Mary Tutsweetok is the daughter of the Arviat carver Alice Akammak (see Lot 39) and the daughter-in-law of the famous Arviat sculptor Lucy Tasseor Tutsweetok (see Lot 47). She is one of the relatively few younger generation Arviat artists who creates works that successfully build upon the “classic” styles and themes made famous by their elders. Mary Tutsweetok borrows from and melds two traditions: the beaded doll-like figures made by her own mother and other artists such as Eva Talooki, and the faces of Tasseor. It might be difficult to distinguish Mary’s beaded carvings from those by Alice Akammak were it not for their more Tasseor-like faces. Already during her lifetime Lucy Tasseor happily gave permission to Mary to carry on her famous trademark facial features, and the younger artist has done so with respect and sensitivity. Here, Mary has also carved the figure from a hard chunk of fieldstone, much as Tasseor utilized in her late-career pieces.