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NANOGAK, Agnes

Born
Baillie Islands, Northwest Territories, 1925
Died
Holman, Northwest Territories, 2001
Biography synopsis
Agnes Nanogak (also known as Agnes Goose/Nanuraq) was born on the Baillie Islands in the Western Arctic. Nanogak's artwork was inspired by her cultural heritage, which was imparted to her by her parents, Billy Banksland and Topsy Ekiona. In 1937, the Nanogak family relocated to Holman, on Queen's Bay. In 1947 Nanogak married Wallace Goose. In the 1960s, she joined the newly established printmaking program in Holman and began to create hundreds of drawings. Many of these were later transferred into prints. Nanogak's early works were thematically centered around childhood stories, drum songs and the Inuit way of life. She is known for her ironical or humorous tone, which she conveyed through stylistic flourishes that are personalized and highly colorful. The artist is also famous for her book illustrations for "Tales from the Igloo" (Metayer, 1972) and "More Tales from the Igloo" (Metayer, 1986). In 1985, she received an honorary degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her son, Billy Goose, as well as her grandson, Rex Goose, are both talented graphic artists. In 2002, a year after Nanogak passed away, the Winnipeg Art Gallery hosted a solo exhibition of the artist's works. Her work has been showcased in dozens of international group exhibitions across Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Media used
Artists' illustrated books
Drawing
Printmaking
Sculpture
File & Archive locations
University of Calgary Library, AB
Edmonton Art Gallery, AB - Library
University of British Columbia - Fine Arts Library
National Gallery of Canada, ON - Library and Archives
Art Gallery of Ontario - Edward P. Taylor Research Library and Archives
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts / Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, QC
Winnipeg Art Gallery, MA - Clara Lander Library
Alberta Culture and Community Spirit - Arts Branch
Canadian Museum of Civilization Archives, QC
Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Documentation Centre, QC
Northwest Territories Archives
Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, ON
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Writings about
Biographies of Inuit Artists, Volumes One and Two Ottawa: Canadian Arctic Producers, Arctic Co-operatives Limited, 1984
"Agnes Nanogak Goose: 1925-2001 (Obituary)." Inuit Art Quarterly 17.2 (Summer 2002): 61-62
"Dualtone." Alcan News (June 1971): 3
"Holman Artists: Film, Grant and Exhibition." Inuvialuit (Fall 1982): 18-19
"Inuit Prints Included in Western Canada Print Show." Inuit Art Quarterly 5.1 (Winter 1990): 34
"More Tales From the Igloo (Review)." Gazette (4 Apr. 1987): H11
"The Woman Who Went to the Moon." Inuktituk 70.1 (1989): 26-33
"University Collection to Tour Canada." News of the North (28 Mar. 1980)
Arts and Culture of the North (Organization). Arts and Culture of the North, Volumes 17-26 Madison, Wisconsin: Arts and Culture of the North, 1984
Ayre, Robert. "Melzack's Eskimo Legends Need Nanogak Drawings." Montreal Star (9 Dec. 1970)
Beaverbrook Art Gallery. The Murray and Marguerite Vaughan Inuit Print Collection Fredericton, New Brunswick: Beaverbrook Art Gallery, 1981
Berlo, Janet Catherine. "Drawing and Printmaking at Holman." Inuit Art Quarterly 10 (Fall 1995): 22-30
Blodgett, Jean. The Coming and Going of the Shaman: Eskimo Shamanism and Art Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1978
Canadian Arctic Producers Limited. Shamans and Spirits: Myths and Medical Symbolism in Eskimo Art Ottawa: National Museum of Man, 1977-1982
Castelo, Adelle. "More Tales From the Igloo (Review)." Quill & Quire 53.3 (Mar. 1987): 73
Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art. Agnes Nanogak 2010
http://www.ccca.ca/artists/artist_info.html?link_id=5245
Clifford E. Lee Collection of Prints. Inuit Games and Contests Edmonton, Alberta: University of Alberta Press, 1978
Colombo, John Robert. Colombo's Canadian References Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1976
Condon, Richard G. & Ogina, Julia. The Northern Copper Inuit: A History Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1996
Crandall, Richard C. Inuit Art: A History Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 2000
Driscoll, Bernadette. Inuit Myths, Legends and Songs Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1982
Driscoll-Engelstad, Bernadette. The Inuit Amautik: I Like My Hood to Be Full Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1980
Furneaux, Patrick & Rosshandler, Leo. Arts of the Eskimos: Prints Montreal: Signum Press and Oxford University Press, 1974
Gibson, Jennifer. Qiviuq: A Legend in Art Ottawa: Carleton University Art Gallery, 1995-1996
Gray, Philip Howard. Directory of Eskimo Artists in Sculpture and Prints Bozeman, Montana: Philip Howard Gray, 1974
Hamilton, Mary. "Agnes Nanogak: More Tales From the Igloo (Review)." Inuit Art Enthusiast Newsletter 36 (May 1987): 19-20
Heller, Jules and Nancy. North American Women Artists of the Twentieth Century New York: Garland, 1995
Holman Eskimo Cooperative. Eskimo Graphic Art, 1968: Kalvak, Ohoveluk, Nanogak, Papidluk Holman Island, Northwest Territories: Holman Eskimo Cooperative, 1968
Holman Eskimo Cooperative. Holman 1972 Holman Island, Northwest Territories: Holman Eskimo Cooperative, 1972
Holman Eskimo Cooperative. Holman 1977 Prints Holman Island, Northwest Territories: Holman Eskimo Cooperative, 1977
Holman Eskimo Cooperative. Holman Island 1973 Holman Island, Northwest Territories: Holman Eskimo Cooperative, 1973
Holman Eskimo Cooperative. Holman Island 1980/1981 Holman Island, Northwest Territories: Holman Eskimo Cooperative, 1980-1981
Holman Eskimo Cooperative. Holman Island Prints 1974 Holman Island, Northwest Territories: Holman Eskimo Cooperative, 1974
Holman Eskimo Cooperative. "1983 Holman Island Artists and Printmakers." Holman Island 1983 Prints Holman Island, Northwest Territories: Holman Eskimo Cooperative, 1983
Hulan, Renée. Northern Experience and the Myths of Canadian Culture Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2002
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Inuit Art Bibliography Ottawa: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 1992
Inuit Art Foundation. "The Artist: Nanogak, Agnes." Inuit Art Alive 2010
http://www.inuitartfoundation.org/profiles/artist/Agnes-Nanogak-Goose-c63
Inuit Art Gallery. Inuit Master Artists of the 1970's Vancouver: Inuit Art Gallery, 1980
Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. Agnes Nanogak: Early Drawings 1965-1984 Vancouver: 2000
Jackson, Marion Elizabeth, ed. Patiently I Sing: Selections From the Tyler/Brooks Collection of Inuit Art Ottawa: Carleton University Art Gallery, 1994
Jerusalem Artists' House Museum. Polar Vision: Canadian Eskimo Graphics Jerusalem: Na'amat, 1978
Kennedy, Michael P.J. "Inuit Literature in English: A Chronological Review." Canadian Journal of Native Studies 13.1 (1993): 31-41
Leaf, Caroline. The Owl Who Married a Goose (Videorecording) Toronto: National Film Board of Canada, 1974
Lowndes, Joan. "New Eskimo Prints Fresh and Humorous." Vancouver Sun (18 Feb. 1972)
MacDonald, Colin S. The Dictionary of Canadian Artists. (Volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker) Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2009
McGrath, Joan. "More Tales From the Igloo (Review)." CM: Canadian Materials for Schools and Libraries 15.2 (Mar. 1987): 75
McMaster, Gerald, et al. In the Shadow of the Sun: Perspectives on Contemporary Native Art Hull, Quebec: Canadian Museum of Civilization, 1993
Mitchell, Marybelle. "More Tales From the Igloo (Review)." Inuit Art Quarterly 2.2 (Sprint 1987): 14
Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery. Permanence: Recent Additions to the Permanent Collection: 30 April- 31 May, 1992 Halifax: Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, 1992
Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery. Views of Childhood by Artists From the 18th to 20th Century Halifax: Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, 1979
National Museum of Man. The Inuit Print Ottawa: 1981
Parkinson, Liz. "Holman Island Graphics 1989." Inuit Art Quarterly 4.4 (Fall 1989): 23-26
Robinson, Helen. "More Tales From the Igloo (Review)." Anglican Journal 113.5 (May 1987): 16
Routledge, Marie. Inuit Art in the 1970's/L'Art Inuit actuel Kingston, Ontario: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, 1979
Schneider, Janet. Eskimo Art Flushing, New York: Queens Museum, 1974
Southern Alberta Art Gallery. Southern Alberta Collects Lethbridge, Alberta: Southern Alberta Art Gallery, 1976
Sparling, Mary. "Nanogak Receives Honorary Doctorate." Inuit Art Quarterly 1.1 (Spring 1986): 6-7
Tardy, Henri. "The Birth of the Cooperative at Holman Island." Inuit Art Quarterly 16.2 (Summer 2001): 26-29
The Arctic Circle. Transformation Los Angeles: 1981
University of New Brunswick Art Centre. Inuit Art in the UNB Collection Fredericton, New Brunswick: University of New Brunswick Art Centre, 1987
Wright, Darlene Coward. Holman: Forty Years of Graphic Art Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 2002
Wright, Darlene Coward. "Holman: Forty Years of Graphic Art." Inuit Art Quarterly 16.2 (Summer 2001): 42-45
Wright, Darlene Coward & Cameron, Dyane. "Unikaat Stories." Inuit Art Quarterly 13 (Spring 1998): 36-37

Writings by
Metayer, Maurice & Nanogak, Agnes (ill.). Tales From the Igloo Edmonton, Alberta: Hurtig, 1972
Nanogak, Agnes. Agnes Nanogak: A Restrospective, 1982-1985 Winnipeg, Manitoba: Canadian Arctic Producers, 1986
Nanogak, Agnes. More Tales From the Igloo Edmonton, Alberta: Hurtig, 1986
Nanogak, Agnes. "Agnes Nanogak's Song." Music of the Inuit (Sound Recording): The Copper Eskimo Tradition Gentilly, France: Auvidis, 1994
Nanogak, Agnes. "Furious Owl." [Reproduction] Inuit Art Quarterly 17.3 (Fall 2002): 10
Nanogak, Agnes. "How Tugulak, the Raven, Stole the Sun." Across Time and Tundra: The Inuvialuit of the Western Arctic Vancouver: Raincoast Books, 2003
Nanogak, Agnes. "More Tales From the Igloo (Review)." Queen's Quarterly 94.4 (Winter 1987): 1073
Nanogak, Agnes & Kalvak, Helen et al. "Inuit Women Artists." Feminist Studies 10.1 (Spring 1984): 84-96

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