pair of mittens, unrecorded Kalaallit artist

Exhibition Label:
"Climate Change at the Poles," Jan-2009, Kate Meyer, Jennifer Talbott, and Angela Watts
Well-adapted clothing is essential for success when hunting out on the ice or water, and every item of Inuit clothing is designed to fulfill a specific purpose. These mittens have thumbs on both sides of the hands, so when they are slippery or starting to wear thin, they can be flipped over and worn on the other hand, vastly increasing their durability. The snow goggles are a precursor to modern sunglasses, and are often made from bone, antler, or in this case,
wood. The goggles would have a small hole or slit for the wearer to see through but would block out enough light to prevent snow blindness, a condition similar to a sunburn of the cornea that causes pain and even permanent vision loss.