Uqsuqtuuq, the Inuktitut name for the community of Gjoa Haven, loosely means “plenty of blubber”, referring the many sea mammals that are local to the area. The community is also abundant in its artistic creativity. Since the 1970s, Gjoa Haven sculptures have been renowned for their spiritual energy, characterized by eccentric facial expressions and exaggerated forms seen in depictions of … Read More
Exhibition: Land of Plenty – Gjoa Haven Sculpture
Uqsuqtuuq, the Inuktitut name for Gjoa Haven, loosely means “plenty of blubber,” referring the many sea mammals that are local to the area. The community is also abundant in its artistic creativity. Uqsuqtuuq sculptures have always been renowned for their spiritual energy, characterized by eccentric facial expressions and exaggerated forms seen in depictions of shamans, hunters, and animals. Land of … Read More
BIRDS AND FLOWERS
Dorothy Anirniq
Gjoa Haven 1981
Felt, embroidery floss, and duffle
28 x 35 1/2 in.
Inuit Community Name Changes
How we refer to placenames in Inuit Nunangat (homelands of the Inuit) has changed over the course of time. You might wonder why some community names seem to have recently changed and why. And who decided on their non-Inuit names in the first place? Europeans in Inuit Nunangat In the late-1500s, English seaman Martin Frobisher sailed west across the … Read More
Post-Fair: Art Toronto 2021
It was so good to be back at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the 2021 iteration of Art Toronto. Half the size but double the fun, this year’s Feheley Fine Arts booth featured new drawings by Kinngait artists Shuvinai Ashoona, Saimaiyu Akesuk, Ooloosie Saila, Ningiukulu Teevee, and Qavavau Manumie. Paintings on canvas were also featured. Two were by Tuktoyaktuk-born … Read More
Themes in Inuit Art: Transformation
Since the 1950s, the theme of the transformation has featured in sculptures, prints, and drawings by Inuit artists hailing from many communities across the Canadian arctic. Depictions of human figures intertwined with animals have permeated the art form in various styles and media, captivating audiences for decades. While many admire the creativity and spirit that emanates from such pieces, the … Read More
The Wonders of Baleen
This year’s annual Cape Dorset print collection included a number of showstopping prints featuring recognizable arctic subject matter. From the whimsical kamik-wearing owl in Ningiukulu Teevee’s dynamic lithograph Stepping Out, to Pauojoungie Saggiak’s open-mouthed char in First Catch, to Nicotye Samayualie’s luminous nocturne Silaqtiq (Bright Evening), the animals and landscapes of the Canadian arctic dominated the graphics of 2020. Perhaps … Read More
What Type of Stone is This?
“What type of stone is this?” is one of the most common questions we receive about sculptures, and it’s a good one. While many think of Inuit sculpture as synonymous with “soapstone” (the name given to a specific type of soft stone), artists across the Arctic in fact use a variety of local stone types that are available in their … Read More