inuit art foundation 1993-4 board memberJoseph SuqslukSuqsluk, who lives in Gjoa Haven, is a serious, full-time carver who participated in the first Artists' Session organized by the Inuit Artists' College at the Ottawa School of Art in 1991. He was also selected by his peers as one of two recipients of 1992 scholarships to a carving session at the Vermont Carving Center.--------Northern Rocks Susan Gustavison 1999It was only about eight years ago that I started really carving. my grandfather and my uncle carve. My grandfather's brothers used to carve. I watched and learned. Also when I was very young---maybe six or seven years old---I found a piece of soapstone in a tent out on the land. I filed it down to a fine finish. When I showed it to my grandfather he told me that I was a good carver. He paid me or all the hard work that I did. i thought it was pretty good, so i just kept on going.Carvers help to keep traditions alive by putting stories and hunting traditions into their carvings. in that way carving may even help us to survive culturally---to be Inuit. But one should not forget that the money we get is good too.Before, I thought I could only work the way that people who were buying my pieces wanted. I thought that was the only reason why I was carving. Because I needed the money, and I had to produce something that the purchaser wanted. But after going to meetings and workshops....I learned that as an artist I can carve whatever I want. i don't just have to think about selling.

Exhibitions

• Building on Strengths: New Inuit Art from the Collection, Winnipeg Art Gallery
• Gjoa Haven Community Show, Sur le Mur
• Gjoa Haven Sculpture/Wallhangings, Atlantic Galleries
• Multiple Realities: Inuit Images of Shamanic Transformation, Winnipeg Art Gallery
• Spence Bay Sculpture: An Expressive Force, The Innuit Gallery of Eskimo Art
• The Hand: Images in Inuit Sculpture, The Isaacs/Innuit Gallery
• The Spirit of the Land, The Koffler Gallery
• The Tactile Eskimo Art Collection/ Collection de sculptures esquimaudes appreciables par le toucher, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, in cooperation with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind
• Whalebone Carvings and Inuit Prints, Memorial University of Newfoundland Art Gallery

Collections

• National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• Sarick Collection, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
• University of Alberta, Edmonton
• University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Lethbridge
• Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg

Publications

• AQJANGAJUK SHAA. — IN The Canadian Encyclopedia, James H. Marsh, editor-in-chief., Author: Blodgett, Jean, Publication: Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1:68. (1985)
• ARTISANAT QUEBECOIS: 3: INDIENS ET ESQUIMAUX., Author: Simard, Cyril, Publication: Montreal: Les Editions de l'Homme (1977)
• IMAGES AND WORDS FROM SPENCE BAY, N.W.T., Author: Harris, Pam and Judy McGrath, Publication: Artscanada 174/175:37-41. (1972)
• L'ART ESQUIMAU D'HOLMAN., Author: Burgess, Helen, Publication: Ottawa: Ministere des Affaires indiennes et du Nord canadien. (1973)
• TUU'LUQ/ANGUHADLUQ., Author: Blodgett, Jean, Publication: Winnipeg: The Winnipeg Art Gallery (1976)