Caribou Winter Light Item Number: Na1541 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Three caribou in profile facing to right, spaced from top left to lower right, top two animals standing, large one at lower right lying down. Bottom line reads, "Caribou-winter light skin stencil 30/21 Cape Dorset Baffin Island 59 Niviaksiak." Stamped with names of artist in Inuit syllabics in monogram form with Cape Dorset stylized igloo in lower left corner. The print is hinged to white mat board.
History Of Use
"Caribou, Winter Light" is one of nine images by Niviaksiak published in Cape Dorset's first print collection. Inuit prints consist of stencils, stonecut engravings and lithographs from the communities of Cape Dorset, Baker Lake, Povunenituk, Holman Island, Pangnirtung and Clyde River. The first Cape Dorset prints were in 1959, Povunenituk in 1962, Holman in 1965, Baker Lake in 1970, Pangnirtung in 1973 and Clyde River in 1981. Since the late 1940's Indian and Northern Affairs have supported the development of art from the Canadian Arctic in co-operation with the Canadian Eskimo Arts Council. Catalogues have been published since 1959 and most of the prints are documented in their year of production. A print shop was set up by James Houston in Cape Dorset in 1958. Stonecutters Igola, Eegvudluk, Luktlak and Kanangenak began training for printmaking. James Houston decided that the co-operative would work well in the Inuit community. Specialists would prepare and cut the stone block, another artist would do the drawing and someone else would do the printing. The symbol used by the Cape Dorset group was a stylized igloo. The Cape Dorset Co-operative produces an annual catalogue illustrating and documenting prints produced within that year.
Narrative
Balshine family collection.
Item History
- Made by Niviaksiak (Maker) in Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada and Kinngait, Nunavut, Canada during 1959
- Owned by Lorne Balshine before January 25, 1988
- Received from Lorne Balshine (Seller), Finning Ltd. (Funding source) and University Purchase (Funding source) on January 25, 1988
What
- Name
- Caribou Winter Light
- Identification Number
- Na1541
- Type of Item
- Overall
- height 21.5 cm, width 33.0 cm
- Image
- height 16.5 cm, width 27.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Inuit
- Creator
- Niviaksiak (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Lorne Balshine
- Received from
- Lorne Balshine (Seller), Finning Ltd. (Funding source) and University Purchase (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada and Kinngait, Nunavut, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1959
- Ownership Date
- before January 25, 1988
- Acquisition Date
- on January 25, 1988
Other
- Item Classes
- works on paper
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 47
- Accession Number
- 1263/0363