Stained Glass Effect 

Editor: Here we have Norval Morrisseau's painting, "Stained Glass Effect," created with acrylic paint. The vibrant colours and thick black outlines immediately grab your attention, almost like looking through a stained-glass window, but the figures feel really abstract. How would you interpret the techniques used in this painting? Curator: It's vital to consider Morrisseau's use of materials in relation to his Anishinaabe heritage and the exploitative history of resource extraction in that territory. This image points to the labour of translating traditional stories into a modern, accessible visual language, what was at stake in those cultural and artistic shifts, and how this work entered global art markets. How might mass production and consumption shape Morrisseau's artistic decisions here? Editor: That’s a great point! Considering its "pop art" feel, could it also be referencing mass-produced images? How does that change its context? Curator: Precisely. Look at the flat application of the acrylic paint. It almost denies the artist's hand. It removes a sense of hierarchy between "high art" and everyday commercial images, creating some tension between traditional subject matter and this supposedly democratic and accessible method. Does this ease our understanding of the subject, or commodify it further? What impact could that commodification have on cultural preservation? Editor: I hadn’t thought of the implications of those choices. It's fascinating how his use of accessible materials opens up new perspectives. I see how he critiques boundaries. Curator: And this makes his work a unique statement on cultural preservation, identity, and the complexities of artistic production. This painting reveals how artistic processes embed cultural meaning, especially when considering the history of material exploitation of Indigenous land and resources. Editor: Thank you! Thinking about this painting through materiality gives me a lot to consider. Curator: Indeed. Let’s remember that considering production techniques lets us critically examine artworks and society’s impact.