Kananginak Pootoogook

Kananginak Pootoogook has been involved with drawing and printmaking since the late 1950’s when the West Baffin Co-operative first initiated the graphic art program in Cape Dorset. He was instrumental in the formation of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative and served for many years as President of its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts.

Kananginak’s work represents Arctic life, often-monumental in scale. His drawing for Inunoo’s scarf pattern “Fisher Woman” was selected as an image that illustrated the material cultural of the Inuit, camping and hunting scenes. The composition beyond the original drawing comes from the printed fabric used in the woman’s parka. The influence of the Hudson Bay store on Inuit life. Kananginak died on Tuesday,November 23, 2010 in Ottawa from complications from surgery for lung cancer.