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A new exhibit at the Art Gallery of Peterborough is bringing Inuit voices and Arctic stories to the city, aiming to shine a light on the urgent waste crisis in Panniqtuuq, Nunavut.
“Art + Waste in Panniqtuuq,” which opened on July 26, presents the work of Inuk artists Madeleine Aasivak Qumuataq, Jupa Ishulutak, Kawtysie Kakee, Annie Kilabuk (1932–2005), David Kilabuk, Talia Metuq, Oleepika Nashalik, and Malaya Pitsiulak, alongside settler artist and researcher Micky Renders. The exhibition blends art, politics, and activism to explore the impacts of settler colonialism, climate change, and industrial waste on the remote Arctic community of about 1,500 residents on the East Coast of Baffin Island. Through painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, tapestry, and digital media, the artists share personal and collective stories, providing a counter-narrative to common perceptions of Inuit life and environmental stewardship.
With support from a Canada Council for the Arts travel grant, many of the artists will visit Peterborough this fall to lead programs and workshops. Activities include a Speaking Circle on Environmental Racism at Trent University on October 1, artist talks at the Canadian Canoe Museum and the gallery, soapstone carving workshops, and a family-focused day of demonstrations and activities. The exhibit concludes with a closing reception at the Art Gallery of Peterborough on October 5.
During their visit, artists will also engage with local communities, including a trip to Curve Lake First Nation, studio visits with Peterborough artists, and tours of the city’s waste management facilities. These experiences will allow them to bring stories and insights from Peterborough back to Panniqtuuq.
“We are grateful to these artists for their work and their willingness to travel and share their knowledge, experiences, and skill with us. Their stories and insights are essential in understanding the unique and immense impacts of these issues—to which we are all connected. I am eager to help welcome them this fall,” said Debby Keating, president of the Art Gallery of Peterborough Board of Directors.
The exhibition encourages dialogue about Inuit sovereignty, self-determination, and the right to a healthy environment, ultimately asking visitors to consider who defines Arctic waste and who bears responsibility for it.
Exhibit-related events include:
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Wednesday, October 1 – Trent University: Speaking Circle on Environmental Racism, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
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Thursday, October 2 – Canadian Canoe Museum: David Kilabuk, Artist Talk, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
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Saturday, October 4 – Art Gallery of Peterborough: Madeleine Aasivak Qumuataq, Artist Talk, 11:00 am
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Sunday, October 5 – Art Gallery of Peterborough: Soapstone carving workshop with Jupa Ishulutak and Malaya Pitsiulak, 10:00 am – noon; AGP Family Sunday with carving demonstrations, 1:00 – 4:00 pm; Closing reception, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Artist-led events run from October 1 through October 5, culminating in a closing reception at the gallery, 250 Crescent St. Details, including registration and schedules, are available at agp.on.ca.
More information on the exhibit, workshops, and the artists is available at agp.on.ca/exhibitions/art-and-waste-in-panniqtuuq.
