Niviaxie

Description: NIVIAXIE (1908-1959), E7-1077, Cape Dorset CARIBOU AND YOUNG, stonecut, 1958, 15/30, unframed, 9.5" x 14.5" - 24.1 x 36.8 cm. Note: Although Kananginak's name is the only one written on the prints and HBC list (Kudlalak on proofs and experiments) Terry Ryan attributes the work to Niviaksiak and cites Kananginak as the printer. Barz, Sandra B., Inuit Artists Print Workbook, p. 360; The Inuit Print, exh. cat., from the National Museum of Man (Ottawa, ON), 1977, pp. 48-9, pl. 1

NIVIAXIE (1908-1959), E7-1077, Cape Dorset POLAR BEAR AND CUB IN ICE sealskin print 1959, 17/30 framed 12.00" (height) x 22.00" (width), 30.50 cm (height) x 55.90 cm (width), “ The Bear Hunt. Three months ago Niviaksiak and a young companionwere tracking a bear. After several hours they finally caught sightof him. As they crept closer, the bear, instead of running, turnedand gazed squarely at them. Niviaksiak moved in, raised his rifleto fire, then faltered and shrieked: “It’’’’s dark. I’’’’m falling!”Without firing, he collapsed on the snow, died withinminutes. The next day, when Niviaksiak’’’’s companion and others returned tobury him, they found his body unmauled; the bear had not even comenear him. Among Cape Dorset people there was only one explanation:Niviaksiak’’’’s art had probed too near, had offended the spirit ofthe great polar bear. Today half of Cape Dorset’’’’s income derives from the sale of artworks. This is just the way Jim Houston intended it. Not even CapeDorset will remain inviolate forever; sooner or later it will bedrawn into the modern world where other Eskimos have fared sopoorly. Says Houston: “Their art is the one thing than can preservetheir pride in their Eskimo identity. So long as their art remainstrue and vital and coveted by the outside world, they will be savedfrom hopeless apathy in the face of the onslaught of the almightykadluna [white man]. After they learn to cope with their new world,their art may die. All I ask is that it will then have served itspurpose.” excerpt from, Time Magazine article, Feb. 22, 1960 Est. $25000 / 35000

NIVIAXIE (1908-1959), E7-1077, Cape Dorset ARCTIC GULLS seal skin stencil June 1959, 15/30 unframed 9.00" (height) x 24.00" (width), 22.90 cm (height) x 61.00 cm (width), Est. $4000 / 6000

NIVIAXIE (1908-1959), E7-1077, Cape Dorset SNOW HOUSE BUILDERS stonecut 1959, 9/30 framed 10.25" (height) x 10.75" (width), 26.00 cm (height) x 27.30 cm (width), Est. $2500 / 3500

NIVIAXIE (1908-1959), E7-1077, Cape Dorset POLAR BEAR AND CUB IN ICE sealskin stencil 1959, 30/WBEC 2 unframed 13.50" (height) x 24.00" (width), 34.30 cm (height) x 61.00 cm (width), Est. $15000 / 20000