Hazel Belvo on why stamps are a good way to celebrate the work of George Morrison

Friday, April 22, the U.S. Postal Service will honor George Morrison, one of the nation’s greatest modernist artists and founding figure of Native American modernism.

George Morrison challenged prevailing ideas of what Native American art should be, arguing that an artist’s identity can exist independently from the nature of the art he creates. He is best known for his abstract landscape paintings and monumental wood collages, which draw on childhood memory and reflect a deep and abiding connection with the natural world.

A ceremony at 1pm on Friday, April 22, at the Grand Portage National Monument marks the release a set of five stamps showcasing Morrison’s work.

Hazel Belvo was married to George Morrison. She is a painter based both in Minneapolis and Grand-Marais and she speaks with Cathy Wurzer about Morrison's life, work and love of stamps.

You can see George Morrison’s art at two different exhibits right now. The Grand Portage National Monument’s Heritage Center opened an exhibit his work the week. That will run through September. The Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery in Grand Marais is also featuring his work.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.