Woodland Art is a powerful style of artistic work, depicting the cultural values and symbols of the Ojibway people of Canada. The founder of this school of art was Norval Morrisseau, an Ojibway artist from Northern Ontario. With painting in this style and incorporating the legends and world views of his people, he aimed to re-introduce the values of the Anishnaabeg back into the present world. The Ojibway culture is related to a larger group of people known as the Anishnaabeg, who reside within Canada and the United States. I want to curate a show that displays the cultural values of the Ojibway through the Woodland Style of Art in order to help preserve as well as bring awareness to Ojibway culture and values. The culture was nearly annihilated …show more content…
Like Thomas and Jacobson Morrisseau is able to incorporate deep symbols and meanings of the Ojibway people in his work. However, his pieces also suggest a more emotional response from the viewer. An example of this would be Morrisseau’s Bear Doctor Healing with Open Heart that demonstrates what his work is known for, deep symbolism aiding in an emotional response. The use of animal symbolism is with the bear which represents love along with being interpreted as a Medicine Man in the Ojibway culture. Next to the bear there are what seem to be thunderbirds on each side. Along with the animals the viewer is exposed to an organ like shape at the bottom of the painting that looks similar to a heart. Other images depicted are the use of lines connecting all of the figures and the objects together, as well as the divided circle. All of these signs are signifying the concept of healing oneself within the world they inhabit. I have mentioned before the Ojibway belief that we are all connected, and how the use of lines shows this connectivity, yet one concept I did not brush upon is the value of oneself in Ojibway culture. The culture focuses on the idea that in our spiritual journey, we become who we are through our achievements. This value can be linked to the concept of healing and maintaining a spiritual balance with the world, as seen through the images within the piece. The bear, representing love and medicine, the Thunderbirds bring messages from the Creator, and the divided circle which signifies the dualities of the world, there cannot be light without darkness. These bring to the idea of healing oneself and maintaining the balance between the dualities found throughout the world. These symbols also portray an emotional response form the viewer. As people throughout life suffer we are constantly struggling with healing our emotional wounds. This piece shows our healing process and the value of that