Throughout her work and career, Germaine Arnaktauyok has explored Inuk myths and stories with a distinct vision. Many of her works are instantly recognizable, as much for her depictions of animals and figures as her handling of colour and form. Ulluriat (Stars) is a beautiful example of this almost ethereal feeling of space and time in her work. Printed by long-time collaborator Paul Machnik of Studio PM in Montreal, the hand-applied ink to the copper plates gives the scene a luminosity, a lightness that almost floats off the page. The bear plods through the sky, despite being surrounded by playful (or menacing) wolves, themselves romping through the stars around them. Keen observers and fans of Arnaktauyok's work will further recognize this bear, as she used a similar design for some special edition silver coins released by  the Royal Canadian Mint in 2013 and 2015.

References: For an overview of the artist's work, see Germaine Arnaktauyok and Gyu Oh, My Name Is Arnaktauyok: The Life and Art of Germaine Arnaktauyok, (Inhabit Media Inc.: Iqaluit, 2015), and the exhibition catalgoue from Germaine Arnaktauyok (1 February - 6 September 1998), Darlene Coward Wight, Germaine Arnaktauyok, (Winnipeg Art Gallery: Winnipeg, 1998).