It has been quite an incredible experience since DAY 1- door opening at Northern Expressions.

....Not to bore you, but here are a few little details about our journey so far:

3 sleepless nights before opening
More sleepless nights after opening
4 great core team members
100's of man hours
100's tiny little details to work on
1 first customer
More sleepless nights
Wonderful customers

Read entire article.

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Tim Pitsiulak. He was a deeply committed and talented artist who will be deeply missed.

Tim with our Carolee Custus

 

Here's inviting you to view the first ever Heritage Minute featuring Kenojuak Ashevak, released on October, 20. Canada's "Heritage Minutes" is a collection of more than 80 dramatized vignettes that recreate events of great importance, accomplishment and bravery in Canada's history.

"A founding member of Cape Dorset’s famed printmaking co-op, Kenojuak Ashevak [is recognized as introducing] Inuit art to the world." Kenojuak's opening line perfectly summarizes the video “... We say [art] is to transfer something from the real to the unreal.” 

This Heritage Minute is the first to be released in Inuktitut in addition to the regular format of English and French. Filmed on location at Cape Dorset, the film provides artistic imagery to some of Kenojuak's finest works.

Enjoy.

Excerpts from: Historica Canada Website

 

 

 

Northern Expressions is proud to announce the arrival of the 57th Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection.

The Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection is a celebration of Inuit print artists. Since 1959, Kinngait Studios has gained world renown in the production of high quality Inuit prints that has become a hallmark of Canadian aboriginal enterprise.

According to  William Huffman of Dorset Fine Arts "Each collection tells us a new story, and this year’s latest chapter is an homage to Inuit art history and cultural heritage." 

The 2016 print collection showcases the works of Ningiukulu Nungusuituk, Pitseolak Niviaqsi, Tim Pitsiulak, Malaija Pootoogook, Pauojoungie Saggiak, Kakulu Saggiaktok and Ningeokuluk Teevee.

To commemorate the centenary of Pudlo Pudlat's birth, two never before seen limited edition lithographs, "Formidable Muskox" and "Caribou in Northern Lights," have been released.  Printed at the Cape Dorset studios in 1985 and 1987 respectively, these two dynamic prints are superb examples of Pudlo's work created during the apogee of his career.

Title: Caribou In Northern Lights Lithograph on Somerset White, 1987 Height 50.3 x Width 65.5 cm

Title: Formidable MuskOx Lithograph on Arches Cream , 1985 Height 56.8 x Width 73.8 cm

 PUDLO PUDLAT

Pudlo Pudlat was born on February 4th, 1916 at Ilupirlik, a small camp near Amadjuak, about 350 kilometers east of Cape Dorset.

Pudlo was one of Cape Dorset's most prolific and original artists. He remembered as a child being reprimanded by his parents for drawing on the walls of his family's snow house so it came as a delightful surprise when as a young man he was encouraged by James Houston and Terry Ryan to peruse his obvious talents as a graphic artist. Pudlo's early adult drawings and prints often depict strange, beguiling creatures and humorous combinations of fantasy and reality. When acrylic washes were introduced in the studios, Pudlo became an avid devotee to this medium, filling large sheets of paper with wondrous and colourful landscapes.

Pudlo is perhaps best known as one of the first artists in Cape Dorset to portray the transition between the traditional Inuit nomadic lifestyle and modern transportation and other technologies. Recognized in his lifetime as an artist who successfully merged these two worlds with humour, optimism and an urban sensitivity, Pudlo was the first Inuit artist to be honoured with a retrospective of his work at the National Gallery of Canada.

(Credits: DFA)

When:Thursday, April 21, 2016

Where: OPEN STUDIO
            Suite 104, 401 Richmond Street West, Toronto.

Time: 6 - 8PM

About Tim Pitsiulak

Tim Pitsiulak has been involved in the arts and various forms of artistic expression for many years. He began to draw in his youth and later took up carving. Born 1967 in Kimmirut, Pitsiulak has been a resident of Cape Dorset for several years and works out of the local Kinngait Studios. The land and its wildlife influence his realist drawing style but he has also become a chronicler of the everyday, with large format depictions of boats, heavy equipment and airplanes – the machinery of modern life in Cape Dorset. His career as an artist was a feature in the 2012 summer issue of The Walrus magazine. Pitsiulak recently completed a major commission for Cadillac Fairview’s TD Centre in Toronto and has a coin design in circulation with the Royal Canadian Mint.

Source: http://www.openstudio.on.ca/meet-the-artist-tim-pitsiulak/

 

Around the globe every year on February 14, people celebrate love. Valentine's day has a long history, with its manner of celebration evolving over time. Nevertheless, the central theme of love celebration through expression and the exchange of gifts remains.

For 2016, Northern Expressions has created the theme of Polar Bear love portrayed in a beautiful heart shaped picture of a mirrored polar bear in a loving gaze.

We hope you like it.

Please visit us for great gift ideas for your beloved ones.

Happy Valentine.

Olu

 

“I just take these things out of my thoughts and out of my imagination and I don’t really give any weight to the idea of its being an image of something. In other words, I am not trying to show what anything looks like in the material world... that is just my style and that is the way I started and that is the way I am today.” Kenojuak, in an interview with Jean Blodgett, 1980

Kenojuak achieved worldwide recognition as one of Canada’s prominent icons of modern Inuit art and maintains a position of high esteem and value among Inuit art collectors and art galleries. Born in an igloo on Baffin Island in October 1927, she was the first woman to be involved with the print making co-operative at Cape Dorset.

Extremely versatile in the use of different art media, she produced a large collection of desired drawings, stonecut prints and etchings. In recognition of her creativity, she became the subject of a National Film Board documentary by producer John Feeney titled Eskimo Artist: Kenojuak, in 1963. She was a recipient of several awards including the Governor General’s Award in Visual and media Arts in 2008. A number of her prints have been reproduced on Canadian postage stamps.

Northern Expressions

 

On Monday, December 7, 2015 Northern Expressions opened its doors to customers at unit G 10A, the Atrium on Bay, 595 Bay street, Toronto, Canada.

It was a great day of pride for our team at Northern Expressions who despite many obstacles, worked very hard to make this day happen.

To everyone who contributed towards our successful opening, we are indeed very grateful.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and prosperous year 2016.

Cheers,

Olu