From sitting to walking to dancing to fighting, the polar bear is one of the most depicted subjects in Inuit sculpture. Perhaps the arctic’s most iconic animal, the solitary bear is also the most powerful. With no natural predators, the bear remains at the top of the Arctic food chain and is both feared and respected by neighbouring animals and … Read More
Wild Things: Prints by Artist Papiara Tukiki
Papiara Tukiki (b. 1942) is an elder artist currently living in Kinngait (Cape Dorset). She was born at a camp in Nuwatta, located on the Foxe Peninsula on the southern end of Baffin Island. Tukiki lived in camps until 1962 when she moved into the settlement community at Kinngait. Shortly before the move, she began to experiment with drawing while … 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
Artist of the ‘90s: Sheojuk Etidlooie
“I started out drawing by accident at the Church Christmas games. That’s when I learned that I could draw, and ever since then I have gained confidence. I have to think about a drawing for a while before I start to make it. My drawings are from me, they are my own but it is not easy to make them. … 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
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
Post-Fair: Art Toronto 2020
This year, Art Toronto looked a little bit different. Like many large-scale events of 2020, Toronto’s annual and much-anticipated art fair went virtual for the first time ever. While adapting to a new digital platform was daunting at first, we were encouraged to think outside of the box in order to bring the best of our “booth” to fairgoers. In … Read More
Themes in Inuit Art: Mother and Child
We’re overjoyed that our own Elyse recently welcomed a baby girl into the world! In honour of the new mom and baby, we decided to take a look at one of the most common subjects depicted in Inuit art—the Mother and Child. From early sculptures of Inuk mothers cradling children or keeping babies warm in their hoods, to the many … Read More
Annie, Unscripted
During this rare time of being homebound, I, like many, have taken some time to look back at old travel memories. I was reminded of the time I spent with artist Annie Pootoogook, who I had the great fortune of knowing and travelling with over a number of years. We went to Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, Calgary, Montreal as well as … Read More
My Personal Cultural Moment of the Year
December 2019 By Joel Sears, Feheley Writer I grew up with a Kenojuak Ashevak lithograph hanging on the wall. It’s still there in my mother’s dining room. But I never fully appreciated the subtle power of Inuit art until I started working with Pat Feheley. It has been a real joy to be able to see this art through Pat’s … Read More
Celebrating Sixty Years of Printmaking in Cape Dorset
The year 2019 marked the 60th anniversary of the legendary Kinngait Studios. In celebration, Feheley Fine Arts held the exhibition 60/60 which featured an unbelievable collection of prints from Kinngait (Cape Dorset). The show included one print from each year since the studio’s inception. 60/60 ran simultaneously alongside the 60th annual Cape Dorset Annual Print Release, visually exploring, in chronological … Read More
Toronto Biennial Patrons Learn about 60 Years of Cape Dorset Printmaking
This month, Feheley Fine Arts was thrilled to host patrons of the Toronto Biennial for an art talk centred around printmaking in Cape Dorset. To set the scene, Pat began the talk in Centre Space in front of Shuvinai Ashoona’s monumental drawing of Kinngait showing audience members where Canada’s longest continually running printmaking studio is located. An overview of Cape … Read More