WAG and Manitoba Puppet Theatre present The Legend of Kiviuq

Winnipeg, Manitoba, January 19, 2015: The Winnipeg Art Gallery is excited to partner with the Manitoba Puppet Theatre to present The Legend of Kiviuq from February 6 to 15. Kiviuq is a popular Inuit hero whose many adventures are known across the Arctic.

“We are pleased to work with the Manitoba Puppet Theatre to introduce young audiences to the wonder of Arctic folklore,” says Sherri Van Went, WAG Manager of Retail Operations, who came up with the idea for the Gallery. “The epic tales of Kiviuq have been passed down from generation to generation through the tradition of oral storytelling. To see them performed by masterful puppeteers is an amazing opportunity for all ages!”

This Manitoba Puppet Theatre production has received rave reviews throughout Canada and around the world, and returns after a 25-year hiatus with a special run at the WAG.

“We sat with the families and listened to the stories the elders would tell, which included personal reminiscences and the ‘old legends,’” comments the Manitoba Puppet Theatre. “We learned that the oral tradition was used to teach children certain values. Two recurring themes were the power of the land and the importance of the family. We wanted our play to reflect the appreciation the Inuit have for these values.”

The Legend of Kiviuq tells the story of young Kiviuq who is blown off course by a storm while out in his kayak. Finding himself in a strange land, he encounters a magical “Goose-woman,” and they fall in love and have two children. When his family leaves him to fly south, Kiviuq sets out on a magnificent adventure to find them, meeting the “Bee-woman” and the “Father of fish” on his journey.

The puppet show is being complemented by an exhibition of the puppets – when they’re not in use! Running February 4 -16, the show also features drawings, prints, and sculpture of Kiviuq by celebrated Inuit artist Jessie Oonark, and her large family of artists, including Janet Kigusiuq, Victoria Mamnguqsualuk, Miriam Nanurluk Qiyuk, Nancy Pukingrnak Aupaluktuq, and William Noah.

Manitoba Puppet Theatre performers are: Chris Hurley (Artistic Director/Lighting & Sound); Deborah Henteleff (Puppeteer); Randy Woods (Puppeteer); John Bluthner (Narrator); and Peter Arpin (Production Assistant).

Public puppet show times: February 6, 13 (7pm); February 14, 15 (1pm and 3pm).
School groups: February 4 to 18 at (9:45am)
French school groups: February 6 (9:45am, SOLD OUT) and February 10 (9:45am).

Tickets are $8 and available at wag.ca or at the WAG front desk.

Two performances will also take place at Family Sunday on February 8 at 1pm and 3pm (rush seating, space is limited). Family Sunday (1pm-4pm) is a fun-filled afternoon for the whole family with games and activities, including a puppet-making workshop and a collaborative fort. Jaco Ishulutaq, a carver from Pangnirtung, Nunavut, will be completing a Kiviuq carving on the rooftop. The artist’s work is also being featured in an exhibition and sale presented by the Gallery Shop. Family Sunday admission is $10 per family (up to two adults and four children under 18).

Get a sneak peek of The Legend of Kiviuq performance here.

For details, visit wag.ca and for the latest updates, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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For more information or to prearrange interviews, please contact:
Catherine Maksymiuk
Manager, Media and Marketing
Winnipeg Art Gallery
204.789.1767
Media-Manager@wag.ca

Tammy Sawatzky
Public Relations Coordinator
Winnipeg Art Gallery
204.789.1295
Publicrelations@wag.ca

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