November 15 to February 15 — “Our Land: Contemporary Art from the Arctic”
Sixty four works demonstrate how long-held artistic traditions of the Inuit inspire contemporary sculptures, prints, fiber art, photography and digital media. All of these forms reflect Inuit societal values of family, community, and worldview expressed through Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit Traditional Knowledge).
When: November 15 to February 15
Where: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, White River State Park 500 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
From the Eiteljorg’s blurb:
This stunning exhibition is a production of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts and is the first exhibition of the Nunavut Territorial collection of contemporary Inuit art, and celebrates the growth of Inuit creative expression over the past five decades. Our Land is a collaboration between the Peabody Essex Museum, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Nunavut. Sixty four works demonstrate how long-held artistic traditions of the Inuit inspire contemporary sculptures, prints, fiber art, photography and digital media. All of these forms reflect Inuit societal values of family, community, and worldview expressed through Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit Traditional Knowledge).
Why does Provocate think you should attend this event?
It’s more than just a show of beautiful art. The Canadian and First Nations governments have in recent years sought to use the concept of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to develop new — or reinvented — forms of social engagement and governance. It will be interesting to see this body of concepts worked into art.
Know before you go:
For background about the concept of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, see this explanation, and check out this blog about Inuit art. The original exhibition organized by the Peabody Essex Museum has a nice collection of resources.
If you think this sounds interesting, be sure to check out …
You can look for indigenous understandings of knowledge from other Native American traditions at the night of storytelling November 15.
And for your listening pleasure …
One of the most distinctive features of Inuit music is gutteral throat singing. These days, the best known throat-singer is Tanya Tagaq Gillis. If Eiteljorg sponsors more Inuit-related events around “Our Land,” expect more Provocate features on Tagaq. “Ancestors” is a duet with the Icelandic pop singer Björk … Tagaq may be one of the few singers who makes Björk sound like she comes from the planet earth. This video of Tagaq and the avante-garde string quartet shows a fascinating process of cultures coming together and making both richer in the process.
