10" Shaman by Charlie Ookpik Gjoa Haven *Magic*

Inuit art: Shaman Face
Size: 9.5" high, 4.5" wide, 3.5" deep
Community: Gjoa Haven, NU 20
Inuit Artist: Charlie Ookpik
Stone: Serpentinite
id: c-072

**This Item is Eligible for Our 0% Interest Layaway Plan

I was so struck with this Charlie Ookpik face.

For a moment, I thought that there had been a mistake in shipping and an African inspired sculpture had been sent to me.

This head is a personification of the spirit of the Gjoa Haven carvers.

Rich in spirit, humorous and innovative, there are no other artists in the Far North who can be so easily identified by their carving style.

This piece is smooth and cool.  The stone is a deep solid black which is the predominant stone in Gjoa Haven. Every feature of this face is magnetic.  The eyes, the folds of the cheeks, the flared wide nose and the "Doctor Seuss like" mouth. Look at the hair which appears to be pulled up tightly in a bun or pony tail. 

This is the face of a magician or a soothsayer.

I love this piece!  I have not seen anything similar in my 15 years as a Curator of Inuit art. 

See our notes on The Gjoa Haven Collection.

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