Exploring Inuit artistic voice about Arctic sea ice change:

How does art and artistic process contribute to bridging knowledge systems?

Kaitlyn J Rathwell

PhD Candidate

University of Waterloo, Canada

@kjrathwell

December 10, 2013

What is the problem?

Research Objectives

1 To examine the role of Inuit art + artistic processes in understanding and making sense of Arctic environmental and sea ice change

2 To engage with local artists and youth to create an artistic piece on the theme of Arctic sea ice change

3 To assess how art and artistic processes may serve as a method, strategy or approach to bridge knowledge systems about Arctic environmental and sea ice change

4 To explore how art and artistic process have been or could be leveraged to improve management and governance efforts in the context of Arctic change.

Initial Insights…

• Sea ice change and climate change is noted and expressed by Inuit artists

• Art and artistic process can help with bridging knowledge systems (scientific, Inuit)

• Art and artistic processes for processing and sharing embodied knowledge of Arctic environmental change

1. Interviews with professional artists in Cape Dorset and Pangnirtung (n = 30)

Tim Pitsiulak, Climate Change, 2011, Pencil crayon, 64.8 x 49.5 cm, Courtesy of Feheley Fine Arts

“That drawing is a picture of an elder on one side the half of the face and the other half of the face is the ice breaking up. Saying that the elders notice the ice breaks up much earlier and the ice does not form as it use too in the past…..If I made the face looking downward that may mean the end is near, but you are always told to keep your head up”

Tim Pitsiulak

2. Painting Change 2013: Collaborative mural about Arctic social- environmental

change

Participatory Art Workshops

Bridging Elder and Youth knowledge systems

3. Sea Ice Project with Elisapee Ishulutaq

4. Sea Ice Project with ShuvinaiAshoona

Sea Ice Project with Shuvinai Ashoona

Research Objectives

1 To examine the role of (Inuit) art + artistic processes in understanding and making sense of Arctic environmental and sea ice change

2 To engage with local artists and youth to create an artistic piece on the theme of Arctic sea ice change

3 To assess how art and artistic processes may serve as a method, strategy or approach to bridge knowledge systems about Arctic environmental and sea ice change

4 To explore how art and artistic process have been or could be leveraged to improve management and governance efforts in the context of Arctic change.

Next steps…

• ArcticNet Interviews – Interested in perspective of governance practitioners (e.g. from

Arctic council) and scientists about the role of art– Perspectives on artworks– What if anything could art and artistic processes add to your

work and your processes of cross-cultural engagement?

• Music Composition and Performance as K La Luna– ROM Toronto Jan 26th

– Post-Normal@bandcamp.com

• Continued engagement with Inuit Artists– Tanya Tagaq– Shuvinai Ashoona continued…– Communities

Kaitlyn J Rathwell Kaitlyn.rathwell@uwaterloo.ca(519) 222-7146@kjrathwell

Thank You

Kaitlyn J Rathwell Environmental Change Governance Group (ECGG), University of Waterloo, Canada

Kaitlyn.rathwell@uwaterloo.ca(519) 222-7146@kjrathwell

Your interview…

• Interested in perspective of governance practitioners (e.g. from Arctic council) and scientists about the role of art

• Perspectives on artworks

• What if anything could art and artistic processes add to your work and your processes of cross-cultural engagement?

Kaitlyn J Rathwell Kaitlyn.rathwell@uwaterloo.ca(519) 222-7146@kjrathwell

Music making is integral to my research process

“Our stories and legends, they can be written into songs so that everyone would hear it and understand.”

Jaco Ishulutaq