Qaluquq, Winter Whale Ceremonial, 1993
Lawrence Ulaaq Ahvakana
(American | Inupiat, born 1946)
Location: South Puget Sound Community College, Olympia
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
Qaluquq, Winter Whale Ceremonial is a hand carved and painted three panel wall sculpture by Inupiat (Native Alaskan) artist Lawrence Ahvakana. The imagery represents and interprets symbols and elements of a traditional ceremony, in which the spirits of whales are sent south to a sacred place, guided by the dance and song of the thunderbird.
This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with South Puget Sound Community College.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Native Alaskan artist Lawrence Ulaaq Ahvakana (Inupiat) creates sculptural artworks representative of his Inupiat culture and symbols. He is inspired by the oral histories and legends passed down through his family.
Ahvakana spent his childhood in Barrow, Alaska, part of the Inuit Nation that spans from Siberia in Eastern Russia, to Greenland in Northwestern Europe. He states, "My first introduction to the Arts was watching my mother, who is a very competent skin sewer... The dances and songs of the Inupiaq tradition is the oral history of my people. It is the emotional interpretation of our respect and involvement within the environment of the North Slope of Alaska." Ahvakana earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture and Glass Arts from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1972. He is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Cooper Union School of Art in New York City. He lived in Suquamish, Northwestern Washington, for many years, and is currently based in Alaska.
ARTWORK DETAILS
Medium | Redcedar and yellow cedar woods, beadwork, and acrylic paint |
Dimensions | 2 ft 7 in x 7 ft 5 in x 5 in |
ID Number | WSAC1993.128.00A-C |
Acquisition Method | Direct purchase |
Artist Location | Alaska |
Location Information
Agency | South Puget Sound Community College |
Artwork Location | South Puget Sound Community College Minnaert Center for the Arts, Main stairwell, Class wing, Above 1st landing |
WA County | Thurston |
Placement | Interior |
Site Type | College |
Address | 2011 Mottman Rd. SW Olympia, WA 98512 |
Geo. Coordinates | 47.024529, -122.929666 |
Before Visiting | Some artworks may be located in areas not accessible to the general public (especially in K-12 public schools). Consider contacting the site prior to a visit to ensure access. |
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