James Houston (1) (1921–2005)

James Houston lived a most interesting life but until about 10 years ago I had never heard of him and certainly did not know his pivotal role in introducing Inuit art to the outside world. I first learned about him by picking up several of his works of fiction and when I read them I was intrigued enough to look up more information about him. He lived in the Eastern Arctic, specifically Baffin Island, for twelve years during which time he married. His wife and his two sons lived in the Arctic with him much of the time.

This book starts with Houston's first trip to the Arctic. He was staying in Moose Factory and a pilot offered him a free ride to the eastern side of Hudson's Bay with him and a doctor. From that first visit Houston knew he wanted to live in the Arctic and he started finding a way to do so. An artist who had trained with Arthur Lismer, Houston started doing sketches of the Inuit with whom he spent time. When he gave these sketches to the subjects they in turn gave him small carved sculptures that they had made. Houston showed them to people at the Canadian Handicrafts Guild in Montreal they recognized the artistry. Houston arranged to go back north and trade for more sculptures which the Guild would then sell. The Inuit did not use money at the time so Houston gave them items like rifles and cloth that they could use. Later he arranged that they would be given vouchers that they could turn in at the Hudson's Bay Company stores for products that they wanted. As the Inuit gave up their nomadic lifestyle and settled in villages their ability to earn money by creating art meant they were not reliant on government handouts. Houston made many friends among the Inuit and often went on hunting trips with them. As the title suggests on these trips they built igloos and stayed in them. Houston's descriptions of survival on the land are fascinating. He left the north on his own volition after ensuring that the artistic endeavours were established and that they would be maintained by the Inuit. After living in the far north it is almost beyond belief that he would take up living in New York City as a designer for Steuben Glass. That portion of his life is documented in his next memoir, Zigzag.… (meer)