Everyone 

Curator: The energy in this painting just vibrates! So vibrant, with bold lines and a whole chorus of characters presented in a riot of color, I must say. Editor: It is rather intense, isn't it? What we're looking at is a piece by Norval Morrisseau, entitled "Everyone." It's a mixed-media painting where he really uses color and form to push the boundaries of narrative and representation. It speaks to themes present throughout his body of work regarding Indigenous identity, spirituality, and cultural reclamation. Curator: Yes, but on first viewing, regardless of subject, my eyes keep dancing across the canvas, following the curves and angles of each shape. It is expressionistic in ways I had not initially associated with art by Indigenous Americans. Each figure, set within its bubble or frame, becomes a study in abstract geometry. It almost flattens them to pure design. The lack of modeling gives the overall painting this almost mystical appearance. Editor: Absolutely. Think about what was happening culturally and politically during much of the time he was producing. Morrisseau's work challenges dominant narratives, not just about Indigenous art, but about representation itself. There's a potent dialogue here, a constant interplay between personal identity, community, and broader sociopolitical issues affecting Indigenous populations. Each segment also shows unique facets to everyone's identities. Curator: And his usage of color! Purple, green, red, orange – each shade carefully placed next to its complement to amplify its visual effect. They reverberate! One can perceive his use of heavy outlines, in conjunction with juxtaposing colors and varying form density, as a unique and engaging method of visual semantics, providing context with design choices rather than strictly representative painting. Editor: Precisely. His art confronts the systemic erasures and misrepresentations that Indigenous peoples face. I think works like this dismantle those structures, demanding visibility, recognition, and respect. "Everyone," in its complex visual language, articulates a powerful claim for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. The work acts like a protest in response to socio-political constructs attempting to disenfranchise indigenous persons. Curator: I see so much here; Morrisseau's painting leaves one awash in its technical presentation and vibrant storytelling. It is an aesthetic triumph that invites discourse through dynamic color and careful consideration of line. Editor: And that combination underscores the necessity of centering intersectional voices in art historical conversations. It brings discussions about identity, power, and representation to the fore in critical, decolonized ways.