Helen Kalvak

Infobox Artist
name = Helen Kalvak


imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = 1901
location = Tahiryuak Lake, Victoria Island
deathdate = 1984-05-07
deathplace = Ulukhaktok
field = Graphic artist
training =
movement =
works = "The Dance"
patrons =
awards = Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
Order of Canada

Helen Kalvak (Kalvakadlak) (1901 - 1984-05-07) (C.M., R.C.A.) was a Copper Inuit graphic artist [cite web |url=http://www.spiritwrestler.com/catalog/index.php?artists_id=105 |title=Helen Kalvak (Kalvakadlak) |accessdate=2008-08-25 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=spiritwrestler.com] from Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada.

Early years

Kalvak was born at Tahiryuak Lake, [cite web |url=http://www.quintanagalleries.com/htmls/artists/pages/Artists-713.htm |title=Helen Kalvak, Holman Island, NWT |accessdate=2008-08-25 |last=Quintana Galleries |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=quintanagalleries.com] on Victoria Island and raised in the Prince Albert Sound area, though the family also spent some time at Minto Inlet. She lived a traditional Inuit lifestyle for most of her life. Her mother was Enataomik, but it was her father, Halukhit, who brought her up as an angakok (shaman). While she later converted to Christianity, her shamanism was reflected in her artwork along with the stories that she learned as a child.

Later years

In 1960, Kalvak moved to Holman (present-day Ulukhaktok) after the sudden death of her husband, Edward Manayok. There, she helped a Roman Catholic priest, Rev. Henri Tardy, set up the Holman Eskimo Coop in 1961. It was at this time that Kalvak began her artwork. In 1965, her artwork was turned into prints and sold throughout the world.

Ten years later, in recognition of her work she was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. This was followed in 1978 by her appointment to the Order of CanadaTomic-Bagshaw, Jessica. "Helen Kalvak: Pioneering Inuit Print-maker." (2001). In "Framing Our Past: Canadian Women's History in the Twentieth Century," S.A. Cook, L.R. McLean, and K. O'Rourke, eds. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 60. ] . By 1978, Kalvak had produced an estimated 2,000 drawings, [Quintana Galleries] but was no longer able to use her hands due to Parkinson's disease. The following year, her work entitled "The Dance" was used by Canada Post for the 17¢ postage stamp. At 176 published prints, Kalvak is the Holman artist with the largest body of published work. [cite web |url=http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Holman/english/artists/index.php3#c9 |title=HELEN KALVAK 1901-1984 |accessdate=2008-08-25 |last=Wight |first=Darlene Coward |date=2000-05-11 |publisher=virtualmuseum.ca]

At the time of her death in 1984, Kalvak was one of the few remaining Inuit women in Holman to have traditional beautifying facial tattoos.

The school in Holman is named after her.

Personal life

Kalvak was married to Edward Manayok, a singer and drum dancer. He died at a coastal outpost camp [Quintana Galleries] at Walker Bay. [Wight]

Their daughter, Elsie Nilgak, states: [Wight]

"When they were trying to start the Co-op my mother was given drawing paper to make drawings. She would make drawings when we were at our outpost camp at Walker Bay [on the coast north of Minto Inlet] . The drawings would show the way people used to dress and live. She did drawings for some of the sealskin tapestries also. There were about five women, including my mother, who sewed sealskins for the Co-op. I still remember the first drawings and designs by my mother for kamiks, parkas, mitts, and other craft items. There were about five women who made sealskin clothing and mats. I remember coming into Holman in the summer by boat to sell some of my mother’s finished drawings and I would get more art supplies to take back for her. This was after my father passed away [in 1960] ."

Granddaughter, Julia Manoyok Ekpakohak (born 1968), is also an artist, having been taught by Kavlak. [Wight]

References

External links

* [http://data4.collectionscanada.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=0795&l=20&d=POST&p=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.collectionscanada.ca%2Farchivianet%2F020117%2F020117030214_e.html&r=1&f=G&SECT3=POST "The Dance" as used by Canada Post]
* [http://www.ccca.ca/artists/artist_work.html?languagePref=en&link_id=5253&artist=Helen+Kalvak The Work of Helen Kalvak]
* [http://www.pws.gov.nt.ca/projects/HelenKalvakSchool/index.htm Helen Kalvak School]

Persondata
NAME= Kalvak, Helen
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Kalvakadlak
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Graphic artist
DATE OF BIRTH= 1901
PLACE OF BIRTH= Tahiryuak Lake, Victoria Island
DATE OF DEATH= 1984-05-07
PLACE OF DEATH=Ulukhaktok