Oqqi Inutiq (c.1940s-2007)
Iqaluit, Nunavut
25" x 28.75"
c. 1980

A beautiful and striking wallhanging, this is the only one we have ever seen by this little-known but obviously very talented artist, now deceased.

A unique feature of this piece is the artist's use of unconventional materials: the water is a rich royal blue velour fabric; the ice pack mound to the bear's left is done in thick, sparkly soft white and blue material; the bear's fur is a thick and supersoft synthetic furry material; the sky, the border and the backing are in a cotton-like material; and the rest of the appliqués are thicker-than-normal felt.

The scene portrayed is the classic waiting game at the seal's breathing hole in the thick winter ice: the seal looks up, wondering if it is safe to breach, and the polar beat waits silently above, hoping for a meal to emerge. Whichever happens, the cycle of nature continues.

Embroidery stitches used: chain, satin, stem, buttonhole, detached chain.