September 21 – December 1, 2019
Sinaaqpagiaqtuut/The Long-Cut is a two-part procession that began in Kinngait, NU, and continues in Toronto, travelling from The Bentway to 259 Lake Shore Blvd E, where sculptures, banners, and wearables by Kinngait youth from Peter Pitseolak High School made in collaboration with the Oasis Skateboard Factory School are on display. Also on view are photographs and videos documenting the procession, which animates and reaffirms the tethering of Kinngait and Toronto through water- ways, art markets, artistic collaborations, and the night sky.
This Embassy of Imagination project is produced by PA System, commissioned by the Toronto Biennial of Art, and made possible by the generous support of the RBC Emerging Canadian Artist Program, Canadian Northern Airlines, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, Cape Dorset District Education Authority, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Canada House, British Museum, Ontario Arts Council, The Government of Nunavut, TakingITGlobal, and XYZ STORAGE.
Sinaaqpagiaqtuut/ The Long-Cut Contributing Artists: Parr Josephee, Cie Taqiasuk, Saaki Nuna, Taqialu Pudlat, David Pudlat, Janine Manning, Kunu Pudlat, Kevin Allooloo and Salomonie Ashoona, EOI workshop participants 2019, Oasis Skateboard Factory 2019 Fall Cohort, Makoto Aoki Barrett, Moises Frank, Brandon Webster, Ooloosie Ashevak, Mathew Nuqingaq, Jamasee Pitseolak, Pitseolak Pootoogook,Evie Kelly, Leah Mersky, Jason Kenemy, Natalie Baird x Jonny Lush and the Pang Photo Club (J Kilabuk, Philip Bourassa, Grace Metuq, Andrea Kullualik, Lolita Evic, Brianna Alivaktuk, Evie Angnakak, Sheila Dialla, Tasha Partridge Machmer), Tyler Anderson
Sinaaqpagiaqtuut/ The Long-Cut was made with EOI workshop participants and contributors: Annie Oshutsiaq, Christine Adamie, Iqaluk Ainalik, Moe Kelly, Sita Saila, Nicotye Qimirpik, Hopiqualuk Pudluq, Moosie Manning, Attachie Tunnillie, Iqaluk Quvianaqtuliaq, John Mathewsie, Mary Parr, Koonoo Akesuk, Jutani Alariaq, Tommy Quvianaqtuliaq, Joanasie Tunnillie, Joanasie Atsiaq, Jackie Kelly, Ivan Koperqualuk, Susie Saila, Johnny Samayualie, Latch Akesuk, Moe Kelly, Mialikulu Oshutsiaq, Amanda Wortman, Kov Adla, Qaapik Pudlat, Sheila Ningeosiak, Jeannie Mathewsie, Qavavau Mangnitak, Dennis Hayward, Johnny Samayualie, Gina Curley, Noah Sharkey, Ooloota Parr, Johnnybou Taukie, Ruth Jaw, Isaci Jr Shaa,Harry Josephee, Fredrick Teevee, Qavavau Ottokie, Jimmy Killiktie, Mia Saffa Aningmiuq, Luke Jr Aningmiuq, Ning Qavavau, Manu Ikkidluak, Miazie Samayualie, Moosie Samayualie, Namonai Tapaungai, Katsua Saila, Oqittuq Pudlat, Ruth Oqutaq, Aggiu Ashevak, Joanasie Atsiaq, Shelton Nipisar, Iola Lampron, Arniqnik Oshutsiaq, Akalayuk Qavavau, Olayou Nuna, Laisa Ningeosiak, Anirqniq Adla, Moosie Bell, Pia Pudlat, Jeannie Quvianaqtuliaq, Siassie Mikkigak, Mary Mikkigak, Mary Pitsiulak, Kelly Pitsiulak, Nuvualia Carrier, Nujalia Adla, Jolly Saggiatuk, Joe Koperqualuk, Mary-Anne Taqiasuk, Acacia Lawrence, Harry Josephee, Aoudi Qinnayuaq, Ezeevalu Samayualie, Jordan Taukie, Janice Qimirpik, Nathan Samayualie, Samantha Noolook, Deborah Hutchings, Lucien Noolook, Olipika Samayualie
Project Produced by: PA System
EOI Wishes to thank: Studio PM, The Japanese Paper Place, Flora Shum, Splash Graphics, Ontario Science Centre, Saizula Pootoogook, Taylor LaMarche, Louisa Jaw, Mary Pitsiulak, Mark Etidloie, Ettula Adla,Temela Pitsiulak, Taukie Ashevak, Paul Baron, Annie Noolook, Claude Constantineau, Susan Rowsell, Steve Ferrara/ Well and Good, SAW Nordic Lab, Parkdale Sewing Repair Hub and Creative Reuse Toronto
Bios
Embassy of Imagination (2014–2020) is a long-term project based in Kinngait / Cape Dorset, Canada, created for and by an evolving group of Kinngait youth and the art collective PA System (Alexa Hatanaka and Patrick Thompson, 2010–2020), with collaborators and partners. Projects include youth-centred public placemaking works for the community and the sculpture Future Snowmachines in Kinngait, whichraises funds for locally-led land programming.
Visual artists Alexa Hatanaka (born and lives in Toronto, ON, Canada) and Patrick Thompson (born in Chelsea, QC, Canada; lives in Toronto, ON, Canada) work under the collective name PA System. They exhibit their artwork in institutions worldwide, such as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona, the Canada House in London and the Art Gallery of Ontario. They have created public artwork across Canada and around the world. Leaders of Embassy of Imagination, Hatanaka and Thompson have worked on several visual art projects in the arctic for ten years. They have created well-loved murals in the hamlets of Igloolik, Cape Dorset, Iqaluit, and Hall Beach, as well as in the Northern Quebec towns of Kangiqsujuaq, Kuujjuaq and Inukjuak. They have facilitated youth projects at York University, the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, and the National Gallery.
Exhibition Site
259 Lake Shore Blvd East
The life of this nondescript building reveals the area’s economic history. Its first tenant in 1945, the Standard Chemical Company, produced methanol, formaldehyde, and charcoal. A railway line to the south tethered the site to the movement of goods. By 1954, the building was divided into a warehouse and a showroom, a configuration that remained intact over the course of various leaseholders, including oil and electrical supply companies and a series of car dealerships. (The advertising of its most recent tenant, Volvo, is still visible on the façade.) This building’s fate is indeterminate, as real estate development is increasingly filling the voids left by industrial decline.
259 Lake Shore Blvd East
Toronto ON
M5A 3T7