The works in this exhibition were collected by Dr. H.G Jones on his travels to Nunavut which celebrated its inauguration as a new territory separate from Canada’s Northwest Territories in April 1999. The territory represents more than one-fifth of Canada’s land mass and is home to most of the country’s Inuit population. In addition to being representative of contemporary Inuit art, the works presented center around the theme of traditional drumming and dancing. Along with their artistic merit, these works serve to document and preserve an important part of Inuit heritage.
Drummer by Andrew Qappik (1992). Stencil on Arches paper. From the collection of Dr. H.G. Jones. Photo credit: Brook Greene.
Drumming Dancer by Iola Abraham Ikkidluak. Yellowish green serpentine with bone drum and striker. From the collection of Dr. H.G. Jones. Photo credit: Brook Greene.
Distant Drums installation view.
Distant Drums installation view.
Exhibition listing
- Dancing Bear; Tommy Tapanie; green serpentine; Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Ecstatic Dancer; Kavavau Manumee; green-black mottled serpentine; Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Dancing Bear; George Arlook; dark gray stone stained dark; Arviat (Eskimo Point), Nunavut
- Drumming Dancer; Luke Aerut; gray stone; Igloolik, Nunavut
- Dancing Musk Ox; Joamie Ipellie; green serpentine with ivory and baleen eyes, caribou antler; Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Ecstatic Drumming Dancer; Lazalusie Ishulutaq; mottled black serpentine; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Dancing Potbellied Walrus; Joanasie Petaloosie; green mottled serpentine with caribou antler tusks; Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Dancing Walrus; Anthony (Tony) Amosee; variegated brown serpentine, ivory tusks; Atsanilk Qikiqtaqjuaq (Broughton Island), Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Dancing Musk Ox Drummer; Judas Ullulaq; black pyroxenite, horn from musk ox horn, eyes, drum, and striker from antler; Taloyoak (Gjoa Haven), Nunavut
- Drumming Dancer; Iola Abraham Ikkidluak; yellowish green serpentine with bone drum and striker; Kimmirut (Lake Harbour), Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Drumming Sedna; Donny Pitsiulak; dark green serpentine with lighter green drum and striker; Kimmirut (Lake Habour), Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Bentover Drummer; Silas Qajaqjuaq; whalebone with bone drum and ivory striker; Sanirajak (Hall Beach), Nunavut, and Ottawa, Ontario
- Bearded Drummer; Silas Qajaqjuaq; yellowish stone from Ontario with bone striker and baleen drum; Sanirajak (Hall Beach), Nunavut, and Ottawa, Ontario
- Topless Dancer; Omaluk Oshoochiak; blue-black serpentine; Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Sitting Drummer; Silas Qajaqjuaq; light green Markham Bay stone body and drum, bone striker; Sanirajak (Hall Beach), Nunavut, and Ottawa, Ontario
- Dancing Bear; Alashua Sharky; black-green serpentine; Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Dancing Seal; Simanik Kelly; black variegated serpentine; Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Drum-dancing Polar Bear; Moe Pootoogook; black striated serpentine body and drum, bone striker; Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Shaman Drum-Dancing; Machpa Amauralik; off-white stone, mottled gray base; Sanirajak (Hall Beach), Nunavut, and Ottawa, Ontario
- Fierce Fisherman; Jaco Ishulutaq; gray/black variegated serpentine; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Dance; Josephee Kakee; stonecut on paper; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Shaman’s Test of Strength; Lypa Pitsiulak; stonecut on paper; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- My Grandmother Was a Shaman; Thomasie Alikatuktuk; stencil on Arches paper; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Untitled; Gyta Eeseemailee; stencil on Arches paper; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Sound of Life; Elsie Klengenberg; stencil on paper; Ulukhoktok (Holman Island), Northwest Territories
- Conjuring the Spirit; Jeetaloo Akulukjuk; stonecut and stencil on mulberry paper; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Visions I and II; Mabel Nigiyok; stencil on Arches paper; Ulukhoktok (Holman Island), Northwest Territories
- Spiritual Dance; Andrew Qappik; stencil on Arches paper; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- The Power of My Drum; Mabel Nigiyok; stencil on Arches paper; Ulukhoktok (Holman Island), Northwest Territories
- Qeelaujaktuk; Andrew Qappik; stencil on Arches paper; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Drum Dance; Andrew Qappik; stencil on Arches paper; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Drummer; Andrew Qappik; stencil on Arches paper; Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Nunavut
- Dancing Seal; Johnny Tunnillie; mottled black stone; Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Baffin Island, Nunavut
Acknowledgements
The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts wishes to extend a very warm thank you to Dr. H.G. Jones for his willingness to share his articulate collection with us and for agreeing to participat in this exhibition. The Center also extends its gratitude to Al and Patty Wheeler for introducing the Turchin Center to Dr. Jones and his collection.
We extend our thanks to our Exhibition Practicum Students: Candice Paulk, Lindsay Roberts, Megan Phillips, Taylor Leaf, and Clare Evans; Work Study students; Sarah McLean, Jennifer Livingston, and Esther Houser; TCVA front Desk Staff: Ingrid Hayes; and our colleagues in the Office of Arts & Cultural Programs; a special thank you to OACP’s Marketing Director, Megan Hayes, for all of her hard work and support in making this exhibition a success; Dr. Gayle Weitz, TCVA Community Arts School Coordinator, and our workshop leaders for their important contributions to educational programming.
From Hank T. Foreman, Director & Chief Curator; Brook Greene, Assistant Curator; and Tasha Nunn, Program Assistant; a very heart felt thank you to all of you who have assisted in making this exhibition a reality.