Kenojuak

Book excerpt: From Front blurb: Kenojuak is a tribute honouring the life and work of one of the world's most celebrated and prolific Eskimo artists. Originally published in 1981, as a limited edition of 275, this book was never before available to the general public. We are proud to present a new edition of this magnificent book-a visually stunning and richly documented history of an important Canadian artist. The Toronto Globe & Mail described Kenojuak as "the visionary artist from Cape Dorset in West Baffin Island-a special Canadian. Her stonecut print, the Enchanted Owl, which netted her $25 originally, has been auctioned since for as much as $12,000. In 1970, the aggressive little owl's image was reproduced on a Canadian 6-cent stamp. Her stone sculptures in the Toronto-Dominion Bank's prestigious Inuit collection have been viewed by hundreds. In 1967, (she) was awarded the Order of Canada." In addition, she has numerous exhibitions, and designed Canada's mural at the World's Fair in Osaka Japan. Today, the 58-year old artist says, "I continue to carve. A small canvas tent against the side of my house in Cape Dorset serves as my carving studio in bad weather. Otherwise I carve out of doors. I am grateful to those people who are interested in and admire my work. When I am dead, I am sure there will still be people discussing my art." Kenojuak is a handsome volume, containing over 160 color plates, with every print the artist has produced up to 1980, many of her drawings, photographs of her sculpture, and numerous documentary photographs of the artist in her working and home environment. Kenojuak is unique in the field of art book publishing. Never before has the work of an Eskimo artist been so comprehensively and masterfully treated.