Spirit Bird Item Number: Na955 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Print depicting a stylized spirit bird with two seven-pointed protrusions emerging from the sides of its head, slihgtly folded wings, scaled legs with long pointed claws, and a wide tail. The feathers are depicted through the use of different shapes and patterns. The name of the printmaker is printed in Inuit syllabics along with the Cape Dorset stylized red igloo seal to the lower left-hand side of the image. Below the image is written, "Spirit Bird Stonecut and Stencil 23/50 Dorset 1980 Eliyakota," and the name of the artist is written in Inuit syllabics. The Canadian Eskimo Arts Council blind embossed stamp is in the lower right-hand corner.

History Of Use

Contemporary Inuit prints were first produced at Cape Dorset in 1957. Although precursors to printmaking can be seen in women's skin applique work and in men's incising of ivory, stone and bone, the impetus for printmaking was as a commercial venture. This venture was established jointly by Inuit artists and John Houston, the civil administrator for Cape Dorset. Other Inuit communities quickly followed the commercial success of Cape Dorset's West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative. Printmaking developed as a communal activity following a Japanese, rather than a Western, model of serigraph production. Each year the cooperatives produce a series of limited edition prints which are sold in the retail art market. In 1965, the Canadian Eskimo Arts Council was established from the Canadian Eskimo Art Committee to ensure high standards were maintained. Printmaking, along with stone carving, provide cash income for communities which have undergone rapid and significant change, during the late 20th century, from traditional hunting based societies to settled communities dependent on consumer goods. The prevalent images depicted in Inuit art are of traditional life, arctic animals and mythology. Recently, contemporary subjects have been depicted by a minority of artists.

Cultural Context

contemporary art

Item History

What

Name
Spirit Bird
Identification Number
Na955
Type of Item
print
Manufacturing Technique
stonecut, stencilled and printed
Overall
height 62.0 cm, width 88.0 cm
Image
height 53.0 cm, width 61.0 cm

Who

Culture
Inuit
Creator
Eliyakota Samualie (Maker) and Timothy Ottochie (Technician)
Previous Owner
Guenter Adolphs
Received from
Guenter Adolphs (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada and Kinngait, Nunavut, Canada

When

Creation Date
during 1980
Collection Date
before 1983
Ownership Date
before December 15, 1983
Acquisition Date
on December 15, 1983

Other

Item Classes
works on paper
Condition
excellent
Accession Number
0914/0225