Ritchie Sinclair expressed relief upon learning about a $1.45-million lawsuit against the Morrisseau estate, claiming the adult children promoted fraudulent works for financial gain.
Ashley Holland, the curator and director of curatorial initiatives at Art Bridges, emphasized the importance of Indigenous perspectives in American art collections, stating, "Indigenous perspectives are foundational to any American art collection. We are honoured to continue our deep support of Indigenous art with this acquisition and look forward to sharing these works with audiences around the country through our loan programme."
"We are not only going to display more, we are also going to see ways to be inspired by the Indigenous practices, in terms of thinking of community, thinking of sustainability."
The failure to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual culture as art is closely tied to the fact that the original inhabitants of Australia were not counted in the census until 1967.
Heap of Birds' retrospective reflects decades of advocacy for Indigenous communities, showcasing over 100 works that combine artistry with deep societal and moral implications.
"Our government's investment will help McMichael modernise and grow, protect the gallery's C$750m collection and secure the institution's status as a world-class cultural tourism attraction for generations to come."
