ExhibitionsSeasons of the Sun
May 28 - September 3, 2023
Annie Pootoogook, "Mother and child cooking in the tent" (2006) , coloured pencil on paper, Indigenous Art Collection, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Copyright Dorset Fine Arts.
Enjoy the long, bright days of spring, summer and fall
The Arctic is often characterized by its long, dark and frigid winters, which last three quarters of the year. It is the short seasons, where the days are long and bright, that are especially cherished by communities in Inuit Nunangat.
These fleeting months are filled with activities that tie together Inuit seasonal traditions and new traditions that bring community and family together.
Curator Augatnaaq Eccles is a seamstress and historian who was born and raised in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. This exhibition explores and traces the Arctic seasons of spring, summer and fall as they are experienced by Augatnaaq and her family, friends and fellow community members.
Each season is embodied in a signature piece of clothing designed and created by Augatnaaq. Each piece of clothing is in turn accompanied by artworks that express and point to the activities, sights, sounds, tastes and smells of its corresponding season.
Ultimately, Seasons of the Sun is Augatnaaq’s response to a question she has been asked by many Southerners: “Why would anyone want to live in the Arctic?”
We are grateful to the Canada Council Art Bank and the Indigenous Art Collection of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada for generously lending artworks to this exhibition.
Curated by
Augatnaaq Eccles
Credits
The Seasons of the Sun exhibition and public programs are generously supported by Inuit Futures in Arts Leadership: The Pilimmaksarniq / Pijariuqsarniq Project
