![]() ![]() Fur trading posts disrupted the traditional and sustainable nomadic lifestyle of Inuit communities, contributing to the permanent settlement of many Inuit. The WAG recognizes that the history of our Inuit art collection is tied to the ongoing history of colonialism in North America. The WAG Indigenous art collection includes work by Inuit, First Nations, and Métis artists. While it is often studied and regarded in an ethnically-oriented context, Inuit art is very much part of the cannon of art history and the future of contemporary art. Inuit art encompasses any work created by an Inuk. While several thousand of the artworks are sculptural, we recognize and celebrate the fact that Inuit art extends to an evolving array of media including prints, textiles, clothing, and digital media, all present in our collection. Today, more than 2,000 Inuit artists from many of the communities of Inuit Nunangat are represented in our permanent collection, totalling close to 14,000 pieces. In addition, we collaborate with other museums, galleries, and arctic co-ops to exhibit artworks on loan. We purchase works directly from the artists in their communities, from their cooperatives, or through the global art market. Our curators also maintain strong relationships with artists by visiting their homes, workspaces, and communities, and spending time with them on the land. Today, the WAG collection of Inuit art includes donations from these private collections. These private collections were formed, most notably, by Jerry Twomey, George Swinton, Bessie Bulman (head of the Guild), her sister Eileen Abbott, and HBC employees. For more information on HBC’s history of collecting Inuit art, click here. Large private collections were formed in Winnipeg because of access to the bulk of the carvings that came to the HBC headquarters in the city. 1952), and in HBC stores across the country. The carvings came South by boat in the late summer or fall and were sold at the Handicrafts Guilds in Montreal (est. Carving stone was locally quarried and distinctive to each community. Since the 1950s, Inuit have owned and operated artist co-operatives. In the 1950s, carvings were purchased at fur trading posts in Inukjuak, Puvirnituq, Kinngait, and several other Inuit communities. The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) has long been present in Winnipeg and was instrumental to the early development of the global Inuit art market. Together, we are developing programs that enrich the Qaumajuq experience for everyone. Creating spaces for Inuit elders to pass their teachings on to the broader community is critical to building bridges of understanding – between cultures, between North and South, and between generations. The WAG partners with Inuit birthright organizations, governments, associations, and individuals across Inuit Nunangat and in urban and Southern communities to ensure Qaumajuq is a place where all Inuit feel welcome, engaged, and inspired to share their culture with the world. Inuit have guided the creation of Qaumajuq and lead the development of programs that will connect you with others, such as the inaugural show INUA. This is an engaging, accessible space to experience art in new ways, where artists and technology offer direct connections to the lands, peoples, and cultures of the North. Sharing these stories with the world is at the core of Qaumajuq. ![]() WAG-Qaumajuq holds in trust close to 14,000 pieces of Inuit art, including carvings, drawing, prints, textiles, and new media.
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