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Kaluraq, Francis

Kaluraq, Francis

Kivalliq

(1931–1990)

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Kaluraq, Francis

(1931–1990)

Francis Kaluraq (1931-1990) was a sculptor and printmaker from Baker Lake, Nunavut. He began carving in 1961 when a carving program was begun by the Territorial government. His pieces carved from the local steatite stone soon revealed a distinct angularity. Later in his art career, he transitioned to printmaking, which became his true passion. After taking part in an experimental linocut workshop in 1965, Kaluraq began working as a printmaker. From 1969 to 1976, he worked at the Sanavik Co-operative, translating drawings by Luke Anguhadluq, Jessie Oonark and other Inuit artists into stonecuts for printmaking. Kaluraq’s own work was represented in the annual Baker Lake Print Collections from 1970 to 1977. He focused on legends, wildlife and fellow Inuit, documenting life and the stories that inspired him. His work was included in several exhibitions at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. The WAG holds eight of his sculptures from the 1960s, as well as one experimental linocut from 1965 and one drawing from 1972.

Kneeling Woman Holding Snow Shovel

c. 1963
stone, antler
21.5 x 13.8 x 21.2 cm

Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Twomey Collection, with appreciation to the Province of Manitoba and Government of Canada
584.71 ab

  • Kneeling Woman Holding Snow Shovel

    About

    Kneeling Woman Holding Snow Shovel

    Kneeling Woman Holding Snow Shovel

    Kaluraq was one of the stars of Baker Lake stone sculpture when it was introduced to the south in the early 1960s, and his blocky depictions of hunters and other figures were widely published. Kaluraq switched to printmaking in 1969, using his carving skills to translate the drawings of others into stonecut prints. This figure typifies the artist’s style with its simplified overall form and massive rectangular volumes, echoed in the abbreviated facial features.


  • NFB, I am But a Little Woman

    Video Story

    NFB, I am But a Little Woman

    NFB, I am But a Little Woman


  • The Jerry Twomey Collection of Inuit Sculpture

    About

    The Jerry Twomey Collection of Inuit Sculpture

    The Jerry Twomey Collection of Inuit Sculpture

    In 1971, the monumental Jerry Twomey Collection of 4,000 Inuit carvings was acquired by the WAG. Twomey was a geneticist and a co-founder of Winnipeg’s T&T Seeds. Beginning in 1952 and throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he collected sculpture from virtually every art-producing Inuit community. He was fascinated by the distribution of artistic talent within families and across generations and collected the work of individual artists in depth.

    In 1969, Twomey decided to retire from the seed business and move to California to breed roses full-time. The disposition of his collection became a matter for intense negotiation with a number of museums and collectors. George Swinton persuaded then Premier Edward Schreyer of the collection’s importance and in August 1971 Schreyer quickly signed an Order-in-Council to raise $185,000, or two-thirds of the funds required to purchase the collection for the WAG. In June 1972, James Richardson, then federal minister of supply and services, presented a cheque for the remaining $75,000 at a ceremony at the Gallery. To celebrate both the opening of the new Gallery building on Memorial Boulevard and the acquisition of the Twomey Collection, a small show was installed in 1972. In 2003, a comprehensive WAG exhibition and catalogue revealed the incomparable record of the development of Inuit art in the 1950s and 1960s provided by the Twomey Collection.


  • Kneeling Woman Holding Snow Shovel

    Additional View

    Kneeling Woman Holding Snow Shovel

    Kneeling Woman Holding Snow Shovel