Inuit Art
An Introduction
- Publisher
- Douglas & McIntyre
- Initial publish date
- Aug 2002
- Category
- Native American, Canadian
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781550548297
- Publish Date
- Aug 2002
- List Price
- $45.00
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 11
- Grade: 6
Description
The Inuit of the Canadian Arctic have created a contemporary art form that is recognized and appreciated around the world for its power and exquisite beauty, an art that embodies the harsh arctic environment and a unique way of life, as well as traditional myths and beliefs. Engaging and authoritative, Inuit Art: An Introduction explores Inuit art from historical, cultural and aesthetic perspectives.
The engrossing story begins with an outline of the roots of Inuit art in prehistoric times and through the historical period that began with the arrival of Europeans in the sixteenth century. The emergence of Inuit art as we know it came about in the late 1940s, partly through the encouragement of writer and artist James Houston, who also introduced printmaking to Inuit artists. Inspired by his support, Inuit artists quickly brought their art to life, attracting a wide audience almost overnight, and they have continued to develop and refine their work over the past fifty years. To enrich our understanding of the art, Ingo Hessel also provides descriptions of techniques and materials.
About the authors
Ingo Hessel is the Albrecht Adjunct Curator of Inuit Art at the Heard Museum in Phoenix. His publications include the seminal Inuit Art: An Introduction (1998), Arctic Spirit (2006) and Sanattiaqsimajut: Inuit Art from the Carleton University Art Gallery Collection (2009). He curated the exhibition Arctic Spirit for the Heard Museum, which toured to ten cities across North America from 2006 to 2009. For twelve years he was Special Projects Officer and Coordinator of the Inuit Art Section in the Canadian Government's Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, which published his educational booklet Canadian Inuit Sculpture in eight languages. Ingo Hessel is also a sculptor who has had many solo exhibitions in Canada and Japan.
Dieter Hessel is a commercial photographer with a studio based in Toronto. Since 1979, he has worked on wide range of subject matter for advertising and editorial clients, including the book The Niagara Estate Winery Cookbook.
Librarian Reviews
Inuit Art: An Introduction
First published in 1998, this trade paperback edition is a must-buy for libraries. Lavishly illustrated, this gorgeous book contains many full-page, full-colour photographs of important Inuit works. There are also black and white depictions, including historical photographs. A surprisingly readable text offers history and important developments in Inuit arts. A broad range of subject matter is addressed from materials used in various regions to the influence of such elements as marketing ventures from southern Canada. This important aspect of Canadian art is one with which all students should be familiar.Caution: There are depictions of hunting, which could be frightening to some; several images depict nude figures.
Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. Canadian Aboriginal Books for Schools. 2008-2009.
