Throat-singing Duo Silla Releases a Double Album this Summer
Inuit throat-singing duo Silla, composed of performers Charlotte Qamaniq and Cynthia Pitsiulak, launched their album Inua on June 21, the first in the two-album release that is meant to honour and celebrate tradition while also looking to the future. Inua features traditional Inuit throat-singing and the raw experience of it. The second album, Sila is Boss, will be released on July 9 and blends traditional throat singing with contemporary sounds, including guitar and electronic music. For both albums, Silla worked with producers from Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) and Nunavik and musicians like Qamaniq’s brother Kevin Qamaniq-Mason. They also worked with visual artists across Inuit Nunangat, who made cover art for each track. Silla has released several albums before this under their previous group Silla and Rise—composed of Qamaniq, Pitsiulak and producer and musician Rise Ashen—including Silarjuaq (2021) Galactic Gala (2019) and Debut (2016).
Aedan Corey Co-Curates Exhibition ᐃᔨᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ / ᑕᑯᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ Ijilauqsimajugut/Takusimajugut ( We were hidden / We are seen) at SAW
On June 7, the exhibition ᐃᔨᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ / ᑕᑯᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ Ijilauqsimajugut/Takusimajugut (We were hidden / We are seen), co-curated by visual artist, tattooist and writer Aedan Corey and Aitan Ari, opened at SAW Centre in Ottawa, ON. The show represents stories of Inuit identities, contextualizing changes within Inuit concepts of gender and sexuality and featuring works by 15 Inuit artists, including Germaine Arnaktauyok from Inuuvik, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NT, and Malaya Kisa-Knickelbein from Iqaluit, NU. The exhibition is on view until August 16, 2025.
Bronson Jacque Designs New Holographic Coin with the Royal Canadian Mint
Artist Bronson Jacque has designed a special coin for the Royal Canadian Mint titled Moon Sky: Raven. The coin highlights the raven, which plays a central role in many Inuit stories. On the coin are two ravens: the one on the lower half of the coin is a realistic raven, perched on a branch surrounded by trees; the second on the upper half of the coin, soaring with holographic wings outspread, represents Raven, the Creator of Life. “The coin is a reminder that we are more than what we show of ourselves, that we have a colourful world within, one that is capable of creating a light in the darkest of nights,” Jacque says. The hologram on the coin is created with 3D embossing during the minting process, rather than being painted on, and illuminates the raven’s feathers as well as the sky. The colours shift depending on the light, creating an illusion of movement. Only 7,500 coins were created, and they are available on the Royal Mint website.
Couzyn van Heuvelen’s Solo Exhibition on View at the Kitchener-Waterloo Gallery
At the end of May, sculptor and installation artist Couzyn van Heuvelen opened a solo exhibition at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. The exhibition, titled Couzyn van Heuvelen: CAMP, addresses the important role of land-based practices in Inuit self-determination, food sovereignty in the North and highlights the importance of celebrating in community around food. Born in Iqaluit, NU, and currently living in Southern Ontario, van Heuvelen is known for his large-scale sculptural work that combines Inuit art history and traditions with contemporary materials and processes. This solo exhibition will be on view until August 24.
Arctic Expressions Exhibition Opens in Partnership with the British Museum
On June 7, the exhibition Arctic Expressions opened at the Kirkleatham Museum in Redcar, UK. Arctic Expressions examines how Indigenous communities in Alaska and Arctic regions in Canada adapt to socio-political and environmental changes and how artistic expression is part of daily life. The exhibition features historic and contemporary works from the British Museum collection that look at themes of seasonality, human-animal relationships and migration, including Nunavut Qajanartuk (Our Beautiful Land) (1922) by Kenojuak Ashevak, CC, ONu, RCA (1927–2013); Shedding Natchiayaaq from Kigiktaq (2024) by Erin Ivalu Gingrich; and Family Reuniting (c.1990) by Paul Toolooktook (1947–2003). Arctic Expressions is on view until September 28.