The first exhibit, “Thin Ice: Inuit Traditions within a Changing Environment” (January 27 – May 13, 2007) highlights Dartmouth College’s long involvement in Arctic Studies and features 19th and 20th century Inuit art and artifacts from the museum’s collection. “With the understanding that the Arctic environment is undergoing rapid transformation from climate change and the significant melting of sea ice, the exhibition highlights the impact of such change on Inuit ways of life and their relationship to the region in which they live. An illustrated catalogue accompanies this exhibition” (1).

The second exhibit, “Our Land: Contemporary Art from the Arctic” (March 27 – May 20, 2007) features 60 works from the Nunavut Territorial collection of contemporary Inuit art, and is on loan from the Peabody Essex Museum and the Government of Nunavut. “The works reveal how long-held Inuit artistic traditions inspire contemporary sculpture, prints, fiber arts, photography, and digital media that reflect Inuit societal values of family, community, and worldview as expressed through Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (“Inuit traditional knowledge”) (2).”

More information can be obtained about these exhibits from the Hood Museum of Art website, and a Vermont Public Radio interview with Nicole Stuckenberger, curator of the “Thin Ice” exhibit. Dartmouth College and the Hood Museum of Art are located in Hanover, New Hampshire.

[audio:http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/vpr/local-vpr-562319.mp3]