Artist

Kalvak, Helen

Title

Haunting Owls

Technique

stonecut

Date

1985

Dimensions

49.5cm height x 66.0cm width

Type

print

Accession Number

2015.14.2

Collection

Permanent Collection

Gift of Heidi Freya Peters

Helen Kalvak was a was anInuit graphic artist from Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada. She lived a traditional Inuit lifestyle for most of her life. Her mother was Enataomik. Her father Halukhit encouraged her spiritual gifts and taught her to be an angakok (shaman). Although Kalvak later converted to Christianity, she continued to reflect her shamanism in her artwork, along with the stories which she had learned as a child. She lived a traditional Inuit lifestyle for most of her life. Her mother was Enataomik. Her father Halukhit encouraged her spiritual gifts and taught her to be an angakok (shaman). Although Kalvak later converted to Christianity, she continued to reflect her shamanism in her artwork, along with the stories which she had learned as a child. By 1978, Kalvak had produced an estimated 2,000 drawings. With 176 published prints, Kalvak is the Holman artist with the largest body of published work. Kalvak was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and appointed to the Order of Canada.