The art of northern Canada has a rich and varied history, which can be seen in the many different examples of Inuit art that exist. Some of this work has been collected and is currently being exhibited in the city. The Godfrey Dean Art Gallery is currently presenting Inuit Art from the Mendel Collection: Tradition and Innovation, which runs until February 27.
Don Stein, executive director of the gallery, says the exhibition showcases the history and development of Inuit art, from early drawings to more modern work.
"As is well known, there wasn't a big tradition of Inuit people making art for its own sake. Of course they did carving, and they had made artifacts and sacred objects, and they had a tradition of making things."
It wasn't until James Houston went to the north and brought back Inuit artifacts that the people in the north were encouraged to make art, Stein explains. One of the big steps was the beginning of print making collectives in the north.
"They became very adept at making them and the prints are collected all over the world. So it was income for those artists and it became an important part of the community," Stein explains.
The art became a way not only for communities to have some income, but to also document a way of life in northern Canada which was quickly disappearing at the time, Stein explains.
The style of the work is influenced by the nature of the land the artists lived in, with the landscape and weather influencing the way people saw the world.
"People are in big puff-ball parkas, far away on the horizon. Shapes are more dramatic in the north, because there is the big sky, the big ground, and big things you can see. The complexity is when you get up close," Stein explains.
The development of Inuit art is the focus of the show, and it features a wide variety of artists and styles, from extremely early examples to more recent work. It also shows some Inuit art which is very uncommon, such as oil paintings.
The show will be running until February 27 at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery. Admission is free.
