The Handwerker Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of the exhibition, Of the People: Inuit Sculpture from the Collection of Mary and Fred Widding, at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 28.
The Inuit, an indigenous people living in the Canadian Arctic, have a long artistic tradition which archaeological discoveries have shown to reach back thousands of years. Indeed, the long and storied history of the Inuit has been preserved through their pieces. In their native dialect, Inuktitut, the word "Inuit" simply means the people, and alludes to their lifestyle both past and present.
Despite continuing changes to their culture, Inuit remain the people of the Arctic. Though confronted by numerous transformations to their livelihood over the past fifty years, central Inuit values have endured: community, nature, and spirituality -- values we see echoed in their artistic expression.
Curated by Ithaca College museology students, the exhibition highlights the distinguished collection of Mary and Fred Widding. Pivotal to the development of the Widdings' collection is their personal relationship with the work. By sharing this collection with the Handwerker Gallery, the Widdings hope that others may discover the same connection.
An illustrated catalog written by the student curators accompanies the exhibition. There will be an opening reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 28. A series of events have been planned in conjunction with the exhibition; information on these can be found at https://www.ithaca.edu/handwerker/g/upcoming_events/. All Handwerker events are free and open to the public.
Guided tours of the exhibition by student-curators can be booked by contacting RB Schlather (rschlat1@ithaca.edu) or JJ Ignotz (jignotz1@ithaca.edu).
The exhibition will run through April 6. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Thursday until 9:00 p.m.); and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. For further information on the exhibition or the Handwerker Gallery, contact Cheryl Kramer, Handwerker Gallery director and assistant professor of art history, at 607-274-3548.
