Stones, Bones and Stitches Storytelling through Inuit Art

Did you know? -Cape Dorset boasts the largest number of artists per capita in Canada (22.7 percent almost one-quarter of the labor force and thirty times the national average!) -The word Eskimo is a derogatory term meaning "eaters of raw flesh" -Some Inuit artists quarry stone for their sculptures in the winter, but have to wait until the summer to bring it back to their workshops -An igloo uses the same design principles found in the great cathedrals of Europe -According to legends, the stone figures, called Inukshuks, protect travelers and point them to the safest pathway -The Inuit have been carving for over 4,000 years Stones, Bones and Stitchesis a fascinating and beautiful introduction to the art of the North. Focusing on several important works from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, curators Shelley Falconer and Shawna White take you on an impressive journey through the artistic landscape. The evolving character of the North is explored through the lens of some of Canada's most significant Inuit artists, past and present. Included are eight different works from sculpture to prints, each highlighted with introductions to the artists, the materials they used, geography, legends, and stories. Photographs together with intriguing facts give the reader insight into the artists' lives, communities, and working conditions along with brief histories of the region.

Shelley Falconer is a Curator and Director of Exhibition and Programs for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies where she teaches curatorial practice and new media. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in Art History, Museum Studies, and Arts Administration at Canadian and European institutions including York University, the University of Toronto, Sorbonne, l’Université de Paris, and Sotheby’s England. She has pioneered strategic projects in the field of new media and won many awards including the prestigious United Nations World Summit award for best in e-culture. Shelley’s recent projects include the extensive reinstallation of the McMichael’s permanent collection galleries. Shelley has contributed as a writer and editor to many exhibition series publications, and is currently working on two new projects for Tundra: Arctic Journeys and Perspectives: Canadian Women Artists.

Shawna White is an Assistant Curator at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. She has a varied twenty-year, professional history working as a curator, educator, arts administrator, consultant, and Canadian art specialist. She has worked at the McMichael Gallery for many years, and at Sotheby’s. Shawna has an MA in Classical Archaeology and a Master’s of Museum Studies. Shawna’s recent curatorial projects include the extensive reinstallation of the McMichael’s permanent collection galleries.