b'ART GALLERIESCOVID. They produce work in a kind of Woodland style. There were digital HAPPY ENDING TO A HEIST pieceswe commissioned two artists, and they created an NFT [non-fungible MORRISSEAU WORKS COME HOME TO THUNDER BAY token, a unique digital artifact], which we In April 2022, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery opened an exhibit ofpurchased for the collection.recent additions to its collection called The World We Know. The nameGodwin marvels at the creative diversity: of the exhibit was taken from the title of a painting by artist RoyBeautiful quill baskets and mukluksall Morris, but many visitors to the exhibit were probably most excitedthe way up to an NFT! This work is to see a pair of works by Norval Morrisseaunot because of thegoing to continue to be produced and fame of the painter credited with founding the Woodland style ofinfluence art across the country.Indigenous art, but because of the paintings strange history.Morrisseau probably painted the two works, Demi-God Figure 1 andA DIFFERENT SPACEDemi-God Figure 2, around 1970 and 1971. The acrylic paintingsThe spirit of Woodland artist Roy measure about three by five feet and were valued at approxi- Thomas imbues a very different type of mately $3,500 each when they were donated to Thunder Baysarts space: Thunder Bays Ahnisnabae Confederation College. But in 1981, two young men in overalls Art Gallery. Thomas was Anishinaabe possibly students in disguisesimply walked in and carried the twofrom Long Lake 58 First Nation near paintings away. Longlac, Ontario. It wasnt a gallery The paintings would not return to Thunder Bay until 2018, when awhen Roy was alive, because we were Montreal curator contacted Mike Rozic, the Colleges senior managerselling art, says curator Louise Thomas, of public safety, to say she believed two paintings being offered forRoys wife, best friend and business sale were the missing Morrisseaus. And they were. partner, who comes from Sucker Creek Cree First Nation in northwestern We may never know exactly who perpetrated the original theft, butAlberta. He felt it was important to treat it turns out a Montreal art collector purchased them for $7,000 init as a business.1981 from an art gallery that has since closed. The College initiatedThe space began as an art business a process of negotiation to get the paintings back, and in 2021, anin 1997. Then Roy Thomas died in agreement was reached that saw both piecesnow valued in theNovember 2004, and his wife Louise neighbourhood of $60,000 to $70,000 eachback in Thunder Bay. opened the Ahnisnabae Art Gallery in In April 2022, the College held a celebratory unveiling of the twoJune 2005. Roy was a beautiful man returned paintings before they were donated to the Thunder Bay Artwho had some wonderful qualities about Gallery. They are in good company now, as part of a collection ofhim. I felt that I needed to honour this some 120 works by Morrisseau that represents an important record ofman in some way, she says.his career. We had a set of twins that were very young, and because Roy supported us 100 per cent on his art, I wanted to continue that, adds Thomas. I thought that the only way to honour this man was to open this art gallery, not only to honour Roy, but for my own healing at this big significant loss in my life and my family.Thomas describes how her husband pounded the pavement to establish himself and his artwork in Toronto and then around the world. You have to have that confidence and belief in your talent, and Roy did, she says, adding that he went through very difficult periods in his life before his success. He did have heartaches, and was sent to a residential school. He struggled for a long time with drugs and alcohol, but he got help and he recovered.Thomas credits the teachings of Roys grandparents for supporting him through these challenges. He also had help from other artists like Daphne Odjig, who gave him his first show at her Winnipeg 28Fall/Winter 2022'