BAKER LAKE PRINTS 2008
Opens May 17

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For over three decades, the inland Arctic community of Baker Lake has held a central position within the graphic arts of northern Canada. Though its renowned printshop closed in 1990 after 20 years of successful production, the community's artists and printmakers have recently regrouped and are once again creating annual collections of unique and striking images.

This year's stunning collection of stone cuts, the second since the community resumed printmaking in 2007, is both colourful and decidedly contemporary in feel. In one of the most striking works in the suite, long-time printmaker Philippa Iksiraq interprets an Inuit legend about a brother and sister who have been transformed into the Arctic tundra to avoid fear and loneliness. Thomas Iksiraq's portrait of an Inuit couple proudly displaying a large fish is notable for the fact that both are wearing modern clothes and standing against a backdrop of kitchen appliances and cupboards. No less arresting is William Noah's tender depiction of two people lying down together, the perspective of which is strongly reminiscent of Japanese woodblocks.

The collection of 10 images also includes works by Darren Itkilik, Tony Anughalluq, Jimmy Kamimmalik, Irene Avaalaqiaq, Myra Kukiiyaut, Matthew Nanauq and William Manernaluk.

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