Free of charge
About the event
Ivigait is the grass used to make Inuit baskets. The technique used to weave the blades of grass is similar across Inuit Nunangat. In the same way, story-telling and lyricism runs through our communities, creating connections across land and sea. These young writers are recognized in their own communities. Some of them have published books of poetry and short stories, others practise spoken-word performance, and all of them take part in the vibrant, multi-faceted Inuit art movement.
In its Art in Words series, the MMFA invites local writers to perform an original text inspired by its collections or exhibitions.
Biographies
Taqralik Partridge is an Ottawa-based writer, spoken-word poet, visual artist and curator, originally from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik. She is a former editor-at-large for the Inuit Art Quarterly, and her curatorial projects have been featured in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Guelph. Partridge’s visual work has been presented in Norway, at the Biennale in Sydney, Australia, in London, England, and at numerous galleries across Canada. Her work is part of the major touring exhibition Radical Stitch, and she was shortlisted for the Sobey Art Award in 2024.
Aedan Corey is a writer, visual artist, and Inuit tattooist from Iqaluktuuttiaq, Nunavut, a town of approximately 1,800 people. Author and illustrator of the chapbooks Kinauvunga? (Publication Studio Guelph, 2024) and Inuujunga (Coven Editions, 2021), and the short story Unikkaannguaq (Nipiit Magazine, 2020), they began creating art at a young age. Aedan’s work is heavily inspired by their lived experiences as a queer Inuk. Their goal is always to inspire and advocate for those within their communities through their artistic practices, letting others know that they are not alone. Aedan currently resides in Ottawa on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation with their partner and two pets, Akla and Waffles.
Phebe Bentley is a mother, seamstress, jeweller, writer, and entrepreneur. Based in Montreal, Bentley creates pieces inspired by the nuna (land) and Inuit culture. Outside of her art, education and women’s rights are some of her passions. She currently works for Kativik Ilisarniliriniq as the Director of the Post-Secondary Student Services Department and is a former board member of Saturviit Women’s Association of Nunavik.
Janice Grey is a Haitian-Inuk writer from Aupaluk, Nunavik. She currently lives in Montreal and works for the Avataq Cultural Institute as editor of the Tumivut magazine. With support from her mentor Taqralik Partidge, Janice published her first book of short stories in spring of 2024, through PS Guelph and the Musagetes Foundation. She has contributed to various publications about Inuit art and artists over the years, a responsibility she is proud to take on as Inuit reclaim the narratives around our stories. She writes fiction as a passion and hobby, exploring the medium of short stories through myriad genres.
Ulivia Uviluk (Olivia Lya Thomassie) is a multidisciplinary artist from Kangirsuk, Nunavik, QC, whose practice encompasses film, beading, writing and more. She wrote the artist-of-the-month profile on the platform Tarqitamaat during her time as project officer at the Avataq Cultural Institute from 2020 to 2022. She had a role in the TV show Épidémie and in the play Aalaapi, and worked as a project officer on the play Aukkauti produced by Aaqsiiq Theatre. Although film and performance remain important to Uviluk, she is currently focusing more on her visual arts. She recently participated in a residency with artist Laila Labba, in collaboration with the Sami Center for Contemporary Art and the Avataq Cultural institute, that will lead to an exhibition in 2025.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Reservation terms: Free admission. No reservation required.
Language: In English, Inuktitut and French
Location: Maxwell Cummings Auditorium, 1379-A Sherbrooke Street West
