Eddie Morrison
cherokee contemporary sculptor
Meet Artist Eddie Morrison
"When I carve, I consider the natural forms of the wood & stone, and believe in letting the material speak for itself as it has its own story to tell." Eddie Morrison
Eddie Morrison is a contemporary sculptor who works in wood and stone. Born in 1946 in Oklahoma, he was raised in Tahlequah, Oklahoma by his Cherokee grandmother, Jane Batt Brackett. He attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah and graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico with a degree in Three Dimensional Arts.
Other formal study included classes at the Art Student League of Denver and Marble Stone Carving. Eddie's earliest artistic recollections were of his grandmother and aunt designing and sewing quilts along with crocheting items.
He also remembers, "There was always someone doing something with wood" in his home and community. "My best friend's father would sit for hours-on-end carving pieces of wood into beautiful traditional bows and arrows. I believe I was more influenced by him than any other person about my feeling for wood. I was also deeply influenced by the great Apache artist, Allan Houser, who was a guest lecturer and teacher at the Art Student League of Denver."
Apache Artist, Allan Houser teaching his student Eddie Morrison
Houser encouraged Eddie to continue his studies on a more advanced level at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. Upon graduation, Eddie received the Faculty Department Award for Outstanding Student in Three Dimensional Art. Eddie had also pursued painting, influenced by his brother, Jesse Hummingbird, but never felt completely comfortable with this medium. Through his discovery of his connection to wood and his studies, he realized that carving is his calling.
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Eddie's work depicts a variety of themes. Animals are a prevalent subject, particularly bears, eagles and buffaloes. Eddie also carves human figures in traditional presentations, such as wearing a wolf skin cape, a blanket, or feathers. He says he strives to produce work that represents American Indian people with "pride and dignity…My ideas and themes come from the philosophies of Indians about life, spirituality, respect for life, animals, and all that is around us, and the great creator."
The Process of Splitting Limestone
Eddie often uses red cedar because he likes the beautiful color variations. He allows the gentle curves or unusual twists naturally found in the wood to appear in the finished pieces. Another favorite material is Kansas limestone, which he collects himself. While some of his pieces are fully carved, others have the figures emerging from a rough hewn background, or on a "base" of material left uncarved. Much of this limestone contains fossils from a prehistoric sea that once covered much of North America. These fossils are often visible in the rough portions of his stone sculpture.
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Eddie Morrison's sculpture brings out the beauty of the natural materials and captures a moment in time of life, allowing Eddie to share his own story and that of his tradition. © The Indian Craft Shop
Eddie Morrison's sculptures are featured in such public locations as a monument on the Chisholm Trail at the Kansas/Oklahoma border, the Department of Interior Building in Washington DC as well as in permanent collections throughout the country. (text © The Indian Craft Shop 2011)
From the Artist's Personal Photo Collection
Here are my new cedarwood pieces I just finished to take to Washington D.C. next month.
1976 I was a painter early art show.
2006 Dept of the Interior, Indian Arts & Crafts Shop, Washington DC, gallery show with bear theme.
Photo by Jami Murphy today during interview.
27 years ago at the Yule marble quarry in Colorado, a nice marble piece I was doing, titled Tribute to Endangered Species.
1990 at Marble, Colorado, my first marble sculpture.
20 years ago, cedar wood piece.
1990, seems like yesterday. Digging up all my old pictures of my past years as an artist.
Early 90s at Smoki Hills Museum, Salina, Kansas. Exhibiting my art.
Dedication for the Arkansas City, Kan Lion in the Park. Was an honor, he was glad to be home I think. Thanks to Lion's club of Ark City.
This was a special night for Sculptor Eddie Morrison, whose short film premiered "A Man's Legacy" at #tribalfilmfestival
1996, warmer days at Sante Fe Ind Mkt ,for me and my Iceman sculpture. I don't like cold weather, lol.
Indian Crafts Shop in the Department of Interior Washington D.C
Early 1990s Sylvan Grove ,Ks. Quarrying the limestone slab used for the monument I did for the Chisholm Trail, which sits on the Okla and Kansas border in Caldwell, Ks. titled " Those Who Came Before Us" was heavy, almost 1600lbs. If you're ever up that way stop and take a look at it, tell them Eddie sent you, lol.
1996 me on steps of National Museum American Indian, New York City. Got see some of my work in there.
Photo Credits: Will Chavez, Jaimie Murphy, Pamela Thurman, Celia Xavier
Some Artists and Resources I Support
Verna Bates - Cherokee Gourd Artist/Painter/Pottery
Victoria Mitchell - Cherokee Pottery
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)
Indian Arts & Crafts Association - A not-for-profit organization established to support the ethical promotion and protection of authentic Native American art and culture. IACA is a watchdog for authenticity in Indian arts and crafts.
