New exhibits and a peek into the closet at the Dennos

This year’s Inuit Art Society meeting will open in Traverse City, Michigan, in just a few days.

An annual gathering of people who love Inuit art, the meeting brings collectors (particularly American collectors) together to meet Inuit artists, learn more about the art and culture of the Arctic, and add a few pieces to their collections.

This year’s meeting at the Dennos Museum includes a few special events in the galleries.

Events at the Dennos Museum

The Inuit collection on exhibit and behind the scenes

Along with the opportunity to visit the Dennos Museum’s outstanding exhibit of art from their permanent collection, participants in this year’s IAS meeting will be able to get behind the scenes to see items currently in storage. This is a rare chance to see items that may not have been on display for some time.

carved caribou in a case with prints visible in the background — Inuit art exhibition from the permanent collection at the Dennos Museum in 2007.

The opening of exhibits of weaving and art jewelry

Two new exhibits will be open for meeting participants to preview:

Pangnirtung Weavings from the Dennos Museum Center’s Collection features weavings from the Inuit art collection, by the artists of the Pangnirtung Weaving Cooperative.
Homage: Inspired by Outstanding Canadian Women includes 40 framed neck-pieces created by contemporary jewelry artist Donald Stuart as a celebration and tribute to Canadian women, past and present. Donald A. Stuart Homage (PDF)

Donald Stuart’s “Homage” on exhibit in Canada

The Cape Dorset preview and print release

And, of course, as fans of the annual Cape Dorset print collection know, this is the weekend when the new collection goes on the market. Participants in this year’s Inuit Art Society meeting will get a chance to take a good look at those prints Friday night, before the Dennos puts them up for sale on Saturday morning. (There’s even a discount for everyone participating in the IAS meeting!)

Stonecut print of a large yellow polar bear — Mighty Bear, a stonecut by Quvianaqtuk Pudlat, is just one of the beautiful prints in the 2018 Cape Dorset annual print collection. Image from Dorset Fine Arts.

It’s not too late to participate

If you haven’t yet registered for the annual meeting of the Inuit Art Society, registration will be available at the door. The rate for IAS members is $160. The non-member rate is $190. Payment must be by cash or check.