2018 Annual Meeting of the Inuit Art Society
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IAS 2018 Meeting Preregistration (PDF)
The 2018 Annual Meeting of the Inuit Art Society will be held at the Dennos Museum in Traverse City, Michigan, on October 19-21, 2018.
New: Guest Artist
Bill Nasogaluak
Inuit sculptor Bill Nasogaluak will be joining us as a guest artist. Noted for his carving, Nasogaluak began his career as a painter and enjoys working in a variety of mediums.
Guest Speakers
Don and Jill Stuart
Don Stuart, OAC, will be discussing the establishment and art of the Pangnirtung Weaving Studio.
Stuart developed and initiated the acclaimed studio on Baffin Island, which today thrives as the largest hand-weaving studio in Canada. Pangnirtung weavings from the Dennos’ collection will be on display at the museum.
Don is also internationally recognized as one of Canada’s leading gold/silversmiths, known for his striking jewelry.
Jill worked as a nurse in Pangnirtung and will participate in a panel discussion.
Stephanie Grandulla
Stephanie Grandulla is a member of the Sedna Epic Expedition Project studying the impact of global climate change on the fragile arctic ecosystem and the aboriginal peoples who live there.
Bernadette Driscoll Engelstad
As a curator and independent scholar, Bernadette Driscoll Engelstad publishes widely on Inuit art and cultural history. Her interests focus on Inuit cultural history, including historic clothing design and the contemporary work of Inuit seamstresses; Arctic ethnographic collections in North American and European museums; and contemporary sculpture and graphic art by Canadian Inuit artists. She currently holds an appointment as Research Collaborator at the Arctic Studies Center of the Smithsonian Institution.
Preliminary Schedule
This is a preliminary schedule, exact times may change.
Program
Friday
Registration Dennos Museum, 2:30-5:30
Reception Dennos Museum, 5:30-7:30 PM
Friday will also be an opportunity to browse the galleries and view this year’s Cape Dorset print release.
Saturday Morning and Afternoon
Program sessions at the Dennos Museum
Lunch will be provided
Saturday Evening
Optional dinner, at the Traverse City Golf and Country Club.
Reservations required, $50, see registration form for more information and to reserve.
Sunday
Morning program sessions at the Dennos Museum.
Marketplace open until Noon.
We are looking into home tours or other optional activities for the afternoon.
Opportunities to Purchase Inuit Art
Dennos Museum Shop
IAS members will be offered IAS members will receive discounts of 10-20% off all Museum Shop merchandize during the weekend. Take a peek at their website to get a preview of all the goodies available.
IAS Market Place
The Annual IAS Market Place, which will again feature offerings from Native Art Traders, will also be at the Dennos Museum for the duration of the IAS meeting. Additional vendors to be announced.
Venue and local information
The Dennos Museum in Traverse City, Michigan, will host this year’s program.
Traverse City
Located on the shore of Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City is a popular tourist destination, as well as the home of Northwestern Michigan College.
The Traverse City area is known for its beaches, cherry orchards, wineries, and lovely fall color, and has many charming restaurants.
For more information:
- https://www.traversecity.com/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/travel/what-to-do-in-traverse-city-michigan.html
Dennos Museum Center
The Dennos Museum may have the largest collections of Inuit Art in the United States. The Inuit art collection was established in the 1960s through efforts of long-time IAS member Bernie Rink, and its holdings have grown to include a large selection of Inuit prints, carvings, and textiles. With the opening of the Barbara & Dudley Smith Wing for Inuit Art in 2018, the Dennos museum has more space for exhibition, education, and programs. The Dennos Museum has hosted Inuit Art Society meetings three times. We look forward to returning to their newly expanded facility, which will have more Inuit art than ever on display.
In addition to the the museum’s outstanding permanent exhibit of Inuit Art and the 2018 Cape Dorset print collection, the Dennos will have two special exhibits that will be of interest to meeting participants.
- Pangnirtung Weavings from the Dennos Museum Center’s Collection features weavings from the Inuit art collection, by the artists of the Pangnirtung Weaving Cooperative.
- Homage: Inspired by Outstanding Canadian Women includes 40 framed neck-pieces created by contemporary jewelry artist Donald Stuart as a celebration and tribute to Canadian women, past and present.
The Dennos museum is located on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College at 1701 E. Front Street in Traverse City.
2018 Cape Dorset Print Release
The meeting coincides with the annual Cape Dorset print release. Friday evening the IAS reception at the Dennos will provide the opportunity to browse the galleries and view this year’s Dorset prints. The print sale will be by lottery on Saturday morning. The Dennos Museum Shop is offering IAS members 10% discount for the 2018 Cape Dorset prints.
Lodging
Hampton Inn, Traverse City
A block of rooms with special rates ($134/night) has been set aside at the Hampton Inn. Call the hotel at 231-946-8900, and tell them you are with the Inuit Art Society.
Transportation and Parking
The local airport, Cherry Capital Airport has daily direct service from major US hubs.
Free parking is available at the Dennos Museum. We’ll arrange car pools to get to and from the hotel and the dinner site.