While I was out wandering around Rankin Inlet today, I happened on a little place called the Matchbox Gallery. I wish I had taken a picture of the exterior, because its non-assuming, and in fact some might say in need of a paint job. This is the last place I expected to find what I found, however once I was inside I was completely blown away.
The Matchbox Gallery began in 1987 and has turned into one of Nunavut's most innovative and internationally known creative centres. The founders are Jim and Sue Shirley who came to Rankin Inlet in 1979.
Since 1990, the Shirley's have worked closely with community-based artists in a ceramics program which is unique to Nunavut and the world at large.
The work has been exhibited in shows and in institutional and commercial galleries throughout Canada, United States and Europe. Some of the major exhibitions include shows at the Nunavut Legislative Assembly, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, The Prince of Wales Northern Hertiage Centre, The Museum of Inuit Art in Toronto, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Cerny Collection of Inuit Art in Bern Switzerland and the National Art Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. In fact many of these places have permanent collections from the Matchbox Gallery in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
The detail of the art work is amazing. Sandy who looks after the Gallery in the summer months while the owners are all over the world at Art Exibitions, gave me a tour of the whole building. (Sandy is in the picture below) There are 2 kilyns where all the firing of the ceramic takes place on site. There are many displays that are not for sale. They are being kept for exhibitions and shows like the big show that will take place in Europe next month.
The artist have also participated in hand-building demonstrations in Canada, the U.S, Iceland and Greenland. The prices for the art work very from a hundred dollars or so to multi thousands of dollars.
As an example the small ceramic faces below cost approx. $125.00
And some of the smaller urns that are on the shelves below are around $100.
Below is a picture of many of the artists that work at the Matchbox Gallery.
Sandy gave me a pamphlet that talks about all of the artists and their accomplishments, which are many. I was amazed and delighted that I stumbled onto the Matchbox. Gallery in Rankin Inlet. If you would like to find out more, you can go to their website at
www.MATCHBOXGALLERY.com
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