Ada Eyetoaq
{{Short description|Inuk artist}}
{{Infobox artist
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| birth_date = 1934
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014| 1934}}
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| known_for = Miniature soapstone sculptures
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Ada Eyetoaq (alternatively: Eyetoaq Eyetoaq, Kingilik Eyetoaq, Iyi'tuaq Eyetoaq, Eeyeetoaq Eyetoaq, Eyeetoaq Eyetoaq, Eeyeetowak Eyetoaq, Iyi'tag Eyetoaq, Eetoowa Eyetoaq, Eyittuak Eyetoaq, Eeyeeteetowak Eyetoaq, Iti'tuaq, Eeeyeetowa, Eda) (1934-2014){{Cite web|title=Portraits of the Far North|url=https://hi-in.facebook.com/PortraitsoftheFarNorth/photos/a.1582324655231133/1611390898991175/?type=3|access-date=2021-12-08|website=hi-in.facebook.com|language=hi}} was a Baker Lake (Nunavut) Inuk artist who produced traditional Inuit art. She is primarily known for her miniature soapstone sculptures.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ReZkAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT604|title=North American Women Artists of the Twentieth Century : A Biographical Dictionary|date=1995|editor1-first=Jules |editor1-last=Heller |editor2-first=Nancy |editor2-last=Heller|isbn=0-8240-6049-0|location=New York|pages=177|oclc=31865530 |publisher=Routledge |last=Jackson |first=Marion E. |chapter=Eyetoaq, Ada (1934–)}}
Personal life
Eyetoaq married James Kingilik, also a soapstone sculptor, in the early 1950s. They had seven children, five biological and two adopted. In 1968 they moved from their traditional Inuit camp at Beverly Lake to the Baker Lake settlement. After moving, they lived in a tent for two months due to a lack of housing. It was around this time that the couple began their work as sculptors in order to supplement their incomes.
Art
Besides her sculptures, Eyetoaq also created drawings, prints, wool duffels, and felt wall hangings. But, her carvings are what have brought her notoriety, especially those involving the human form.{{Cite web|title=Ada Eyetoaq (1934-) Qamani'tuaq (Baker Lake), Kneeling Woman, c. 1980|url=https://firstarts.ca/artworks/357-ada-eyetoaq-1934-qamani-tuaq-baker-lake-kneeling-woman-c.-1980/|access-date=2021-12-06|publisher=First Arts}} She began carving in the 1970s and became one of Baker Lake's most respected female artists. Her work has been auctioned at a wide range of prices from the 100s to the 1000s.{{Cite web|title=Ada Eyetoaq {{!}} 15 Artworks at Auction |url=https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Ada-Eyetoaq/27DC59B04B92B593|access-date=2021-12-03|website=MutualArt}}
= Soapstone sculptures =
Eyetoaq drew inspiration from her family's traditional Inuit background, especially the hunting and trapping aspects of her culture.{{Cite web|date=2013-10-25|title=Artist of the moment ... Ada Eyetoaq also known as Ada Kingilik|url=https://diattaart.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/artist-of-the-moment-ada-eyetoaq-also-known-as-ada-kingilik/|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Diattaart Blog}} Her carvings are primarily of human figures, but she also did work representing animals such as bears, fish, or birds. Often her work more specifically represents women, or mothers with children.
= Collections =
- Amon Carter Museum of American Art{{Cite web|title=KATILVIK - Artist: Ada Eyetoaq - ᐊᑕ ᐃᔨᑐᐊ - E2-352|url=https://www.katilvik.com/browse/artists/469-ada-eyetoaq/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Katilvik}}
- Canada Council Art Bank: Ottawa
- Canadian Museum of History{{Cite web|title=Search the Collection |url=https://www.historymuseum.ca/collections/advanced-search?type=artifact&artist_maker=eyetoaq,%20ada&view=list&page=1|access-date=2021-12-30|publisher=Canadian Museum of History}}
- Clifford E. Lee Collection, University of Alberta: Edmonton
- Inuit Cultural Institute: Rankin Inlet
- Macdonald Stewart Art Centre{{Cite web|title=Art Gallery of Guelph|url=http://collections.artgalleryofguelph.ca/people/369/ada-eyetoaq/objects|access-date=2022-01-01|publisher=Art Gallery of Guelph}}
- Musee des beaux-arts de Montreal{{Cite web|title=Finger Games|url=https://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/works/20345/|access-date=2022-01-01|publisher=Musee des beaux-arts de Montreal}}{{Cite web|title=Ayagak|url=https://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/works/46741/|access-date=2022-01-01|publisher=Musee des beaux-arts de Montreal}}
- Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia: Vancouver
- Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre: Yellowknife
- Red Deer and District Museum and Archives: Red Deer
- University of Alberta: Edmonton
- Winnipeg Art Gallery{{Cite web|title=G-98-402 Three Figures Ada Eyetoaq |url=https://www.wag.ca/art/collections/artwork/g-98-402-three-figures-ada-eyetoaq/|access-date=2022-01-01|publisher=Winnipeg Art Gallery}}
= Publications =
Ada Eyetoaq: Recent Sculpture/Sculpture Récente, 1979 Canadian Arctic Producers Cooperative Ltd.{{Cite book|last=Eyetoaq|first=Ada|title=Ada Eyetoaq: Recent Sculpture/Sculpture Récente|publisher=Canadian Arctic Producers Cooperative Ltd.|year=1979|isbn=0-920234-19-4|location=Canada}}