Shawna White

Readings

Explore the evolving character of the North through the lens of some of Canada’s most significant Inuit artists. Focusing on eight different works from sculpture to prints, each work is used as the starting point from which to explore a multitude of stories. During the presentation participants will be able to handle objects such as whalebone, stone, and tools used to create sculpture in Canada’s north. Featured artists include Oviloo Tunnillie, Kenojuak Ashevak, Lukta Qiatsuk, David Reuben Piqtoukun, Jessie Oonark and Joe Talirunili whose rich work allows us to explore the culture, history and legends of the Inuit.

Special Equipment:

n/a

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Workshops

Explore the evolving character of the North through the lens of some of Canada’s most significant Inuit artists. Focusing on eight different works from sculpture to prints, each work is used as the starting point from which to explore a multitude of stories. During the presentation participants will be able to handle objects such as whalebone, stone, and tools used to create sculpture in Canada’s north. They will also learn about the printmaking process and create their own prints through a modified process similar to that used in the Inuit printmaking studios. This studio introduces participants to the basics of printmaking by adapting the relief printing techniques used by Inuit artists to commonly available mediums such as plasticine and foam to create their own original mono prints.

Special Equipment:

n/a

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Biography

Shawna White is an Assistant Curator at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. She has a varied 20 year professional history working as a curator, educator, arts administrator, consultant and Canadian art specialist. She first came to the McMichael in 1994 in the Education Department. After a 5½ year hiatus working first as the Administrator for the Canadian Art Department, and later as one of the Specialists at Sotheby’s in Toronto, she re-joined the McMichael in 2002. Shawna has an MA in Classical Archaeology from SUNY and a Master’s of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. Shawna’s recent curatorial projects include The Arctic Image, Woodland School, Inuit Art: Highlights from the Collection, and From Drawing to Print: Kenojuak Ashevak. She also co-wrote the exhibition publication The Arctic Image and is currently researching an exhibition on the Beaver Hall Group of artists.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
Shawna can speak on a wide-variety of topics in Canadian art to all audience levels including an illustrated lecture entitled The Savvy Collector: How to Collect Canadian Art. Please contact with specific requests.