Shaman Turning Into Thunderbird

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size (inches): 100 x 70
Size (cm): 250 x 175

Status: Available for Purchase

Observations: This painting is related to and is an extension of the series entitled 'Man Changing into Thunderbird,' a six-painting cycle which was displayed in his North American one-man show in 2007 that began in Ottawa's National Gallery and ended at the Smithsonian's Museum of the American Indian, and which is currently part of the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario. The theme of shamanic transformation is probably Morrisseau's single most personal narrative, and within the frame is the entire transformation of man to shaman to thunderbird, a depiction of the movement from the physical to the spiritual via the aid of his spirit and totemic guides. Its massive scale - over 8 feet tall - and masterful coloration is Morrisseau at his most provocative. No photograph can convey the grandeur, complexity and harmony of this piece - it must be experienced in person to be truly understood.