2013 CAPE DORSET Annual Print Collection CAPE DORSET Annual Print Collection 2013 KENOJUAK ASHEVAK MALAIJA POOTOOGOOK NICOTYE SAMAYUALIE NINGEOKULUK TEEVEE OHOTAQ MIKKIGAK PAPIARA TUKIKI PITALOOSIE SAILA QAVAVAU MANUMIE SAIMAIYU AKESUK SIASSIE KENNEALLY TIM PITSIULAK FOREWORD The 2013 Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection consists of 32 images by 11 artists in stone cut /stencil, lithography and etching/ aquatint. The prints span the gamut of past, present and future and include subjects as diverse as plants and animals, brazen spirits and items from a haberdashery. Sadly, this year marked the death of Kenojuak Ashevak, an icon of Inuit art and a mainstay of the annual collection for over 50 years. Kenojuak is dearly missed by all of us who have been associated with the Co-op as well as everyone within the community of Cape Dorset and among the many friends and admirers she had all over the world. She was not only a brilliant artist but an inspiring and positive person with a warm and generous heart. There are 7 prints by this remarkable woman in this year’s collection. Kenojuak signed 2 of them, “Serpentine Wolf” and “Above and Below”. The remaining 5 were signed posthumously by her daughter Silaqqi Ashevak. With the passing of Kananginak Pootoogook 2 years ago and Kenojuak this year, the role of Cape Dorset’s preeminent print artist now rests in the capable hands of Ningeokuluk Teevee who has acquitted herself well with 5 delightfully fresh and light images of her favourite subjects, birds and Inuit legends There are 3 newcomers in this year’s collection. Nicotye Samayualie who is already gaining an international reputation for her detailed drawings, has contributed 3 prints that demonstrate her sensitivities to the beauty of patterns in both nature and manu- factured products. Saimaiyu Akesuk at age 27 is the youngest artist in this year’s collection. Her simple and dynamic images pay homage to her grandfather, the esteemed sculptor Latchaolassie Akesuk in form and sentiment with an added touch of tenderness and whimsy. Siassie Kenneally, who dazzled us with her sizzling hot print “Fish Tails” in the 2008 Spring Collection, makes her debut in the fall collection with 2 intriguing lithographs that explore the theme of looking down on the past. There are some good solid images from veterans Tim Pitsiulak , Ohotak Mikkigak and Pitaloosie Saila. Qavavau Manumie’s solitary print features the return of his mischievous little antihero, who we have seen in earlier prints absconding with an ulu and a stiletto heel. This time he is making off with a haul of cash. However his joy at such a lucky find is soon to be short lived since the bills must surely be counterfeit as we, the audience can surmise by the obvious spelling mistake on the hundred dollar bill. Papiara Tukiki who had a successful show of her drawings earlier this year has an arresting print that takes us into the instinctive mind of a startled Arctic Hare whose heightened senses is registered by a flash of bright lurid hues on the tundra. Often overlooked in each year’s collection are the printmakers who punch in to the studio every day and diligently toil at their craft. This year they deserve particular recognition for bringing back some vintage printing methods from the 60’s and for intro- ducing some very complex and daring new innovations. Working together, artist and printmaker have succeeded in bringing together a collection that honours the past through new beginnings. -John Westren 1. KENOJUAK ASHEVAK 1. 2. KENOJUAK ASHEVAK KENOJUAK ASHEVAK LONG NECKED GOOSE FINE FEATHERS Etching & Aquatint Etching & Aquatint Printer: Studio PM Printer: Studio PM Paper: Arches White Paper: Arches White 78 x 95.5 cm 60 x 58.5 cm 2. 3. 4. KENOJUAK ASHEVAK KENOJUAK ASHEVAK PROTECTIVE HAVEN ABOVE & BELOW Etching & Aquatint Etching & Aquatint, 2001 Printer: Studio PM Printer: Studio PM Paper: Arches White Paper: Arches White 72.5 x 60.5 cm 61 x 66 cm 3. 5. 6. KENOJUAK ASHEVAK KENOJUAK ASHEVAK ALERTED BIRDS DASHING BIRD Etching & Aquatint Etching & Aquatint Printer: Studio PM Printer: Studio PM Paper: Arches White Paper: Arches White 80 x 77 cm 60.5 x 68.5 cm 4. Kenojuak Ashevak 1927-2013 Kenojuak was the epitome of a no-nonsense working artist. From the day Houston took note of her sealskin motif of the “Rabbit Eat- ing Seaweed”, she worked ceaselessly for fifty-five years with pro- fessional determination to become one of the world’s most famous indigenous artists. Her lyrical and fun-loving approach had an assurance that conveyed sincerity. On one occasion, I asked her if she would tell a story about her life. Her quick reply was brief and to the point: “I don’t draw people.” She then proceeded to draw the forms of birds and animals. She once said, “Birds make me happy.” Indeed, it was this reverence for the natural world that gave her iconic imagery its unique power and transcendent quality. So often did she attempt something in a new medium, trusting in the process in a way that often allowed things to become magical. Even towards the end of her long life, with her eyesight fail- ing, one could feel her determination as she drew within inches of the plate to express herself. Her absence is felt by all. -Paul Machnik, Studio PM 7. KENOJUAK ASHEVAK SERPENTINE WOLF Lithograph Printer: Niveaksie Quvianaqtuliaq Paper: BFK Rives White 57 x 76.5 cm 5. MALAIJA POOTOOGOOK NICOTYE SAMAYUALIE 8. MALAIJA POOTOOGOOK WINSOME OWL Etching & Aquatint Printer: Studio PM Paper: Arches White 91.5 x 66.5 cm 6. NINGEOKULUK TEEVEE PAPIARA TUKIKI SIASSIE KENNEALLY MALAIJA POOTOOGOOK OHOTAQ MIKKIGAK PITALOOSIE SAILA QAVAVAU MANUMIE 7. NICOTYE SAMAYUALIE 9. 10. NICOTYE SAMAYUALIE NICOTYE SAMAYUALIE COTTON GRASS MANY BUTTONS Lithograph Lithograph Printer: Niveaksie Quvianaqtuliaq Printer: Niveaksie Quvianaqtuliaq Paper: BFK Rives White Paper: BFK Rives White 48.5 x 63.7 cm 51 x 66.2 cm “What I think of the cotton grass is that when they are drawn bigger and fluffier, it reminds me that it’s a very nice hot and cool summer and that all the animals gain weight. All the arctic flow- ers have grown bigger and I think it is time to eat black and blueberries.” - Nicotye Samayualie 8. 11. NICOTYE SAMAYUALIE POLISHED BUTTONS Stonecut Printer: Qiatsuq Niviaqsi Paper: Kizuki Kozo Natural 53.5 x 76.3 cm Printer: Qiatsuq Niviaqsi “Buttons attract me because they are all made in different colours and shapes. I like colourful buttons.”- Nicotye Samayualie 9. NINGEOKULUK TEEVEE 12. 13. NINGEOKULUK TEEVEE NINGEOKULUK TEEVEE TULUGAK’S VIEW FOUR SEASONS Etching & Aquatint Lithograph, 2005 Printer: Studio PM Printer: Niveaksie Quvianaqtuliaq Paper: Arches White Paper: BFK Rives White 81.5 x 63.5 cm 76.4 x 56.7 cm 10. 15. NINGEOKULUK TEEVEE OKPIARAIT (OWL CHICKS) Stonecut & Stencil Printer: Tutuiza Jaw Paper: Kizuki Kozo Purple 35 x 43.7 cm 14. NINGEOKULUK TEEVEE “I have always been interested in the Inuit traditional stories. When I was a student ELUSIVE SEDNA in high school, storyteller Mialia Jaw would come to our school. I was so impressed Stonecut & Stencil by her stories. That was the first time I had heard a lot of these stories and legends. I Printer: Qiatsuq Niviaqsi never wrote them down, but when I started to draw they came back to me and helped Paper: Kizuki Kozo White me draw.”- Ningeokuluk Teevee 76 x 62 cm 11. 16. NINGEOKULUK TEEVEE EVENING SHORE Stonecut Printer: Qavavau Manumie Paper: Moriki Kozo Black 71.5 x 56 cm Printer: Qavavau Manumie “The shorebirds idea came from my husband, he mentioned that he hasn’t seen as many shorebirds since the 1970s and 80’s, so I decided to draw shorebirds.”- Ningeokuluk Teevee 12. OHOTAQ MIKKIGAK 17. 18. NINGEOKULUK TEEVEE OHOTAQ MIKKIGAK RAVENS IN AMAUTIK SPRIGHTLY BIRD Stonecut & Stencil Stonecut & Stencil Printer: Cee Pootoogook Printer: Tutuiza Jaw Paper: Kizuki Kozo Natural Paper: Kizuki Kozo Natural 50 x 62 cm 33.5 x 42 cm 13. PAPIARA TUKIKI 19. 20. PAPIARA TUKIKI PAPIARA TUKIKI STARTLED HARE KANAJURUPALLIAJUQ (TURNING INTO SCULPIN) Lithograph Stonecut & Stencil Printer: Niveaksie Quvianaqtuliaq Printer: Cee Pootoogook Paper: BFK Rives Cream Paper: Kizuki Kozo Natural 57 x 76.5 cm 43.3 x 62 cm 14. PITALOOSIE SAILA QAVAVAU MANUMIE 21. 22. PITALOOSIE SAILA QAVAVAU MANUMIE PROUD YOUNG WOMAN LUCKY MAN Etching & Aquatint Stonecut & Stencil Printer: Studio Pm Printer: Qavavau Manumie Paper: Arches White Paper: Kizuki Kozo White 48.3 x 56.5 cm 41 x 62 cm “This man found a bundle of cash on his way home and was happy to give the money to his wife, a happy find.”- Qavavau Manumie 15. SAIMAIYU AKESUK 23. 24. SAIMAIYU AKESUK SAIMAIYU AKESUK TENDER MOMENT LATCHAOLASSIE’S BIRDS Stonecut & Stencil Lithograph Printer; Qavavau Manumie Printer: Niveaksie Quvianaqtuliaq Paper: Kizuki Kozo White Paper: BFK Rives White 62 x 99 cm 57 x 38.3 cm 16. SAIMAIYU AKESUK 25. SAIMAIYU AKESUK “I started drawing in November 2012, Ningeokuluk Teevee inspired me to start REFLECTION drawing at our Nunavut Teaching Education Program class. My first drawing Stonecut & Stencil was an owl. I thought about what to draw for my next image and my late Printer: Qiatsuq Niviaqsi grandfather’s carvings (Latchaolassie Akesuk) came up. So I drew a green bird Paper: Obonat White shape like my grandfather’s carvings, along with small birds.” -Saimaiyu Akesuk 55.8 x 51 cm 17. 26. 27. SAIMAIYU AKESUK SAIMAIYU AKESUK LOOKING UP LUMINOUS BEARS Stonecut Lithograph Printer: Tutuiza Jaw Printer: Niveaksie Quvianaqtuliaq Paper: Kizuki Kozo White Paper: Arches White 29.5 x 22.5 cm 57.5 x 76.5 cm 18.