Inuit art is the primary art form of Canada and has a large international following, particularly in the United States, Japan, and Germany. Despite its popularity, the complete history of Inuit art has never been presented. This is the first chronological synthesis of Inuit art, following its development from prehistory, through early American and European exploration, to the recognition of Inuit art as a commercial possibility, and up to the present. There is a particular emphasis on contemporary art and artists, and the years 1950 through 1997 are each given separate, detailed treatment in regard to important shows and events. This history is appropriate both for the beginning admirer of Inuit art and for those already well immersed in it. A place names key identifies locations that have changed names, as there has been an ongoing trend to restore original Inuit names to places and geographical features.

Veteran reference book author and college professor Richard C. Crandall has lectured and presented papers to many professional associations, especially in the fields of sociology and gerontology. He lives in Bay Harbor, Michigan.

Richard C. Crandall

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 427
Bibliographic Info: abbreviation key, references, index
Copyright Date: 2005 [2000]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2275-3
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
Place Names      5
Abbreviations      7
Introduction      9

1. Prehistoric Inuit Art by Amanda Royce Crandall      13
2. The Historic Period of Inuit Art      21
3. Contemporary Inuit Art: An Introduction      46
4. The Early Years of Contemporary Inuit Art: August 1948 to December 1950      62
5. The Development of Inuit Art: 1951–1953      83
6. The Expansion and Legitimization of Inuit Art: 1954–1956      102
7. Expanding the Base: 1957–1961      119
8. Continuous Expansion: 1962–1969      145
9. A Decade of Exhibitions, Part I: 1970–1974      183
10. A Decade of Exhibitions, Part II: 1975–1979      209
11. The Plateau: 1980–1984      238
12. Change, Part I: 1985–1987      265
13. Change, Part II: 1988–1989      297
14. Evolution, Part I: 1990–1993      318
15. Evolution, Part II: 1994–1997      347

References      367
Index      407

• “this dense, state-of-the-art history of Inuit art will probably stand as the last word on the subject for some time to come…a finely detailed history”—Library Journal
• “[an] extremely detailed chronology of events…likely the most extensively researched study available”—Choice