Sea Maids and Owl Item Number: Na957 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Stylized frontal owl flanked by sea creatures. Owl has tufted, speckled head and round eyes. Sea maid at side on left has frontal face, one arm raised the other arm touches the owl's wing. Sea maid at side on right has profile face, both hands touch the owl's wing. Lower portions of sea maids touch below owl. Cape Dorset stylized 'red igloo' seal above name of printmaker in Inuit syllabics in lower corner on right. Below image from side on left: "Seamaids and owl stonecut and stencil 18/50 Dorset 1980 Kenojuak," name of artist in Inuit syllabics. Canadian Eskimo Arts Council's blind embossed stamp in lower corner on right.
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
- Made by Kenojuak Ashevak (Maker) and Sagiatuk Sagiatuk (Technician) in Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada and Kinngait, Nunavut, Canada during 1980
- Collected before 1983
- Owned by Guenter Adolphs before December 15, 1983
- Received from Guenter Adolphs (Donor) on December 15, 1983
What
- Name
- Sea Maids and Owl
- Identification Number
- Na957
- Type of Item
- Manufacturing Technique
- stencilled, printed and stonecut
- Overall
- height 60.5 cm, width 66.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Inuit
- Creator
- Kenojuak Ashevak (Maker) and Sagiatuk Sagiatuk (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
- good
- Accession Number
- 0914/0227