'George Morrison: Modern Artist' paints the life of late Ojibwe artist for young readers
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A recently published children’s book shares the life story of Ojibwe artist George Morrison. The late artist was a citizen of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and is known for his abstract paintings and sculptures.
Morrison’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries across the nation, including a current exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
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The new book is titled “George Morrison: Modern Artist.” It’s a part of the Native American Lives Series by the Minnesota Humanities Center and Lerner Publishing Group, with support by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
Managing editor and humanities officer Corey China said the book series centers on Dakota and Ojibwe Minnesotans’ biographies, written and edited by Indigenous creatives, for grades fourth through eighth. The series includes both historical and modern figures who have had an impact on their communities, the state and the nation.
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The Minnesota Humanities Center plans to release a total of 12 books that meet curriculum standards for Minnesota public schools. Last year, the center held a launch event for the re-release of its four initial books in the series.
“Talking to educators, we know that these sorts of stories are a real gap for fourth through eighth grades,” said China. “It was a real need that educators were telling us they would like to see more of.”
Sung Ja Shin works with the organization as director of K-12 programming. She said the educational programming includes place-based learning, which the new book provides.
“George Morrison: Modern Artist” follows Morrison’s life from his childhood on the North Shore to studying art in New York City and Europe.
“I think one of the themes that comes up in Morrison's work and in the biography is really his connection to place, in particular the lakes and northern Minnesota,” Shin said.
Author Staci Drouillard, a Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa descendant, said Morrison often depicted areas from northern Minnesota, like the North Shore, in his art.
“If you've stood on the beach at Lake Superior and looked out at where the water meets the sky, this is where we also see George and his legacy,” Drouillard said.
She said that while the book is intended to be written for youth, she would recommend the book and series to anyone who would want to learn about Native Minnesotans.
“All of these stories have a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn more about people who have done great work, and in many cases, have done that work against all odds,” Drouillard said.
China shared similar sentiments about Morrison and his approach to art.
“His public artwork is ever present around the state, and he's got a long and deep legacy here,” China said.
Alongside Morrison, the Minnesota Humanities Center recently released two other books in the series.
One book focuses on Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin, the first Native woman to graduate from Washington College of Law. Another focuses on Sharon Day, executive director of the Indigenous Peoples Task Force and activist.
More information on the Native American Lives Series’ books can be found on the Minnesota Humanities Center’s website.
Chandra Colvin covers Native American communities in Minnesota for MPR News via Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues and communities.
