18 November 2006 - 11 MArch 2007

Surrey Art Gallery (18 November 2006 - 11 March 2007) 

Tickets&Access: FREE
"INUIT SCULPTURE NOW" 

From the review:
One of the most visceral sculptures is a piece by Floyd Kuptana called Starving Bear made of Brazilian soapstone and bone. The wasted and damaged-looking form is a reminder of the increasing global warming reportage and television news images of underweight polar bears struggling to stay afloat amid melting ice floes.
(Review of the exhibition in Galleries West,Spring, 2007, p.36 by Beverly Cramp)

This exhibition presents 25 sculptures made since the 1990s to look at some of the current ideas and often very subtle changes that have come to play in the artists’ approaches to their subjects and the media in which they work. Drawn from Canadian private and public collections, as well as the National Gallery’s collection, Inuit Sculpture Now features the work of sixteen artists: Manasie Akpaliapik, Arnaqurk Ashevak, Isaci Etidloi, Mattiusi Iyaituk, Floyd Kuptana, Robert Kuptana, Michael Massie, Billy Merkosak, Bill Nasogaluak, Mathew Nuqingaq, Looty Pijamini, David Ruben Piqtoukun, Abraham Anghik Ruben, Toonoo Sharky, Jutai Toonoo, and Oviloo Tunnillie.

1 July - 4 September 2006
"INUIT SCULPTURE NOW"
McMichael Canadian Art Collection

15 September - 30 October 2005
"INUIT SCULPTURE NOW"
Art Gallery of Mississauga (15 September - 30 October 2005)

organized and circulated by the National Gallery of Canada/Organisée et mise en tournée par le Musée des beaux-arts du Canada

Since the 1950s, the term "contemporary Inuit sculpture" has been used to separate new work from that produced earlier, that is, during the Prehistoric and Contact periods. Today, however, with a body of work that spans 50 years, the term is something of a misnomer, and needs to be addressed. This exhibition aims to look at what is really contemporary within Inuit sculpture. Using a selection of approximately 25 works, it focuses on sculpture made over the past decade in order to consider some of the current ideas and often very subtle changes that have come to play in the artists' approaches to their subjects and the media in which they work.

Opening reception Thursday September 15 from 6 to 8pm

*Please note: no refreshments at this event

Curator's Tour and Talk given by Christine Lalonde of the National Gallery of Canada at 7:30pm

This exhibition presents 25 sculptures made since the 1990s to look at some of the current ideas and often very subtle changes that have come to play in the artists’ approaches to their subjects and the media in which they work. Drawn from Canadian private and public collections, as well as the National Gallery’s collection, Inuit Sculpture Now features the work of sixteen artists: Manasie Akpaliapik, Arnaqurk Ashevak, Isaci Etidloi, Mattiusi Iyaituk, Floyd Kuptana, Robert Kuptana, Michael Massie, Billy Merkosak, Bill Nasogaluak, Mathew Nuqingaq, Looty Pijamini, David Ruben Piqtoukun, Abraham Anghik Ruben, Toonoo Sharky, Jutai Toonoo, and Oviloo Tunnillie.