Charlie Sivuarapik facts for kids

Charlie Sivuarapik (Sheeguapik) (1911 – September 26, 1968) was an amazing Inuk sculptor, illustrator, and storyteller. He was from Povungnituk in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. In the 1950s, he moved to the new village of Puvirnituq and lived there for the rest of his life. Charlie became ill, which meant he could not hunt to support his family. Because of this, sculpting became his way to earn money. He continued to create art until he passed away from tuberculosis in 1968.

Who Was Charlie Sivuarapik?

Charlie Sivuarapik was born around 1911 in northern Quebec, Canada. When he was about 40 years old, he moved to a new village. This village was being settled by the Hudson's Bay Company and was called Puvirnituq. Charlie was sick with tuberculosis for much of his life. This illness stopped him from hunting, which was a traditional role for men in his community. To help his family, he started carving beautiful art from stone.

How He Started His Art Career

Charlie's art journey was first inspired by James Archibald Houston. James visited Puvirnituq in 1948 and 1950. He encouraged many people in the area to start carving. This helped them earn a living. Peter Murdoch, who started the Federation des cooperatives du Nouveau-Quebec, also helped Charlie. Father Andre Steinmann, who supported the Puvirnituq Sculptors Society, was another important mentor.

These mentors taught Charlie how to value and price Inuit artwork. They created a space where artists could share ideas and give feedback. This helped everyone improve the quality of their carvings.

Developing His Unique Style

Charlie studied his own body to understand shapes and proportions better. At first, he mainly carved ivory, often making otter figures. After 1953, he switched to carving human figures from stone. These figures were very realistic and showed strong feelings. They often looked like they were in the middle of an action.

His carvings grew from small, handheld items to much larger stone pieces. He often added other materials like knives and spears to his hunting scenes. By 1955, Charlie's sculptures became even more lively. He used empty spaces in clever ways. He also showed mythological stories in a very realistic style. Charlie was also skilled in printmaking, a European art technique.

Charlie was so good at carving that he helped start the Carvers Association of Puvirnituq. Today, this group is known as the Cooperative Association of Puvirnituq. It is part of the Federation of Cooperatives of Northern Quebec.

Sharing His Art with the World

Charlie's success led to him being featured in The Beaver magazine in 1956. Peter Murdoch wrote the article. He was also the main subject of a photo story by Richard Harrington. This was published in the 1959 Canadian Geographical Journal.

In 1958, Charlie traveled with Father Steinmann to Cleveland and New York. Their goal was to earn money for the Cooperative. They were very successful, returning with $3000 in orders paid in advance! While there, Charlie even appeared on The Dave Garroway Show. They also visited Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Pittsburgh. This trip helped the Puvirnituq Cooperative Society's income grow a lot. It went from $250,000 in 1968 to over $500,000 in 1969.

What Makes His Art Special?

People really admire Charlie Sivuarapik's work because he used sulijuk. This is an Inuktitut word that means "completeness." A famous Inuit art expert named George Swinton once said that Charlie was "the most important influence" in developing the realistic style from Povungnituk. Swinton knew Charlie personally when he traveled north in 1957.

Many of Charlie Sivuarapik's artworks are kept in museums. However, you can sometimes find his sculptures for sale to private collectors.

His amazing art can be seen in many museums. These include the National Gallery of Canada, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Flint Institute of Arts. You can also find his work at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Other museums include the Hood Museum of Art and the Canadian Museum of History.

Famous Artworks by Charlie Sivuarapik

• Lapland Longspur, around 1950, made of black stone. It is 6.8 x 11.4 x 4.7 cm. You can see it at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Snow Bunting, around 1955, made of grey stone. It is 6.7 x 5.8 x 13.4 cm. This piece is also at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Povungnituk Fish, around 1967, made of stone. It is 7.6 x 25.4 x 11.4 cm. This artwork is in a private collection.
• Povungnituk Otter in Trap, around 1960, made of stone. It is 5.1 x 3.2 x 8.9 cm. This piece is also in a private collection.
• Hunter and Polar Bear, around 1960, made of black mottled stone, ivory, and sinew. It is 26 x 13 x 5 cm. This artwork is in a private collection.

Important Achievements

• He was the first Inuk member of the Sculptors Society of Canada.
• He was a founding member and the first president (from 1958 to 1967) of the Povungnituk Co-operative Society.