“Annuraat: Inuit Clothing” opens in Winnipeg

Ulayok Lucy Kaviok of Arviat crafted this beaded amautik in 1970s. The amautik is one of three given to the Winnipeg Art Gallery from Jill Oakes and Rick Riewe, authors of “Our boots: An Inuit woman’s art,” which are now on display at the museum. (PHOTO/WAG)

The Winnipeg Art Gallery’s current exhibition on Inuit clothing includes this print made by Kananginak Pootoogook in 1991, called “Sealskin Used For Mitts,” which shows how to cut mitts from a sealskin. (IMAGE/WAG)

If you’re in Winnipeg and in need of some inspiration, stop by the Winnipeg Art Gallery for a look at its exhibition on Inuit clothing, called “Annuraat: Inuit Clothing.”

“Inuit women rank among the most innovative and skilled craftspeople in the world, and a new exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery shows you why,” says a news release about the exhibition, which opened April 16 and features more than 50 items chosen from the museum’s collection of 11,000 works of Inuit art.

The centrepiece of the display: three amautiit made by last Ulayok Lucy Kaviok in the 1970s, which feature colourful panels, beadwork and coins.

Today, these amautiit may be museum pieces, but they were meant to be worn at special occasions, and weren’t made for sale, says Darlene Wight, curator of Inuit art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

“One even had a tea stain,” she said about the amautiit, given to the museum by Jill Oakes and Rick Riewe, authors of the book “Our boots: an Inuit woman’s art.”

“Annuraat: Inuit Clothing” also features clothing from all Inuit regions as well as carvings which show everything from skinning the animals to stretching finished kamiks.

There are also prints which show activities related to traditional clothing production — such as a print by Kananginak Pootoogook from 1991, which shows how a sealskin is cut into mitts.

In the exhibition, you’ll also see many ulus and scrapers on display.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery is located in downtown Winnipeg, just off Portage Avenue, at 300 Memorial Boul..

It’s open Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.. Admission is charged.

“Annuraat: Inuit Clothing” remains at the Winnipeg Art Gallery until Oct. 9. There’s also a guided tour of the exhibition scheduled for May 11 at 12:10 p.m..

If you missed the gallery’s previous exhibition, “Nunavik North of 60.” you can still see this online.

The exhibition features 30 carvings from Nunavik, dating from the mid-1950s to the early 2000s.

“Annuraat: Inuit Clothing,” an exhibition which opened April 16 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, includes many ulus in its display of more than 50 items. (PHOTO/WAG)