Ebook: Irene Avaalaaqiaq: Myth and Reality

Irene Avaalaaqiaq, one of this country's most prominent Inuit artists and a leading member of the prolific artistic community of Baker Lake in the new Canadian arctic territory of Nunavut, has enjoyed a distinguished thirty-year career. A distinctive creator of drawings, prints, and sculpture, she is best known for her remarkable wall hangings, which reveal a rich tradition of spirit and shamanistic imagery. Avaalaaqiaq brings a highly individualistic vision to her tapestries. Her world view, derived from an oral tradition, is expressed by manipulating bold shapes in bright contrasting colours against a solid background. In this first critical retrospective of Avaalaaqiaq's work, Judith Nasby discusses her life and art as well as her commitment to preserving her heritage and making it accessible to an international audience.