What's New

New and upcoming exhibitions, collections and portfolios of art from Arctic Canada and the Pacific
Northwest Coast of Canada and the United States.

THE RETURN
Salmon Imagery in Northwest Coast Art
Opening Saturday, June 19 at 10:00 am

*New Piece added to the Exhibition*

Open House 2:00 - 4:00pm

Please click
- HERE -
to view the Collection.

We are proud to present our new exhibition, The Return: Salmon Imagery in Northwest Coast art.

This exhibition is inspired by the seemingly simple salmon however the importance of salmon in First Nations culture is fundamental. Andy Everson eloquently summarizes, “People often ask me why I keep including salmon in my artwork. The answer to this lies with the importance of salmon to me, my relatives and my ancestors. Put simply, salmon was the vital link between mere survival and the development of the splendor of our culture.”

Today the diminishing numbers of salmon returning to their parent streams is headline news and of concern to everyone. Historically, there are many examples of coastal First Nations employing conservation techniques but most importantly First Nations people held the core belief in taking only as much as needed.

We asked Northwest Coast artists to create works inspired by salmon and were thrilled with the beautiful works that were created. Some works, like Luke Marston’s Salmon People Rattle and his sister Angela Marston’s Salmon paddle, revolve around the salmon ceremony that celebrates the return of the first salmon of the season. Gary Minaker-Russ carved a totem pole in argillite that illustrates the Haida myth of Raven Boy releasing the salmon into the streams of Haida Gwaii. Other works depict the cycle of life in the natural world which salmon are a vital link, such as Bill Henderson’s totemic Eagle and Salmon.

Salmon have been revered for their epic journey which inspires in all of us the possibility of renewal.

We invite you to view all of the works and read the artists statements online at www.Inuit.com.

All works will be released for sale at 10 am, Vancouver time, Saturday, June 19, 2010.

Exclusive Print Release

THE RETURN
Andy Everson
Comox / Kwakwaka'wakw
Giclee
Edition of 99
$200.00 CAD

Since time immemorial, my people have relied upon the return of the salmon for sustenance. Being anadromous fish, salmon begin their life cycle in rivers and streams. After growing in nearby lakes, they begin their long journey out to sea. Amazingly, after countless thousands of miles of travel, they find their way back to the river of their birth. Particularly striking are the sockeye who transform into a brilliant crimson red upon entering freshwater. Struggling upriver, their dying gasps allow them to spawn and continue their life cycle in a new generation. The return is complete.

Unfortunately, this return is getting more and more scarce in a number of rivers throughout our territory. Some say this is due to overfishing before the salmon even re-enter British Columbian waters. Others say it is due to zealous over-logging along the coast that destroy spawning beds and delicate river ecosystems.

Still others say that our salmon return is being decimated by the presence of open net-cage fish farms. It is from these fish farms that parasites such as sea lice are able to attack and destroy passing wild salmon. Waste and chemicals released from these massive farms further exacerbate these problems. In order to ensure that salmon continue to return to the rivers, we must object to all of these unsustainable practices!

- Andy Everson

“The Return” is available exclusively through the Inuit Gallery in Vancouver, BC.

NEW INUIT DRAWINGS
Cape Dorset

Please click
- HERE -
to view the Inuit Drawings Collection.

Spring Release 2010
Cape Dorset

Please click
- HERE -
to view the Collection.

The 2010 Spring Release “Facing Forward” from the Kinngait Studios in Cape Dorset features eight new works by four innovative artists. Shuvinai Ashoona, Ningeokuluk Teevee, Kavavaow Mannomee and Jutai Toonoo are today helping to lead the studio in new directions.

Four of the works in this release – “Transformation” and “Qulaaguulik” by Kavavaow, Shuvinai’s “Tribute”, and “Auvviq” by Ningeokuluk - were selected for the 2009 National Gallery exhibition “Uuturautiit”, celebrating 50 years of Cape Dorset printmaking.

JOHN SABOURIN

Please click
- HERE -
to view the Collection.

John Sabourin, a Dene from the Dehcho First Nation of Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada. John began painting acrylics in 1989, but became serious about pursuing a career as an artist in 1995 after completing a Fine Arts Course with Arctic College. He decided to continue formal studies of Art at the Victoria College of Art, Victoria, British Columbia, graduating in1999. John's paintings explore the complex relationship between humans and nature. As a carver he embraces his Dene culture bringing stone to life through stories and legends.

John has sold paintings to private collectors in Canada and the United States. He has completed commissions and murals including a granite sculpture for the French Federation in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in 2005 and a painting for the City of Yellowknife Public Library in 2004. In 1999, along with two other artists, John completed a five foot marble sculpture that celebrated the cultural diversity of Canada's north. John has been interviewed by local and national news media including A.P.T.N. and Global TV and he has been featured on C.B.C. Artspots.

In February 2007, John was honored to represent the N.W.T. in "Burning Cold" a juried art exhibition of ten Canadian artists at the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon. The show will be travelling to Nanaimo Art Gallery in January, 2008 and Oakville in August, 2008. After numerous group exhibitions in places such as Sydney, Australia (2002), Arizona (1998), and New Mexico (1995). John had a solo exhibition of his carvings at Nor-Art Gallery in Yellowknife, N.W.T. in February, 2006. In 2005, John received the People's Choice Award and in 2004 the Artists' Choice Award for his work at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, Northwest Territories where he had been exhibiting his paintings and carvings since 1993. From 2003 - 2007 he was pleased to participate in the Open Sky Festival in Fort Simpson, N.W.T.

John feels privileged to be able to work at something he cares about so deeply, and enjoys sharing his art and knowledge with others. He has taught carving workshops to students at schools in Yellowknife, N.W.T. since 2003 and to adults at various art festivals.

Celebrating 50!

Dorset Fine Arts is pleased to offer a commemorative poster to celebrate their 50th Anniversary Print Collection.

Featuring Mayoreak Ashoona’s last great loon, Tuulirjuak, the poster is printed by a Green Certified printer on acid-free “Mohawk” cover stock, manufactured with “Green-e” certified electricity by renewable wind power.

The poster measures 23” x 39” and retails for $39.95. Quantities are limited.

This is an excellent way to share in the celebration!

Please click
- HERE -
to view the Collection.

QAJAQ
KAYAKS FROM THE ARCTIC CIRCLE

Please click
- HERE -
to view our Collection.

QAJAQ (KAYAK)

The Inuit Gallery presents qajaqs by Maligiaq Padilla. Constructed in cedar and fir and lashed together with synthetic sinew, they are sleek, elegant works of art. The gallery is displaying a full size racing qajaq (approx. 20 ft.) hanging from the ceiling. It is constructed from beautiful red cedar with Alaskan yellow cedar ribs. The gallery also presents a limited number of model Qajaqs, each measuring approx. 6 ft. in length, valued at $2,000 CAD. Each one is signed by the artist and could also be ordered with a sturdy manmade skin that would render it seaworthy. The artist uses a ballistic nylon skin with a varathane finish. It’s lightweight, more flexible than fiberglass, and waterproof.

Sleek and elegant in appearance, these qajaqs are a desired piece of sculptural artwork in there own right.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Maligiaq Padilla, whose name in Greenlandic means "following waves growing up” prefectly compliments him. In 1994, at the age of 12, Maligiaq entered the Greenland National Qajaq Championships, winning all four events. The same year he built his first qajaq with his grandfather. Maligiaq is the only person in history to win four Greenland National Kayaking Championships, winning his first title at 16.

He has recently turned his many years of qajaqing and the building skills that he learned from his grandfather, towards art in the form of scale model qajaqs and also recreating a 400 year old qajaq from recently discovered remnants. He has recreated this artifact back into it’s original form in full sized dimensions for 2 museums in Greenland In 2005 he was commissioned by the Smithsonian Institute Museum to build a Qajaq of his design during the Arctic Peoples Celebration in Washington DC, the Qajaq is part of the Smithsonian collection.

Many more accomplishments athletically and in Qajaq art are sure to come from Maligaq, but his recent creations of Qajaq history and art are available today at the Inuit Gallery.

PRIDE
Andy Everson
Comox / Kwakwaka'wakw
Giclee
Edition of 75
$190.00 CAD

I was born in Comox B.C. in 1972 and named Nagedzi after my grandfather. Chief Andy Frank. My cultural interests lay with both my K'omoks and Kwakwaka'wakw ancestries and are expressed through dancing, singing, and even the completion of a Master's degree in anthropology. I feel that my artwork stands on par with these other accomplishments. Although I began drawing Northwest Coast art at an early age, my first serious attempt wasn't until 1990 when I started designing and painting chilkat-style blankets for use in potlatch dancing. From these early self-taught lessons I have tried to follow in the footsteps of my Kwakiutl relatives in creating bold and unique representations that remain rooted in the age-old traditions of my ancestors.

We’ve all worked hard through the night. Many times, I’ve been obsessed with my artwork or compelled by time to finish a paper that I’ve had to pull an all-nighter. We’ve battled through the desire and then the need for sleep to write that last paragraph or polish up a design. Some have had to work night shifts or painted or trimmed their houses to prepare for their imminent move. Others have driven all night to reach their destination. For all of us, we have witnessed that most beautiful miracle of dawn breaking and a new day starting and pride in what you have accomplished.

This print is dedicated to those that deserve to take pride in the work they do. It is for those volunteers who selflessly put themselves forward and do the jobs that most people would expect to get paid for. It is for those individuals who stand lonely on the street corners for a cause. It is for those that mark off a course and register people for races great and small. It is for those that show compassion by visiting the sick and the dying that they may or may not know. It is for those students and scientists that toil endlessly knowing that there is a cure for cancer and they will find it. When that beautiful dawn breaks, the world will be a better place. I am confident that everyone who has contributed will look back and take pride in what they have accomplished.

We are determined to contribute in our small way to finding a cure for cancer. As such, partial proceeds from the sale of this print will be directly donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. “Pride” is available exclusively through the Inuit Gallery in Vancouver, BC.