Cherry Branch 

Editor: Right, let's talk about "Cherry Branch" by Norval Morrisseau. The cheerful acrylic painting feels like a celebration of nature, buzzing with vibrant colour and stylised forms. How do you read a work like this, where narrative meets abstraction so playfully? Curator: Well, for me, this explodes with the joy of renewal, that constant give and take in nature. Morrisseau, with that signature style – those bold lines and x-ray vision almost – he’s not just depicting cherries and birds; he's channeling the very life force that connects them. Do you see how the colours pulse outwards? Like little energetic bursts? Editor: Yes, I see it. So it's not about realistically portraying a cherry branch... Curator: Good heavens, no! Think about it – what is "real," anyway? Morrisseau's offering a glimpse beneath the surface, revealing the interconnectedness, the spiritual essence. Each bird, each cherry is alive with meaning, part of a grander story of life and energy, which is also how Indigenous ways of knowing sees this reality. I can almost taste the sweetness of those stylized cherries! They remind me of summer picnics. Does it conjure anything like that for you? Editor: That makes sense, a kind of visual storytelling rather than simple representation. And now I see how personal the expression really is here. Curator: Absolutely. Every artist's brushstroke whispers a personal narrative, even as it participates in a larger cultural dialogue. Editor: This has changed how I initially looked at it – from simply being a pretty image to seeing the profound, embedded layers. Thanks. Curator: Anytime. I'll keep picking at that idea and see what else sprouts to life!