First Goose Hunt Item Number: Na943 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

At centre young male figure outlined in black holding rifle in hand on right and pointing it at goose on left; hand on left holds dead goose. Lake between goose and hunter. Two profile birds above figure, one purple goose with wings down and outspread the other one is an owl (?) with black spots. Below image from side on left: Cape Dorset stylized 'red igloo' seal above name of printmaker in Inuit syllabics, "First goose hunt lithograph 33/50 Dorset 1979 Mayoriak," 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

What

Name
First Goose Hunt
Identification Number
Na943
Type of Item
print
Overall
height 20.1 in, width 26.0 in

Who

Culture
Inuit
Creator
Mayureak Ashoona (Maker) and Pitseolak Niviaqsi (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 1979
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
0914/0213