PREHISTORIC ORIGINALS AT THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION!
Hull, Quebec, November 14, 1996 — Imagine the Arctic landscape of 4,500 years ago. Frozen, dark, bleak. Lifeless? Not quite. In fact, for 3,000 years before the Inuit arrived in Arctic Canada, the region was occupied by a people of remarkable accomplishment — the Palaeo-Eskimos. Now, for the first time ever, the mysteries of Canada's first occupants are revealed. Lost Visions, Forgotten Dreams Life and Art of an Ancient Arctic People, a world-première exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC), explores the art, culture and history of the Palaeo-Eskimos.
The Palaeo-Eskimos not only developed the techniques that first allowed humans to live successfully in the coldest and bleakest part of the habitable world. Somehow, they also found the time to produce a legacy of carving that is unique, intriguing and delightful. Lost Visions, Forgotten Dreams features more than 600 original carvings excavated from Palaeo-Eskimo sites. These figurines, icons, amulets, weapons and other pieces range in date from 2000 B.C. to A.D. 1200.
Dr. George F. MacDonald, President and CEO and Executive Director of the CMC Corporation, is quick to point out the Museum's special pride in presenting this exhibition. "Five years in the making and curated by the Museum, Lost Visions, Forgotten Dreams allows us to showcase our vast collection of prehistoric art — considered one of the world's greatest," he states. "Moreover," he adds, "most of the 600 artifacts in the exhibition have never been displayed publicly before. In fact, this represents the largest exhibition on the Palaeo-Eskimos and Dorset art ever assembled."
Visitors are greeted by a dramatic rock outcrop, a reproduction of petroglyphs found on an island off the Arctic coast of Quebec. They then encounter the first artifact, one of the most celebrated examples of Palaeo-Eskimo art — the perfectly preserved 2,000 year old "Tyara maskette." From there museum-goers are transported to an ancient time and place.
Given the recurrence of a circular, 16-point image in Dorset art, the exhibition is designed in the form of a circle. Along the outer rim, a series of contextual exhibits using videos, reconstructions, large-scale photographs and artifacts presents the history and culture of the Palaeo-Eskimos. Four inner galleries provide a rare insight into the religion and worldview of an ancient hunting people. About 200 of the finest carvings recovered from Dorset culture settlements are exhibited in specially-designed display cases in the last gallery. Another of the exhibition's distinctive features is the fact that visitors can examine the exquisitely-carved "Spirit-Bear" from all angles — by means of a Digital 3D Colour Imaging technique developed by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC).
Lost Visions, Forgotten Dreams has also been designed to travel. After its first stop at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the exhibition is scheduled for an international tour reaching as far as Denmark and Japan. A modified version of the exhibition is destined for northern communities.
A spectacular line-up of entertainment during the Official Ceremonies on the eve of the exhibition's public opening gives promise of an unforgettable evening:
- Elders Qaunak Mikkigak and Napachie Pootoogook will conduct the "Lighting of the Kudlik" and inspire the crowd with an Inuit prayer and traditional throat singing;
- the always popular Ian Tamblyn, who composed the haunting soundscapes heard in the exhibition, will perform songs inspired by the history and environment of the Arctic. Ian will also be honoured as this year's recipient of the Victor Tolgesy Arts Award by the Council for the Arts in Ottawa;
- writer, artist and Exhibition Consultant Alootook Ipellie will play a reconstructed 1,000 year old Dorset drum; and
- finally, the internationally-acclaimed Inuit group Tudjaat will perform its special blend of folk, pop, dance and northern music.
Lost Visions, Forgotten Dreams opens to the public November 15, 1996 and runs until September 28, 1997 in the Special Exhibitions Hall. The exhibition is sponsored in part by First Air.
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