Walking on the Summit by Norval Morrisseau

Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist by EA Studios, Calgary

Exhibited:
“Norval Morrisseau”, ManuLife Place, Edmonton, Alberta, December 1985

Literature:
“Norval Morrisseau,” Edmonton, 1985, unpaginated, reproduced as “Walking on the Summit of the High Mountains of the Astral World,” 1985
James R. Stevens, “A Picasso in the North Country: The Wild Journey of Canadian Artist, Norval Morrisseau,” Thunder Bay, 2011, reproduced page 217

Walking on the Summit was created by Norval Morrisseau during his stay at the Maligne Canyon Teahouse in Jasper, Alberta, during the off-season winter months of the early-to-mid 1980s. This painting was completed in 1985, when Morrisseau was sponsored by EA Studios Jasper Ltd., which facilitated his artistic endeavors in the region. The work is deeply inspired by the artist’s surroundings in the Canadian Rockies, capturing the essence of the majestic mountains. “Walking on the Summit” reflects his connection to nature and his ability to convey its spiritual and cultural significance through his art. Norval Morrisseau's time spent in Jasper allowed him to immerse himself in the natural beauty of the area. The presence of mountains in the canvas serves as a visual testament to Norval Morrisseau’s profound appreciation for the environment that surrounded him during his stay at the Maligne Canyon Teahouse.

The inscription on the reverse, describing the composition, reads: “Walking on the Summit of the High Mountains of the Asteral World’s Sagittarius. Part horse, part man, the Sacred Divine Archer shoots his two arrows which represents fish into the sea of creativity. These two signs working together to beautify (sic) the world.”

In recognition of Norval Morrisseau's rich heritage and their longstanding partnership with him during his sponsorship with EA Studios Calgary, the firm will donate a portion of the proceeds of sale of this canvas directly to the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation as a gesture of support and commitment to honoring the painter’s legacy.

The purchaser of this artwork will also receive a copy of “A Picasso in the North Country: The Wild Journey of Canadian Artist, Norval Morrisseau” by James R. Stevens (within which “Walking on the Summit” is reproduced) and a catalogue from the December 1985 one-man exhibition at Edmonton’s ManuLife Place (”Walking on the Summit” was included in the exhibition which Morrisseau attended personally).