7" Swimming Polar Bear by Joseph SuqslaqInuit art: Bear Inuit Artist: Joseph Suqslaq Size: 6. 5" across (6" horizontal), 4" deep, 2" tall Community: Gjoa Haven, NU Material: Stone medium Fieldstone id: c 000 This swimming bear is mischievous and in hiding. Preying for his next kill? Looking for his Seal friends? The craftsmanship of this bear is absolutely divine. As a curator of the gallery, I am particularly drawn to carvings that are made from mixed media. This one in particular is made

Each strand of hair on the underbelly and the back fringe is meticulously and patiently chiselled with obvious care

His  black nose is slightly bulbous imparting a slight cartoonish demeanour

Stonecut 2015

Stone: Serpentine (rare grey stone)

It immediately reminds the viewer of the harsh environment these animals must conquer in order to survive

Stone: Whale Bone & Caribou bone

and the white claws and hot red inlaid eyes that contrast remarkably well with the intense mirror like dark stone

This jubilous walrus is swaying from side to side

This walrus has claws carved out of caribou antlers

This is what attracts Inuit art enthusiasts to his works

his father Leo and uncle Simon Uttaq learned to carve from his grandfather

Inuit Artist: Bobby Anavilok