Winnipeg art gallery housing thousands of Inuit art pieces set to open to public

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      The 65 million-dollar Qaumajuq Inuit art gallery, is opening its doors to the public on Saturday. The building is the newest addition to the Winnipeg Art Gallery and will be showcasing art from Inuit artists around the globe. Mark Neufeld reports.

      By Mark Neufeld and CityNews Staff

      WINNIPEG (CityNews) – The worlds largest collection of Inuit art is opening to the public in Winnipeg.

      The Qaumajuq Inuit art gallery, named by the WAG Indigenous Advisory Circle, says the historic naming of the art space is in response to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples.

      Inside the gallery is a mix of traditional and contemporary Inuit art curated from artists around the world.

      “Qaumajuq is adding over 8,000 square feet to the existing Winnipeg Art Gallery and it’s housing over 5,000 pieces of Inuit art,” said Assistant Curator of Inuit Art at the Winnipeg Art gallery Jocelyn Piirainen.

      “So it’s a really beautiful mixture coming together, of old and new.”

      Piirainen wants people to experience the wide offerings of Inuit art beyond the sculptures and carvings most often associated with Inuit people.

      One exhibit, she says, that does that is a seal skin space suit that envisions Inuit going into the future. Piirainen says completing the $65-million gallery during COVID-19 has presented some obstacles but she is thankful to finally be able to open doors to the public.

      “It’s been a long journey, as you can imagine. We’ve had a few delays in getting this open of course with the pandemic but now that it’s here, it’s just really wonderful. For me, being Inuit it’s really important as well.”

      Qaumajug opens to in-person viewings this weekend, however, the gallery is hosting free virtual tours for people to participate from home that include performances and ceremonies captured in the space.

      “With this new exhibit, I really do feel like it will be eye-opening for people to see just the variety of different works,” added Piirainen.

      The multi-level gallery also houses a three-storey glass vault that holds thousands of Inuit works inside. The first opportunity for the public to enter the space is on Saturday.

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