This charming rendition of a gull, executed in the exquisite mottled green Kinngait (Cape Dorset) stone often used in sculptures from the 1960s, is a rarity from artist Kenojuak Ashevak. This piece likely would have been made before she became best known as a graphic artist. The minute details and its tiny stature suggests this might have been an early experimental work made during the “fledgling” days of the co-op studios, when many artists were enticed by the possibility of earning money through artmaking. While graphics later became Kenojuak’s forte, charming early works like this one, which fits quite delightfully in the palm of one’s hand, remind us of how artistic styles evolve, grow, and innovate over time.

PF