Artist Info
Jamasie Teevee
Jamasie Teevee was a sculptor, graphic artist, and copperplate engraver from Kinngait (Cape Dorset), NU. Teevee was born near Kimmirut (Lake Harbour) in 1910 to Anirnik and Teevee, but was raised by his grandparents Parnee and Nuna. Teevee lived in many camps surrounding Kimmirut. Teevee married Angoteegolu (Angotigolu), eventually moving to Nuvudjuak. In the late 1950s, Teevee began his artistic pursuits in sculpture, working only with soapstone to depict figures, birds, and other animals.
Due to failing health, Teevee and his wife settled the family, including their surviving children Anirnik Ragee, Parnee Peter, Nicotai (Nicotye) Simigak, and Simeonie Teevee around Kinngait in 1960. With the introduction of printmaking in Kinngait in the early 1960s, Teevee began drawing and experimented with copper engraving techniques. Many of his engravings from this time period and into the early 1970s depicted the Inuit camp life and hunting activities. By the late 1970s, Teevee’s eyesight had declined and he found it more difficult to work, although he did return to drawing on paper, using graphite and coloured pencils, in addition to felt-tip pens in the early 1980s.
A number of Teevee’s prints and copperplate engravings have been included in the Kinngait annual print collections, and he has influenced his children’s artistic pursuits; all of them became skilled sculptors. Teevee’s works have not yet been exhibited at the ULAG.
