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“Snowy Owl” (2020) SOLD

Artist: Inuk Master Sculptor Manasiah Akpaliapik, (1955 – cont.) of Arctic Bay/Ikpiarjuk, Nunavut and Cobourg, Ontario

Materials: Arctic Bay marble – eyes are black and yellowish African wonderstone – talons and beak are black African wonderstone

Dimensions: 7.75″ H x 3.75″ W x 6.5″ D

For the body of his magnificent Snowy Owl, Manasiah ordered stone from his hometown, the Arctic Bay marble he knows and loves. The dappling of the stone represents the owl’s camouflage. When seen out on the tundra, they can resemble a pale rock or a lump of unmelted snow. The artist has perfectly captured the Snowy Owl’s presence, hyper-alert, and yet at rest. Their heads turn almost completely around (270°) to compensate for the immovable eyes, which here Manasiah has inlaid in African wonderstone – yellow lamps that see everything. In Manasiah’s earlier days, he might have fashioned the talons from baleen, but here he has again chosen African wonderstone, so all materials in this wonderful piece may readily be shipped to the USA or elsewhere.

In John Houston’s first film: “Songs in Stone: an arctic journey home,” a great Kinngait / Cape Dorset sculptor, the late Iyola Kingwatsiak, pauses from carving his own snowy owl to share the sense of awe these creatures inspire in him.

Watch below the 2:00 minute trailer of the film: “Songs in Stone: an arctic journey home”