Simon Tookoome – CCCA Canadian Art Database

Simon Tookoome

Simon Tookoome was an Inuk artist who lived with his family on the land. At different times in his life Tookoome was a fisherman, a builder, a teacher, a jeweller, an artist and carver with all professions imbued with traditional Inuit knowledge that he always wanted to share, of a traditional way of life. Tookoome began by carving bone and soapstone in the 1960s but was more interested in drawing as it gave him greater artistic freedom. Tookoome’s graphic style is influenced greatly by his childhood, being raised on the land and hearing traditional stories from his family. Drawing ideas from the land around him Tookoome’s aesthetic engages with hybrid animals and shamanic practices, influenced by heavy contour lines and deep, saturated tones of colour. Utilizing a flat plane, Tookoome’s drawings have a graphic quality as well as a clear narrative. Looking at Rainbow Dance (2006) depicting two dancers and a drum, the figures are in profile, animated movements portrayed through the curves of contour lines. The drum itself radiates light through a saturated yellow colour, its rays linked to the decoration of clothing that adorn both figures. Community is depicted in the radiating heads of people and dogs, that are positioned like rays moving outwards from the drum, and at once encompassing the two figures. Tookoome says he was encouraged to make textile work and wall hangings but prefers carving, drawing and jewellery. He also worked briefly with laser-cut metal. Best known for his graphic work, Tookoome has won the Norma Fleck Award for a children’s book titled The Shaman’s Nephew: A Life in the Far North, which he published with Sheldon Oberman in 1999. He was a founding member of the Baker Lake print shop and appeared multiple times in the Inuit Art Quarterly.

Creator Id: 608
Web Site Link: Web Site Link
Community Detail: recZJXig7mWdp3Us2
Virtual Collection: Original CCCA
Additional Statuses: Inuit
Beginning Year: 1934
Country of Birth: Canada
Province of Birth: Nunavut
Year of Birth: 1934
City: ᖃᒪᓂᑦᑐᐊᖅ / Qamani'tuaq [Baker Lake]
Community: recZJXig7mWdp3Us2
Country: Canada
Type of Creator: Artist
Ending Year: 2010
Gender: Male
Living Status: Deceased
Mediums: drawing, sculpture
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Work by Simon Tookoome

The Pleasures of Eating Fish

Work ID: 46886

Measurements: 64.135 cm x 94.615 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Purchase 1983

Date Made: 1971

Materials: stonecut and stencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Spirit of the Land, Spirit of the Water

Work ID: 46909

Measurements: 54.61 cm x 78.105 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1971

Materials: stonecut and stencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Hide and Seek

Work ID: 46887

Measurements: 61.595 cm/po x 81.915 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Purchase 1975

Date Made: 1972

Materials: stonecut and stencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Friendship

Work ID: 46895

Measurements: 63.5 cm/po x 93.98 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1977

Materials: stonecut on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Thinking of Animals

Work ID: 46903

Measurements: 46.99 cm x 64.135 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1979

Materials: linocut and stencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Man and Wife

Work ID: 46905

Measurements: 93.98 cm x 64.135 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1979

Materials: linocut and stencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Men Talking to Dogs

Work ID: 46904

Measurements: 48.895 cm x 60.96 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1979

Materials: linocut and stencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Quruhuaq Becomes a Shaman

Work ID: 46902

Measurements: 55.88 cm x 74.93 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1979

Materials: linocut and stencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Wolf/Faces Transformation – view 4

Work ID: 56749

Measurements: 30.48 x 12.065 x 8.89 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, Ontario

Date Made: 1982

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Wolf/Faces Transformation – view 2

Work ID: 56747

Measurements: 30.48 x 12.065 x 8.89 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, Ontario

Date Made: 1982

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Muskox Transformation

Work ID: 46890

Measurements: 50.8 cm x 71.12 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1982

Materials: coloured pencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Wolf/Faces Transformation – view 1

Work ID: 56746

Measurements: 30.48 x 12.065 x 8.89 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, Ontario

Date Made: 1982

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Wolf/Faces Transformation – view 3

Work ID: 56748

Measurements: 30.48 x 12.065 x 8.89 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, Ontario

Date Made: 1982

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Story of How It Was Before in the Olden Times

Work ID: 46883

Measurements: 66.04 cm x 50.8 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Purchase 1984

Date Made: 1985

Materials: serigraph on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Inuit Fighting Bear with Inuk Spirit Helping Him

Work ID: 46884

Measurements: 66.04 cm/po x 50.8 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Purchase 1984

Date Made: 1985

Materials: serigraph on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Muskox Giving Birth

Work ID: 46915

Measurements: 17.78 cm x 38.1 cm x 6.35 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1988

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Composition

Work ID: 46892

Measurements: 26.67 cm x 11.43 cm x 7.62 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1993

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Muskox

Work ID: 46893

Measurements: 10.795 cm x 19.05 cm x 5.08 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1993

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Shaman Wolf

Work ID: 46908

Measurements: 12.065 cm x 19.685 cm x 3.175 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1997

Materials: metal with black patina

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Faces and Animals

Work ID: 46888

Measurements: 17.78 cm/po x 12.7 cm/po x 10.16 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1998

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Animal

Work ID: 46889

Measurements: 22.86 cm x 38.1 cm x 8.89 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1999

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Nalluq Tasiq

Work ID: 46896

Measurements: 61.595 cm x 74.295 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1999

Materials: woodcut and stencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Totem

Work ID: 46894

Measurements: 43.18 cm x 30.48 cm x 12.7 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 1999

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Composition (Figures and Faces)

Work ID: 46913

Measurements: 25.4 cm/po x 33.02 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: coloured pencil and crayon on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Composition (Camp Scene and Landscape)

Work ID: 46900

Measurements: 69.215 cm/po x 100.965 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: coloured pencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Composition (Faces)

Work ID: 46901

Measurements: 52.705 cm/po x 74.93 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: coloured pencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Composition (Faces Transformation)

Work ID: 46914

Measurements: 27.94 cm/po x 39.37 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: coloured pencil and crayon on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Two Headed Wolf

Work ID: 46907

Measurements: 6.985 cm x 17.78 cm x 1.905 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Composition (Faces)

Work ID: 46912

Measurements: 25.4 cm/po x 34.29 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: coloured pencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Two Animals

Work ID: 46906

Measurements: 5.08 cm x 1.27 cm x 8.89 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Composition (Shaman/Faces Transformation)

Work ID: 46899

Measurements: 69.215 cm/po x 100.965 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: coloured pencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Composition (Shaman/Wolf Transformation)

Work ID: 46897

Measurements: 68.58 cm/po x 101.6 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: coloured pencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Composition (Shaman/Faces Transformation and Landscape)

Work ID: 46898

Measurements: 69.215 cm/po x 100.965 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: coloured pencil on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Story

Work ID: 46911

Measurements: 50.8 cm x 62.23 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: woodcut on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Takjarniat Isumaliuqtut

Work ID: 46910

Measurements: 31.75 cm x 50.8 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2001

Materials: woodcut on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Wolf

Work ID: 46891

Measurements: 4.445 cm x 9.525 cm x 2.54 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; photograph courtesy Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON

Date Made: 2002

Materials: stone

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Inuit Hunting and Fishing

Work ID: 46882

Measurements: 66.04 cm x 50.8 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Purchase 1984

Date Made: unknown/inconnue

Materials: serigraph on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Inuit Playing Games

Work ID: 46885

Measurements: 66.04 cm x 50.8 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Purchase 1984

Date Made: unknown/inconnue

Materials: serigraph on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA

Inuit Meeting Fellow Hunter

Work ID: 46881

Measurements: 50.8 cm x 66.04 cm/po

Collection: Reproduced with the permission of Simon Tookoome; McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Purchase 1984

Date Made: unknown/inconnue

Materials: serigraph on paper

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA