Six Owls

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.

contemporary art

Six owls on two levels: first level has three owls with four circles on either side; second level has three owls each separated by a circle and four circles at either end of row. Below image from side on left: Cape Dorset stylized 'red igloo' seal and name of printmaker in Inuit syllabics, "Six owls lithograph 33/50 Dorset 1979 Ningeeuga," name of artist in Inuit syllabics. Canadian Eskimo Arts Council's and Cape Dorset's blind embossed stamps in lower corner on right.