Dancing Polar Bear

A polar bear does a hand stand during a joyous dance in this stone carving.

Stone
Approx. 9 x 6 x 10 cm
Registration no. 46420-7523T

Charming, endearing, figures frequently engaged in action. “Fix that a little bit,” Moe’s father Paulassie used to tell him when he first started carving.  That was 18 years ago, when Moe was 11.  When he finishes a piece earlier than expected, he finds it a much more enjoyable and fun experience. Perhaps that is why “Moe” specializes in small works that make them affordable. 

Moe is among the group of young carvers, including Markoosie Papigatuk, Pauloosie Joanassie, Jutai Soudloo, Pauloosie Tapaungi, and David Atchealak (recently deceased), who have gone south to carve for up to seven or eight months.  Compared to the confines of a remote arctic community such as Cape Dorset, it offers many opportunities, such as going to concerts and National League hockey games. Moe went south several times over a period of four years to carve for Polar North in Montreal. A sort of barter system was used.  Carvings were exchanged for airfare, food, and housing. They worked in four large well vented rooms near the Dorval airport.  The stone they used came from Cape Dorset.  Today this studio no longer exists, however, there is another carving studio located in Sayabec, north of Quebec City, where Mark Pitseolak Sr. carves.