  • Click on an artwork and then use the toolbar on the right side to open his BIOGRAPHY.

Answer these questions:

  1. Where and when was Morrisseau born?
  2. What is his traditional name?
  3. What culture was he?
  4. What is the name of the style of art he invented? What do you think this word means?
  5. What did he learn from his grandfather? His grandmother?
  6. How do we know that Morrisseau was a very spiritual person?
  7. Name 2 aspects his art either expresses or reflects.

Go back to his main page and visit his GALLERY.

Open up the artwork page for Artist and Shaman between Two Worlds.

  1. What do the thunderbird and snake represent, at the top half of the canvas?
  2. What do you think the bottom half of the canvas could represent?
  3. What kinds of colours do you see?
  4. Observe a few of his artworks – what does he like to do with his images? Look at the way he repeats certain patterns or styles.

Daphne Odjig


Nanabush Giving the Racoon its Colours 1969

Click on an artwork and then use the toolbar on the right side to open her BIOGRAPHY.

  1. When and where was she born? Where did she move to, later in her life?
  2. What are 4 visual aspects that define her work?
  3. She brought “…Aboriginal political issues to the forefront of contemporary art practices and theory”. What are 3 issues her work often addresses?
  4. Odjig has a mixed background of Potawatomi-Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) and English heritage. Her art tells traditional stories or describes conflicts that could also represent the conflicts she felt in her life. Find an artwork you like and describe it, including why you like it.

Benjamin Chee Chee

Autumn Flight /

At Rest

/

Sunbird

Visit the Whetung Gallery page

and under the “Featured Artists” click on Chee Chee.

  1. Where was he born?
  2. What style of art did he use?
  3. What do you notice about his art? Mention the way he uses lines, colours and themes.