Nestled on Nunavut’s mainland, Kugaaruk lies west of the Melville Peninsula, a community deeply connected to the Arctic landscape and its rhythms. Known in Inuktitut as Arviligjuaq, or “the great bowhead whale habitat,” the bay has long been a source of both sustenance and inspiration. The richness of marine life has shaped not only the community’s traditions but also its artistry, with Kugaaruk’s carvers developing a distinct reputation for their small ivory works and intricate scenes. These compact pieces, practical for shipping to southern galleries and collectors, have become emblematic of the region’s creative output.

In Rookery, this tradition reaches an intimate and timeless expression. A base of bone, shaped to evoke the craggy expanse of the tundra, supports a delicate flock of birds, each carved with precision and arranged to follow a shared trajectory across the surface. The viewer is drawn into this frozen moment, a glimpse of life unfolding in the Arctic landscape.