Artist Info
Ada Eeyeetowa
Ada Eeyeetowa was a sculptor and graphic artist from Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), NU. Born in 1934 near the Kazan River, Eeyeetowa and her family lived a traditional Inuit life. In the early 1950s, Eeyeetowa married James Kingilik, a fellow sculptor. The family, including their seven children, were forced to move to Qamani’tuaq in the late 1960s after facing food scarcity where they originally lived with Kingilik’s family near the Thelon River. One of the last families to move to the settlement, Eeyeetowa decided to take up soapstone carving as a way to supplement the family’s income.
Although Eeyeetowa is best known for her miniature soapstone sculptures of human figures, she has also explored other artistic forms. While living in Qamani’tuaq, she created several drawings for the Sanavik (formerly Baker Lake) Co-operative’s print program as well as wool duffel and felt wall-hangings. These works are often reflective of her experiences with Inuit culture, and many of her pieces centre around a mother and child theme.
