Pasar al contenido principal

An Introduction to Inuit Art

Uploaded by IsumaTV

An Introduction to Inuit Art


Grade level            

This lesson plan is designed to be used with students aged
12-15 years.

Objective           

Students will be introduced to two kinds of Inuit art,
sculpture and printmaking. In groups, students will be assigned a topic and
series of activities to research and complete. Students will present their
final products to the class.

Time required           

2-3 class periods (estimated)

Materials                       

Activity     

1       Write on the
board "Man Carrying Reluctant Wife." Explain that this is the title of a piece
of art by the Inuit artist Pudlo Pudlat. Pass out small squares of paper and
allow small groups several minutes to discuss and sketch their interpretation
of the piece.

2       Ask volunteers to
share their pieces. Once everyone who wishes to share has done so, pass around
several copies of the piece.

3       Explain that
every artist's inspiration is different. The inspiration for this piece by
Pudlo Pudlat comes from the Inuit tradition of arranged marriages. According to
interviews done with Igloolik elders, many people were betrothed to someone
even before they were born. Frequently, the women to whom the men were
betrothed did not wish to marry.

      "There was never a time when the woman
showed any signs of willingness at all. Both parents of the man and the woman
would have agreed to the marriage before you even knew about it. They would
tell you afterwards that you are to marry a certain woman. The woman would not
want to be married off and would really be really against the marriage, but the
parents had agreed that she should be married."

4       Explain another
common theme in Inuit art is respect for the land and animals. Read the
following quote:

      "It is not only to make money that we carve.
Nor do we carve make believe things. What we show in our carvings is the life
we have lived in the past right up to today. We show the truth... We carve the
animals because they are important to us as food. We carve Inuit figures
because in that way we can show ourselves to the world as we were in the past
and as we are now... we carve to show what we have done as a people."

~ Pauloosie Kasadluak, Inukjuak 1976

5       Break students
into five groups. Explain to the groups that they are to research their topic
and decide how to share the information with the rest of the class. Groups must
have both a written element and an artistic element.

6       Assign or allow
groups to randomly select one of the following topics:

  • Materials used in Inuit Sculpture
  • Different Styles of Inuit Sculpture
  • The Inukshuk
  • James Houston and the Birth of Inuit Art Prints

• Prices of Inuit Art.

7       Make the list of
websites under Materials available to students for research purposes. Explain
that the Free Spirit Gallery offers articles on most of the topics, so it may
be a good place to start their research.

8       Allow students
approximately two class periods to complete their research and work on
projects. Groups may have to complete their work as part of a homework
assignment.

Evaluation            

Have groups share their projects with the rest of the class. As
a follow-up homework assignment, share the following poem. Explain that in the
early 1900s, Knud Rasmussen recorded this poem composed by Uvavnuk, an Igloolik
Inuit (students should already be familiar with Knud Rasmussen). Students are
to create a piece of art in response to the poem. Their piece may be inspired
by what they've learned about Inuit art if they choose.

            The
Great Sea has set me,

            In
motion

            Set
me adrift

            And
I move as a weed in the river.

            The
arch of sky

            And
mightiness of storms

            Encompasses
me,

            And
I am left

            Trembling
with joy.

References           

Isuma Publishing - a division of Igloolik Isuma Productions: http://isuma.ca/buy

Kessler, Deirdre, Isuma
Teacher's Resource Guide, Montreal: Isuma Publishing, 2004

Robinson, Gillian, Isuma
Inuit Studies Reader, Montreal: Isuma Publishing, 2004