FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:  November 1, 2007

Ancient and Modern Inuit Art on Display at The Coffey County Historical Museum, 1101 Neosho Street Burlington, KS   66839.

Arctic Spirit:  Inuit Art from the Albrecht Collection at the Heard Museum, showing at The Coffey County Historical Museum beginning November 15th, 2007, displays the Canadian Inuit culture’s rich artistic history.  The Inuits, or Eskimos, are a society of natives who live mainly in Siberia, Alaska, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic.  Though many consider these various groups to be homogenous, Arctic Spirit showcases the artistic styles that are distinctly of the Canadian Inuit. This exhibition is toured by Exhibits USA, which is the national touring program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, a non-profit regional arts organization based in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Arctic Spirit exhibition items are drawn from one of the most comprehensive collections of Northern Inuit art in the United States. Approximately 125 sculptures, textiles, prints, and drawings from 30 different villages in Canada’s north will be on display through February 3, 2008.  The objects span 2,250 years of artistic creativity, beginning as early as 250 B.C. up until to the 21st century.

All of the most popular subjects of Inuit art are showcased in Arctic Spirit:  family and camp scenes; animals and nature; legends and spirituality; and the Inuit relationship with the Arctic environment. These subjects are presented in many varied mediums.  Visitors to Arctic Spirit will be introduced to the Canadian Inuits’ wall hangings, prints, drawings, sculptures, carved ivories, masks, and decorated clothing. Maps, text panels, and photographs of the land and artists also provide background information for visitors to the exhibition.

Arctic Spirit is curated by Ingo Hessel who lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and has researched Inuit art extensively for over 20 years.  The art was donated to the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, by Dr. E. Daniel and Martha L. Albrecht, whose entire collection amounts to over 2,500 works from and 1,500 books on Native art.

The Coffey County Historical Museum is proud and pleased to host this amazing exhibit at 1101 Neosho Street, Burlington, KS  66839.  We are a not for profit charity and admission fees are on a volunteer basis.  We are one of the last museums in the state to be OPEN 7 days a week: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays 1-4 p.m.  We are closed for most national holidays as well as the Friday after Thanksgiving.  We will be happy to give guided tours for a donation fee; or you make do a self-guided tour as the signage is wonderful!  Our Grand Opening is being hosted by the Coffey County Library System on November 14, 2007 and there will be many activities and public speakers scheduled in the future.  Check our website for more information www:coffeycountymuseum.org.

Arctic Spirit: Inuit Art from the Albrecht Collection at the Heard Museum is organized by the Heard Museum and toured by ExhibitsUSA.  The purpose of ExhibitsUSA is to create access to an array of arts and humanities exhibitions, nurture the development and understanding of diverse art forms and cultures, and encourage the expanding depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities.  ExhibitsUSA is a national program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1972.

Deborah Kennamore
Executive Director
The Coffey County Historical Society and Museum