Historica Canada releases new Heritage Minute on Kenojuak Ashevak
TORONTO – October 20, 2016 The life of Kenojuak Ashevak, a pioneer of modern Inuit art, is now a Heritage Minute, the 85th in the collection. Shot on location in the artist’s home community of Cape Dorset, Nunavut, this Minute is the first to be produced and released in three separate languages: English, French, and Inuktitut.
A founding member of Cape Dorset’s famed Kinngait Studios (West Baffin Eskimo Co-op), Ashevak’s work gained almost immediate attention when her first print, “Rabbit Eating Seaweed” (1958), was featured in the Cape Dorset Print Collection and Catalogue. It was the beginning of a decades-long career that saw her travel as far as Europe and Japan promoting Inuit art. A companion of the Order of Canada, Kenojuak Ashevak remained one of the world’s most prominent Inuit artists until her death on January 8, 2013 at the age of 85.
“Kenojuak Ashevak is renowned worldwide for her works of art, and for her role in bringing Inuit art to the forefront,” said Anthony Wilson-Smith, President and CEO of Historica Canada. “We’re delighted to now bring Canadians the personal story of an artist of such achievement.”
The “Kenojuak Ashevak” Heritage Minute is embargoed until October 20, 6 a.m. EST. At that time it can be shared and embedded through this link. Stills from the Minute can be downloaded here.
This Heritage Minute was produced by Historica Canada and Fifth Town Films, and utilizes animation by e.d. Films to bring Ashevak’s most famous prints to life. It was written and directed by filmmaking duo Tess Girard and Ryan J. Noth, and stars Miali Buscemi (The Embargo Project, Ce qu’il faut pour vivre).
The Heritage Minutes are made possible through funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage. Historica Canada thanks Canadian North airline for its generous donation of travel vouchers for this project.
Historica Canada is the country’s largest organization dedicated to enhancing awareness of Canadian history and citizenship.