I spotted this artwork on a sheet of metal on the stone wall of a pub in Quebec City. It shows two Inuit men out on the tundra wearing snow goggles or in the Inuktitut language ilgaak ᐃᓪᒑᒃ. The slit in the googles improves visual acuity helping focus on things in the distance. 
It reminded me of this pair of snow goggles we have at the Winnipeg Art Gallery that we use in our interactive programs with kids. They are made of antler and seal skin. They are used to protect people’s eyes from the sun and the glare of the snow and to prevent snow blindness. The goggles fit tightly to your face so that light can only enter through the slits. The kids on our tours think they are pretty cool!
Other posts…….
Advertisements
