Inuit art is internationally renowned. We consider it a privilege to be able to meet the artists and see a wide variety of art on a daily basis. Eating out at any of the resturants in town is also a way to meet artists and view their work. The artists come around to each table, humbly presenting their work in hopes of a sale. Buying direct from the artist is much more affordable than buying from a gallery. Meeting the artist gives us an insight as to how much work went into the art and where the stone/antler/bone/baleen is from. One of my favorite things to buy is little boots and mitts. They can be used as wall hangings, zipper pulls, Christmas tree ornaments ect. Josh just laughs whenever I come home with another one, but they're so cute and unique. The following pictures are samples of the art we've bought as well as other types of art around Iqaluit.
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| Caribou antler - Walrus |
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| Watercolor by Jolly (from Pang) |
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| Polar bear and seal - soapstone |
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| Broken glass, found on the beach, that has been smoothed by the ocean - can still read "Pepsi-Cola" |
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| Inukshuk |
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| Print given to RNs during nursing week - "Nightingale's Qulliq" |
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| Sealskin mitts |
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| Little booties made by an elderly patient (who had one eye) |
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| Love these little boots |
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| Stencil print made by Gyta and sold to us by salesman "Smiley" |
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| Beautiful mural by Johnny (an ex-gangster who turned his life around) |
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| Two narwhals - soapstone |
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| A real inukshuk out on the tundra |
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| Outdoor carving of two beluga whales |
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| Mom showing off beaver (left) and seal (right) mitts |
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| Large polar bear |
Love the Walrus carved from antler, where did you get those?
ReplyDeleteBTW Smiley doesn't actually do the prints, he is a reseller for the artist - Gyta E___(can't remember how to spell his last name)
Smiley is my favourite vendor, his sales pitch is the highlight of wing night at the Legion!