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Northern art takes centre stage

Jennifer Geens
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 20/04) - A soapstone sculpture by Isaaci Etidloie of Cape Dorset is the focal point of an exhibit of the art of Canada's indigenous peoples at the Canadian Embassy in Washington.

Victoria Henry, director of the Canada Council Art Bank, put together the exhibit entitled "Dezhan Ejan," which means medicine song in the language of the Tutchone people of the Yukon.

NNSL Photo

Isaaci Etidloie's 2003 sculpture "Caribou Transformation." - photo courtesy of the Canada Council Art Bank


Etidloie's sculpture Caribou Transformation is the first artwork people see as they enter the gallery.

"It's right inside the front door," said Henry.

Henry chose to present the piece first because it's "totally engaging."

"It's stone, but it looks fragile," she said. "And the eyes link to the viewers' eyes."

The surface of the sculpture is completely carved, in contrast with the polished hoofs.

"The fur seems to undulate," said Henry.

Henry chose 18 works by aboriginal artists from the more than 18,000 pieces by aboriginal and non-aboriginal artists owned by the Art Bank. Many of the artworks she chose were part of the special anniversary purchase of aboriginal art the Art Bank made two years ago.

All are contemporary pieces, with the exception of an early painting by Norval Morriseau.

Henry said she didn't choose artworks by geographical regions. She simply chose what she felt were the strongest pieces in the contemporary collections.

In addition to Etidloie's sculpture, she chose three other works by Northern artists: a sculpture by Lypa Pitsiulak of Panniqtuuq, a sculpture by Goota Ashoona of Yellowknife and a print by the late Sarni Pootoogook of Cape Dorset.

Ashoona and Pitsiulak will attend the exhibit's opening.

The exhibit coincides with the opening of the Smithsonian's new Museum of the American Indian in Washington. The museum and its warehouses hold more than one million artifacts of indigenous cultures of North and South America.

The display runs Sept. 23 to Nov. 27.