Art
Baffin and beyond: World-renowned Inuit art studio celebrates 65th anniversary
Bob Weber, The Canadian Press
Published Monday, January 15, 2024 9:40PM EST
Last Updated Monday, January 15, 2024 9:40PM EST
It began with an art studio so small and ill-equipped that printmakers opened windows to the Arctic winter to ventilate toxic chemicals.
Now, it’s an internationally known wellspring of imagery and imagination that graces the walls and tabletops of Canadians and art-lovers around the world — as well as a business that offers Inuit everything from public housing to small engine repair.
“We’re kept pretty busy,” said Pauloosie Kowmageak, president of the West Baffin Cooperative, Canada’s oldest Indigenous-owned arts organization, celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. It’s known in its home community of Kinngait, Nvt., simply as “the co-op,” but it’s better known as the first of the printmaking studios that brought Inuit vision to the world and gave Canada some of its most iconic art.
Art from Kinngait, formerly Cape Dorset, has appeared on postage stamps such as “The Enchanted Owl” by Kenojuak Ashevak, among others. It has been presented to ambassadors and represented Canada at major global art fairs such as the Venice Biennale.
“It’s been an important part of Canadian culture,” said Darlene Wight, curator of Inuit art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, owner of the world’s largest collection of such work.
The co-op began in 1959, an outgrowth of efforts to improve the production, quality and marketing of the art Inuit had been making for centuries. Studios such as West Baffin gave Inuk creators a chance to move from carving to the more lucrative field of printmaking.
Those were rough-and-ready days, recalls printmaker Niveaksie Quvianaqtuliaq, who has worked at the studio for 34 years.
“We didn’t have any proper equipment,” he said. “When we used harsh chemicals, our vent was so weak we had to open windows and doors. In January, by the time all the chemicals were out, you could see your breath.”
Not so anymore.
The studio — now, it claims, the longest-running print shop in Canada — is equipped with the latest stonecut, etching, stencil and lithography equipment, as well as a drawing studio. It has a gallery, a restaurant and a retail area in the 1,000-square-metre Kenojuak Cultural Centre.
More than 100 people work there, making it the largest employer in town, said Kowmageak.
“Economically, we help out in the community.”
The artists and the printmakers who translate their designs onto paper are almost all local. Many are second or third generation.
“We’re happy that it continues within families,” Kowmageak said. “We’re trying to push it out to the school system as well to keep it going.”
Art from West Baffin has changed over the generations, Wight said.
Imagery rooted in traditional activities on the land, ancient myths and the lives of animals is shifting to include elements of modern Inuit life. It’s also grown more technically sophisticated, gradually moving from simple silhouettes to incorporate colour and perspective.
“It’s becoming more and more diverse,” said Wight.
“The subject matter is definitely changing from the more on-the-land life that their parents lived to a more urban outlook. That’s what all the younger people are doing — they’re not doing hunting scenes.”
Over the course of the co-op’s life, the art has also achieved international recognition.
In 1999, then-French president Jacques Chirac made a detour to Kinngait to meet artists and make purchases. Wight has curated shows of Inuit art in the European principality of Monaco — attended by Prince Rainier — as well as the Italian city of Verona.
“The Italians think they have the market cornered on art, but it was really fun to see them exploring carvings and prints and drawings and textiles,” Wight said.
Wight is currently preparing a show of Kinngait artist Ningiukulu Teevee for London, England. Shows celebrating the co-op’s anniversary are currently scheduled in Miami and Fredericton.
West Baffin has become a conduit between life on a remote Arctic island and the rest of the world. International visitors are common — most recently, a delegation from South Korea.
Quvianaqtuliaq has studied at the Nova Scotia Academy of Art and Design and worked with printmakers in Albuquerque, N.M.
“We’re around the world now,” he said.
“I look back and look around and I can’t believe I’m here, working with all the artists. I love my job.”
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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