Making Waves
In collaboration with the MMFA, Avataq Cultural Institute, La Guilde, Concordia, and the university’s FOFA Gallery, the Inuit Futures Symposium will be the first major gathering focused solely on Inuit visual arts since the Inuit Modern Symposium that took place in Toronto on February 4, 2011.
The three-day gathering will be an opportunity to take stock of all that happened since that crucial event 13 years ago. One especially exciting development, notes Igloliorte, is the direction of the conversation — the symposium is now entirely Inuit-led.
“All of the nearly 100 speakers and moderators will be Inuit,” Igloliorte says. “This must be a first for any conference. It’s exciting to be focusing on emerging Inuit voices — Elders and youth — from all aspects of the art world.”
The program is brimming with events, including panels, discussions, exhibition openings, curatorial talks, a gallery crawl, performances, vendors and workshops. Each underscores the multitudes, impact and reach of the ever-flourishing Inuit futures in art. Plus, a closing celebration at the PHI Centre will include performances by circumpolar women artists, curated by Tanya Lukin Linklater and featuring a set by DJ Andachan, based in Greenland.
Of the many highlights, on Wednesday, November 6, Beatrice Deer and Tanya Innaarulik will host a live recording of the podcast Northerned from Concordia’s 4TH SPACE. Interested listeners can also tune in remotely.
Dovetailing with the live recording, a vernissage will be held at La Guilde for Amisut. Curated by Ooleepeeka Eegeesiak, the exhibition features the print work of young and early-career artists from across Inuit Nunangat. The launch will be catered by Chef Swaniege and feature music by DJ Atamone.
In honour of International Inuit Day on November 7, the MMFA will host a Country Food Lunch that will include special performances. Earlier this same day, attendees will have the opportunity to preview the permanent exhibition, ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik essence of life.
