Image: Larger image in member area (click on image)
Medium: Serigraph on cotton rag wild deckle edgen paper
(S: 3+∙Re∙Tpm∙Tpp∙Tsa∙Tse)
Edition size: Known (S: 2∙Re∙Tpw∙Tse)
Artist Proof: Unknown
Paper size: Known (S: 1∙Re∙Tsa)
Image size: Known (S: 1∙Re∙Tsa, calculated paper/image ratio)
Year: Unknown (estimate ca 1982)
Printmaker: Unknown
Code: UU.16
Title & Image:
Maymaywaysiwak is a Canadian-Ojibwe writing of Memegawesag.
Memegawesag is derived from the Ojibwe word Memengwaa, which means butterfly.
Memegawesag or Memengwaag are butterfly-spirits, which Nanaboozho created to please the children by throwing beautifully painted pebbles to the winds. The ‘Maymaywaysiwak’ that were depicted by Norval Morrisseau however, are hairy-faced anthropomorphic, dwarf-like creatures that live on river banks and steep rocky slopes in rocky areas around the Great Lakes and are famous for their medicine. They usually travel in small groups and appear only to pure-minded people – which are often children.
Memegawesag is also written as: Memegwesiwag, Omemengweshii, Memengwesiwag, Memegweshiwag etc.
Info needed:
- Confirmation edition size
- Existence of Artist Proof(s)
- Confirmation paper size
- Confirmation image size
- Year of print
- Name printmaker
- Literature (official statements in books, magazines, exhibits, original
promotion material)
- Additional info or reference material
Thanks to:
- Zhaawano Giizhik of La Mesa Verde Studio for providing me the explination of the title and image.
Filed under: Serigraph / Silkscreen, Unknown printmaker, Unknown year
