Alaskan

Alaskan Art

Perhaps it is the long dark days of the Arctic winter which nourishes the fertile imagination of the Alaskan Native artist. Using an unlikely array of animal materials, Alaskan artists have created several unique art forms including; woven baleen baskets, whale bone and walrus ivory sculpture.

Once grouped together as “Eskimos” these Northern peoples from the Arctic are now acknowledged as culturally separate groups. Beginning in the far north and west of Alaska are the Inupiaq people, to the south of them along the coastline are the Central Yup’ik and further west on Saint Lawrence Island and in Russia are the Siberian Yup’ik. Along the Aleutian Island chain the Aleut make their home. The Alutiiq Eskimo people who inhabit the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island are close relatives.

Ethnically and culturally separate are the Athabascan of interior Alaska, known for the bead work and birchbark baskets. Although located coastally in Southeast Alaska along the Alaskan “Panhandle,” the Haida and Tlingit are considered “Northwest Coast” Native people rather than “Northern Alaskan” Natives. Their totem poles, masks, argillite and wood carvings are internationally recognized. Wood, scarce to the northern arctic, doesn’t figure into “Eskimo” artwork.

“Spirit World” by Jerome Saclamanna

Spirit World. alaskan stone and feather sculpture Jerome Saclamanna  6" dia

“Spirit World” by Jerome Saclamanna
6″ dia. – $450

“Old Ivory – Seal” by Unknown Artist

Old ivory seal 3x2x3 unknown artist

“Old Ivory – Seal” by Unknown Artist
3″ x 2″ x 3″ – Sold 

“Old Ivory – Hunter on Ice” by Unknown Artist

Alaskan -Old Hunter on Ice size= 9x2x2 unknown artist

“Old  Ivory -Hunter on Ice” by Unknown Artist
9″ x 2″ x 2″ – Sold

“Kayak Scene” by Edwin Noongwook

Noongwook Edwin 11x6x4 Kayak hunter alsakan sculpture on woodScene

“Kayak Scene ” by Edwin Noongwook
11″ x 6″ x 4″ – Sold

“Woman with Seal” by Edwin Noongwook

Noongwook Edwin 7x18x3 Woman with Seal Alaskan sculpture

“Woman with Seal” by Edwin Noongwook
7″ x 18″ x 3″ – $2,200

“Spotted Seal” by Warren Kakoona

Kakoona Warren 4x1x2 Spotted Seal alaskan sculpture

“Spotted Seal” by Warren Kakoona
4″ x 1″ x 2″ – $800

“Hunter” by Peter Lind Jr.

 

Hunter by Peter Lind Jr. 3x12x4 1,800

“Hunter” by Peter Lind Jr.
3″ x 12″ x 4″ – Sold

“Fan Dancer” by George Kakoona

Fan Dancer by George Kakoona

“Fan Dancer” by George Kakoona
7″ x 18″ x 3″ – Sold

“Singing Bowhead Shaman” by Jerome Saclamanna

Singing Bowhead Shaman by Jerome Saclamanna

“Singing Bowhead Shaman” by Jerome Saclamanna
7″ x 3″ x 1″ – $850