Kiakshuk
Kinngait (Cape Dorset) 1960/65
Graphite
18 x 22 1/2 in.
Graphite: Early Drawings from Kinngait
Thirty years ago, almost to the day, the seminal exhibition Strange Scenes: Early Cape Dorset Drawings opened at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario. Curated by Susan Gustavison and Jean Blodgett, the show marked the first public exhibition that placed a focus on the early graphite drawings of the late-1950s and early-1960s. Blodgett explained that the “strange scenes” … Read More
A Brief History of Kinngait Printmaking
The world-renowned Kinngait Studios has welcomed experimentation and innovation in printmaking for over six decades. Many may be familiar with the story of its infancy, featuring Southern artist James Houston and his wife Alma, who were sent North by the Canadian government in the 1950s to establish an arts and crafts program in Kinngait. But the stars of this story … Read More
What’s the Difference Between “Inuit” and “Eskimo”?
You’ve likely heard the name “Eskimo” used to refer to Inuit and their culture, whether by your grandparents, parents, or maybe even a friend who grew up outside of Canada. It’s a term that has been out of date since 1980 when the name “Inuit” (meaning “people” in Inuktitut) was recognized by the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) to denote Inuit … Read More
60/60: Sixty Years of Printmaking in the Kinngait Studios
In celebration of the Kinngait Studios’ 60th anniversary, this exhibition features an unbelievable collection of Cape Dorset prints—one from each year since the studios’ inception. The graphics chosen acknowledge the many artists who passed through the studios over six decades, highlighting their innovations in style, technique, scale, printmaking type, and subject matter. Formally established in 1959, the studios have welcomed … Read More