Native Modernism

Native Modernism: The Art of George Morrison and Allan Houser showcases magnificent paintings, drawings, and sculptures by two highly acclaimed artists. In this groundbreaking, beautifully illustrated book, distinguished Native American writers and scholars add a rich new dimension to previously published accounts of Native American art with a fascinating exploration of Morrison's and Houser's work in the context of contemporary art, Native American art history, and cultural identity. George Morrison (Grand Portage Band of Chippewa, 19192000) and Allan Houser (Warm Springs Chiricahua Apache, 19141994) shattered expectations for Native art, and paved the way for successive generations to experiment with a wide array of styles and techniques. Born in a small Chippewa community in Minnesota, Morrison traveled and studied in New York City and Europe during an extraordinarily creative period in twentieth-century art. He emerged triumphantly as both a major American artist and an Indian artist. Often described as an abstract expressionist, Morrison developed, in such celebrated series as his Horizon paintings, a non-figurative visual language. Sculptor and painter Allan Houser also forged a unique path that redefined the way art by Native Americans is viewed and understood. The work of this prominent twentieth-century artist has appeared in important exhibitions in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and his monumental bronze Offering of the Sacred Pipe, installed at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, has become a worldwide symbol of peace.