Irene F. Whittome

Heffel Auction House Biography and Notes

Irene F. Whittome was born in Vancouver in 1942. She taught at Concordia University in Montreal from 1968 to 2007. She lives and works in Montreal and Ogden, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Whittome is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Victor-Martyn-Lynch-Staunton Award from the Canada Council of the Arts (1991), the Gershon Iskowitz Prize (1992), the Prix Paul-Émile-Borduas from the Government of Quebec (1997) and the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts (2002). In 2005, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. The Oceania portfolio is a manifestation of Whittome's wide-ranging practice drawing upon her interest in collections and the Indigenous art of the South Pacific. Whittome observes the way in which the common and distinguishing cultural traits of the many islands are interwoven, mediated through photo-engraved images of cultural artifacts. Tiki carvings, ancestral tapa pendants, fabrics woven of vegetable fibres and dyed with pigments, and masks made of wood and bark provide the ground upon on which she stamps a calligraphic gesture, which in turn is heightened by a subtle relief. Established in 1989 by renowned BC artist-patrons Gordon Smith, Jack Shadbolt and Bill Reid, Artists for Kids was founded with the singular intent to support children, their art education and their future. Through art specialists, it provides enriching art-making experiences for thousands of students each year across Canada as well as professional development opportunities for educators. In 1990, the group published the first Artists for Kids Limited Edition Portfolio print, Xhuwaji / Haida Grizzly. This print by Reid, based on a ceremonial drum, marked the beginning of an extraordinary partnership with now more than 100 Canadian artists—from Kenojuak Ashevak to Ian Wallace—that has produced one of the most significant limited edition collections in the country. Proceeds from the sale of prints fund educational programs, artist residencies, art camps, scholarships, bursaries, and future acquisitions for Artists for Kids and the Gordon Smith Gallery Permanent Collection. This is a limited edition portfolio of nine intalgio prints with accompanying texts from an edition of 20. Please note: the dimensions are for the portfolio, the full sheet size of each piece is 16 1/2 x 13 1/4 inches. To visit the Artists for Kids website please click here.