This little owl only measures 1 inch by 1 inch by 3 inches. The artist is Johnny Tunnillie, from Kinngait, which is/used to be referred to as Cape Dorset. More and more we see the names of Inuit communities changing to a more authentic name.
The little owl is carved in a mottled black (or is it a green/dark green?) stone and has a somewhat regal, fierce presence. Two of the above photographs were taken with a flash. As you can see the color seems to depend on the environment. The owl is a prominent subject in traditional cultures, its role changing from culture to culture. In Inuit culture, with their strong connections with their environment, we see the owl represented from their traditional legends straight into present day prints and sculptures. Recall the famous owl by Kenojuak Ashevak!
This little owl, fragile yet stout, scarred yet courageous, wise and "en garde", seems to capture a complex entity.

This is a carving depicting the old story of "The Giant and the Man" . Aisa Amittuk has carved the captured man, as he is being carried by the giant to his home, undoubtedly to meet a horrible end ... or does he? I guess you will have to read the ancient Inuit legend of The Giant and The Man. Aisa is a well known artist from Akulivik, previously from Povungnituk. The carving is 8 by 6.5 by 10 inches. You can find out about old Inuit stories by "Googling" Inuit Myths and Legends

What I find interesting about Inuit Carvings is, that even the simplest carving can become quite appealing. I don't know if it is in the touching, if it is the

appeal of the feel in the hand, the evoking images, or if it is even connected with the spiritual ideas of holding fetishes, amoulets, medallions, good luck charms. Whatever, something radiates.
This little seal (5.5 by 1.5 by 1.5 in grey stone) is by Johnassie Uppik from Sanikiluaq. It's lovely simple and it has that power to stop your mind and start dreaming.

A wonderful carving from Toona Iqulik, in grey stone with beautiful



earth colors coming through. Toona is from Baker Lake, another Inuit community with lots of carving and print making activity.

Toona is well known for strong but simple
carvings of people, male, females, mother and child, families, etc. His style is simple, with great use of strong curves. Sometimes his carvings are awkward in shape. The interesting thing is that what I call awkward does at the same time convey strong feelings of burden, of life. Somehow they make me think about Van Gogh's early drawings of people's hard life on the land. This carving is 5 by 8 by 11.5

An absolutely wonderful bear. The stone is dark green mottled with light green, yellowish specs. Some carvings one just doesn't want

to part with and this is one of them. Actually my whole collection is the result of careful collecting. All carvings are individually selected and have been part of my collection. However, the time has come to cull a bit as the house is getting to full. Besides, I do believe that because I have no overheads, etc, that what I offer is, not only carefully selected, but also attractively priced. This bear is by Johnny Papigatok, a renowed Cape Dorset carver of bears and stands 6 by 3 by 2.5 inches.

Here is a real cute little carving by Raymond Aliktulik from Arviat. It barely stands 1 and 3/4 inch tall and is decorated with beads.
Here is a sharper picture of the same carving. These beaded dolls are ideal to collect. Each one is unique and together in a grouping they make quite a nice statement.
The overall dimensions of this beaded doll are 0.5 by 0.75 by 1.75 inches.

Inuit art can be so diverse in its representations. Different media, different reflections, small size, large size, experienced well renowed artist or young teenagers having a first go at expressing themselves. It's such a rich field.
This carving of two seals enjoying a rest on a rock is a nice example of a smaller piece of art.
The two seals, done in ivory, are very nicely carved and despite the small size of each seal (not more than an inch) show a lot of detail. The rock they are sunning on is a light soft green stone. All in all a wonderful little wildlife scene. The arist is Henry Nakoolak from Coral Harbor. The overall dimension is 2.5 by 2 by 1.25 inches. I just wished I had sharper photographs. Well maybe an update soon. Cheers.

This picture is a carving from Gjoa Haven. Gjoa Haven artist are well known for their depictions of the shamanic or spiritual world. These carvings are quite often unsettling, but gripping and fascinating. This particular carving has a bit of a Yin-Yang duality to it in that both sides (front and back) show a different face.
I believe the artist to be Kamik but are not sure. The carving is 8 by 8 by 11 inches.

Just so you want think that my collection is all expensive items, I have here an example of a wonderful older carving. I don't know anything about the carver.
But I estimate that the carving is from the 1970's. It was actually sold through the venerable Eaton's stores. Well I guess the stores are gone (are they?) but the carving is still around. The carving shows nice detail. The coloring is charcoal grey. It depicts a man ready to put his on parka (?) and is 6 by 4 by 3 inches in size.

Welcome to my Inuit art collection.

This blog has lacked activity, but I will try to add a posting every day to give you some idea of my Inuit collection.
I thought that in the next few postings, I will try to give you an idea of the different kinds of Inuit art that I do have. Later on I will try to expand on the different categories.
Here is one sculpture out of my bear collection. I consider him (her?) the harbinger of the times to come.
The story around this carving (done in alabaster/marble) is that the carvers were caught by the early arrival of summer and consequently had no transportation access to their preferred quarry of soapstone. Thus they had to do with the closer by marble deposit (a much harder stone to work with) So, in a sense, this bear is another sign of global warming. Who knows what the climate change will have in store for the actual mighty polar bear.
The carver, Mayoreak Ashoona, is from Cape Dorset. She is a well known carver and print maker.
The carving is 19 by 8.5 by 6 inches.