This may give you a better idea about the size of this bear from Cape Dorset. Kigigtuk Etidloie is the carver of this little one. The dimensions are 3 by 2 by 2. The stone is a wonderful mottled green. Bears are such a wonderful subject for Inuit carvers. Not only are they sometimes depicted whimsically, like dancing, clapping, hand-standing, etc, but also alert, on the prawl. menacing, or mothering their cubs, teaching them to survive, or in shamanic transformations. A great source for many myths and legends.

An absolutely wonderful whalebone carving called "Man Of The Past". This carving has a presence and one almost feels the spirit of man of the past emanating from the sculpture. Looking at it, you can become quite absorbed in thoughts. A bit like a catalyst for meditation. A great carving with a nice transition from the smooth, solid bone towards the more porous "raspy" open cell structure of whale bone. The carving is by Daniel Iqaqrialu from Clyde River and measures 6 inches by 9 inches by 14.5 inches.

A cute little carving by Johnny Luuku from Ivujivik. The dimensions are only 3 x 1 x 1.5 What attracts me to Johnny's little carvings is the green stone he use: it's so alive.

The title of this carving by Kupakik Ningeocheak is Fishman. Kupakik is well known for his transformation carvings: fish, birds, bears and humans. Other similar carvings have titles like Fish-Shaman I am not sure where Kupakik resides as I have two references: Coral Harbor and Rankin Inlet. The tag with this carving actually says Sanikiluaq, so that makes it actually three different locations. However they are all around Hudson Bay, another northern region with many changes happening because of southern expension into the North. Sanikiluaq with a population of around 800 people is located on the Belcher Islands. I like Kupakik's work as it is a testimony to the old traditions with Shamans and transformations.
The carving measures 12 inches by 3.5 inches by 4.5 inches and dates from 1999.

An old carving from Anowtalik dating from 1974.

Anowtalik is a respected carver from Arviat (Eskimo Point). Carvers from Arviat work primarily with basalt stone, a very hard media to work with, which may explain their unique, almost modern, style with a minimum of lines.

One can find quite a few references to Luke Anowtalik on the web with a google search.

This carving of a sitting Inuk measures 4" x 3.5" x 4.5"


A lovely portrait of Anowtalik can be seen at:
http://www.portraitsofthenorth.com/portrait/lukeanowtalik.html

from which is the following quote: "Anowtalik started carving for income in Whale Cove and continued in Arviat. He was considered one the Keewatin region’s great founders of contemporary art."

A very nice sculpture of two ivory narwhals carved out of one tusk. The dimensions are 2.25" x 1.5" x 10" ( dimensions with the narwhals tusk) . The carving originates from Pangnirtung but I do not know who the carver is.

This is a whalebone carving of a hunter with pack by Isa Piungituk from Clyde River. I am not sure about the carver as the information I have gives the name as reproduced above. I do wonder if it is the same person as Regilee Piungituk. Names are not always unique in Inuit culture. there can be variations in spelling and variations in combinations of names. The measurements are 6.5" x 8" x 9" and this carving dates from 1973. What I find attractive about whalebone carvings is the eery sense, or the mystical, spiritual sense that very often goes with a whalebone carving. Maybe it is the bone material, or maybe it is the lack of details, the vagueness of the outlines.
This carving shows nicely the heavy burden that this hunter was under while traveling. The minimal details of he face do give a good sense of the stoic nature of the traveler.

This is a large kayak with hunter and seal, all in ivory. The kayak is mounted on stone base and has whalebone harpoons on the back. The dimensions of the carving without the base is 12"x 1.5" x 2.5". With the base the dimensions are: 12" x 2.5" x 3.5". The carving has an authenticity sticker underneath, but I can not make out who the carver is. I do know that it originally came from Pangnirtung . A nice older piece.

One of my favorite pieces: a carving by Bessie Crow from what used to be Belcher Island. And I would have to look up what its present day name is. This is a carving of a Ptarmigan, done in steatite, a lovely, very light colored stone. To me, it resembles a bit marble, and I guess I now have upset every geologist. But, it has that quality to me. I just love Bessie Crow's pieces, particular her ptarmigan carvings. They are so simple, yet so majestic, sphinx like almost. This particular ptarmigan, that I have held on to for a long time, measures 2.5" x 5.5" x 3.25"

Ok, what to say. Somehow, this carving speaks to me. But I haven't figured out yet how it speaks to me. Images that come to mind: James Dean, Elvis Presley, Punker, Rock and Roll, Grease, you name it. Now the serious stuff. The carving is by George Pilurtut from Kangiqsujuac and the title is straight forward: " Head with snow goggles " It is a serpentine stone measuring 3" x 2" x 3.5" and dates from 2003. Another association I have is Atanarjuat, the Fast Runner. I honestly don't know where the associations come from. Maybe this one is just: " Head with snow goggles " . Period.

This sweetheart is basking in the sun, catching a bit of warmth. It is a lovely ivory carving of a seal on a serpentine base. I don't know much about this carving except that it is signed underneath and is probably from before 1980. The ivory has a lovely old yellowish patina to it which does not show well in the picture. The carving is only 3" x 1.5" x 1"

I guess the fish is caught and it is time to go show off. Levi Qumak has carved this standing man holding a seal. The sculpture makes me think a bit about an inukshuk, at least I think there is an resemblance. The carving is 3.5" x 1.5" x 5.5' in a grey mottled stone and comes from Inukjuak.

This person is seen leaning to the left while trying to drag a seal home. The carving is done nicely in a mostly grey stone with blotches of red -brown shining through. A lovely stone. The carver, Alilie Nayomealuk from Inukjuak, has nicely captured the effort of dragging the catch to a safe place. The carving (dated from 2001) measures 3.5" x 2" x 7"

This is a small carving of Sedna holding a seal. It only measures 3" x 2" x 1", yet George Alayco has succeeded in creating a lovely little carving in grey stone. There is a sense of tenderness in

the way Sedna is holding on to her seal, her creature from the sea. George comes from Akulivik and has been quite prolific in making little carvings.

Here is an old fashioned minimal style seal carving. What I like about this seal is the solid feel of it.
Not at all a cuddly, blubbery seal with lovely curves. Nevertheless a great presence, evoking a harsh climate.
This carving is by Yaw Alayco and is probably from before 1980. The carving in a grey, green tinted stone (probably argalyte) measures 9" x 2.5" x 3.5" and comes from Sanikiluaq.

This carving of a (I believe) woman fishing is done by Pita Pirti from Akulivik. The carving is relative small measuring 2 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches. The pictures don't show it well but the stone is a mottled black-brown stone and has quite a nice hue.
For a small carving it has remarkably strong lines and gives a good sense of the patience involved in fishing. It has nice details in fishing pole, fishing line and a caught fish, all in less than 3.5 inches.

A lovely small carving from Baker Lake in the typical Baker Lake basalt black stone. The carving is by Hugh Haiqpi. I don't know much about Hugh, but I do have another carving by him. Maybe he is a new carver, but I like his style. This little Dancing Man measures 2 x 1 x 3.5 inches and Hugh seems to have captured quite a joyous moment. It's almost as if you can hear the guy singing for joy.

This little carving by Tytoosie Quvianatouliaq, called Heads, only measures 2 x 1.5 x2 inches; so it is quite small. Especially if you compare it with Tutuiya Qatsiya' sculpture listed a few blogs back. Whereas one sculpture seems to speak to the powerful struggle of man to be an individual formed by it's community, this little one seems to make more a spiritual statement. Almost like an amulet to hold, to be protected by good spirits. It's such a small carving in serpentine stone, yet I counted six profiles of heads emerging out of the stone. Tytoosie Quvianatouliaq is from Cape Dorset.

This one is not for sale . It is an exquisite little carving. It feels so incredibly fragile. I again don't know much about this carving. It has a sticker underneath. But otherwise nothing that I can identify it by. The measurements are 4.25" x 1.25" x 0.75". A lovely little piece.

This is a large carving by Aisa Amittuk from Akulivik. The dimensions are 16 inches by 10 by 7 inches; quite large. Aisa presents here the almost impossible struggle between a hunter with just a knife and a bear where the latter seems to outmeasure, outweigh the poor hunter by quite a bit. Yet the hunter seems to be getting the upper hand. Fortunately for him! Yesterdays blog entry showed a bear ready to munch on a seal. It seems that today the tables are changed.

A small carving by George Alayco from Akulivik of a bear getting ready to eat a seal. The carving measures 3.5 inches by 3.5 by 3.75 inches. Not necessarily the most pleasant subject matter, but again a reflection of a life centered on living off the land. Each creature has its place in the fragile ecosystem. And, although this bear seams to be a well fed creature (look at his well rounded behind) , the overall plight of the bears in the arctic is quite uncertain with the pressures from "progress". I guess progress can be a loaded term.