Bird of Spring

We can relate to the relief of Spring, a season ushering in warmth and renewed life. Etungat pays particular attention to the finely rendered feathers, like sun rays pointing to the sky. The bird radiates life force from the centre suggesting a blessing is coming, there very well may be eggs soon. There is a human likeness to this bird. In traditional hunting societies, arms stretched upwards signal human presence to viewers from afar. Traditionally, this posture broadcasts, "I come as a friend." Bird of Spring, is a symbol of hope to come. - Sophia Lebessis, Inuit Art Curator, and owner of Transformation Fine Art. Abraham Etungat (1911- 1999) was an Inuk artist who grew up in Cape Dorset/ Kinngait and was a part of a special generation of Inuk artists who witnessed carving as a means of making toys for kids that evolved to carving art to make a living. In 1978, he was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. This artwork is a replica of a serpentine carving originally 14 centimeters tall.

We can relate to the relief of Spring, a season ushering in warmth and renewed life. Etungat pays particular attention to the finely rendered feathers, like sun rays pointing to the sky. The bird radiates life force from the centre suggesting a blessing is coming, there very well may be eggs soon. There is a human likeness to this bird. In traditional hunting societies, arms stretched upwards signal human presence to viewers from afar. Traditionally, this posture broadcasts, "I come as a friend." Bird of Spring, is a symbol of hope to come. - Sophia Lebessis, Inuit Art Curator, and owner of Transformation Fine Art. Abraham Etungat (1911- 1999) was an Inuk artist who grew up in Cape Dorset/ Kinngait and was a part of a special generation of Inuk artists who witnessed carving as a means of making toys for kids that evolved to carving art to make a living. In 1978, he was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. This artwork is a replica of a serpentine carving originally 14 centimeters tall.