The selvage features a photograph of Morrison at Red Rock, his home and studio in Grand Portage, Minnesota. The photograph was taken by Marlene Wisuri in 1993. A founding figure of Native American modernism, 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. Antonio Alcalá served as art director and designer for this stamp pane. Provided: USPS 

From the U.S. Postal Service & Boreal Community Media • March 18, 2022

The U.S. Postal Service honors George Morrison (1919-2000) with a set of five stamps showcasing his work and will be hosting a first-day-of-issue event on April 22 in Grand Portage. With these stamps, the Postal Service™ recognizes George Morrison (1919–2000), one of the nation‘s greatest modernist artists. The pane of 20 stamps showcases five of Morrison‘s abstract landscapes: 

• Sun and River (1949); 
• Phenomena Against the Crimson: Lake Superior Landscape (1985); 
• Lake Superior Landscape (1981); 
• Spirit Path, New Day, Red Rock Variation: Lake Superior Landscape (1990);
• Untitled (1995). 

The first-day-of-issue event for the George Morrison Forever stamps is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #GeorgeMorrisonStamps.

One of the nation’s greatest modernist artists and a 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.

 George Morrison at the exhibition “Standing in the Northern Lights: George Morrison, a Retrospective,” at the Minnesota Museum of Art in St. Paul in 1990. Photo by Tom Attridge

Many of his works feature a prominent horizon line inspired consciously and subconsciously by his childhood on the shore of Lake Superior. Representing the space where sky and water meet, the horizon line also marks the boundary between known and unknown, a mystery that Morrison repeatedly explored, even as he continued to refine his modernist vision.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.

Many officials to attend the first day of issue event.

Many national and local special guests will be on hand for the first day of issue event to be held at the Grand Portage National Monument on April 22.  They include:

• Steve Monteith, chief customer and marketing officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service
• Briand Mesaba Morrison, Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, musician and interdisciplinary artist
• Hazel Belvo, artist and Minneapolis College of Art and Design Professor Emerita
• Kristin Makholm, art historian and co-author of the book Modern Spirit: The Art of George Morrison
• Andrea Carlson, (Grand Portage Anishinaabe and Scandinavian descent), visual artist and writer
• Christina Woods (Anamacikwe), Member of the Bois Forte Tribal Nation, Executive Director Duluth Art Institute, US Senate Curatorial Advisory Board
• John Morrin (Giniwogichada), committeeman, Grand Portage Tribal Council
• Robert Deschampe, Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Chairman of Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• Elizabeth Drost, Grand Portage Ojibwe, Executive Director of the Cook County/Grand Marais Joint Economic Development Authority

The public is invited to attend the first day of issue event and admission is free. the event will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022, at 1 p.m. CDT at the Grand Portage National Monument, 170 Mile Creek Road, Grand Portage, MN 55605