Totem Birds

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

Stonecut print of a stylized bird with dark blue legs, claws and wing outline; green head, eyes and beak; white triangle in middle of body. Standing on head of bird, bird with outstretched wings and 8 prominent head feathers. Below image from left: "Totem birds Dorset 1970 stonecut 2/50 Kingmeata." Name of artist and printmaker in Inuit syllabics at corner on lower right along with red stylized igloo of Cape Dorset, Canadian Eskimo Arts Council's blind embossed stamp. Number "47" in corner on lower left.