Collaboration is Key: A look at the Tunirrusiangit Kenojuak Ashevak and Tim Pitsiulak Exhibition - Jocelyn Piirainen, Georgiana Uhlyarik & Taqralik Partridge

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) opened the exhibition Tunirrusiangit: Kenojuak Ashevak and Tim Pitsiulak in June 2018. It was a collaborative exhibition, curated primarily by four Inuit artists as curators: Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory, Tagqralik Partridge, Koomuatuk (Kuzy) Curley, and Jocelyn Piirainen. The process from start to end was entirely led by this team, along with AGO curatorial team. Working with the AGO, as a large institution situated in the south, it was an opportunity to highlight Inuit culture - and one of the most important decisions made was to offer a seal feast at the public opening. À seal was hunted by the family of Kenojuak Ashevak in Nunavut, brought down to the south - whole - and carved by the Toronto Inuit community members who atttended the opening. Sharing the meat with the public was an important moment as sharing food is seen as bringing community together. :

This discussion, as a panel or presentation would highlight this importance of working collaboratively with institutions, and with creating safe spaces for Inuit within these institutions. It would be presented by Jocelyn Piirainen (Winnipeg Art Gallery), Tagralik Partridge (Inuit Art Quarterly), and Georgiana Uhlyarik (AGO).