Cape Dorset

Cape Dorset is probably the most famous art-producing community in Canada's north. With so many talented sculptors, there is bound to be a wide range of styles; however, a few generalizations can be made. The Cape Dorset sculptural style is rooted in a love of naturalism and an interest in both wildlife and the spirit world, but has incorporated a love of the flamboyant, the dramatic and the decorative. Sculptures exhibit a strongly stylized or elegant naturalism, and are generally highly finished. 

One senses a certain self-consciousness of the part of the artist, as well as a desire to manipulate the material to a high degree. The stones, which may range from many beautiful shades of green, almost semi-precious varieties, to white dolomite and other types as well, are often fashioned into almost impossibly thin shapes or delicately balanced works. Favorite subjects include animals and mythological creatures. The scale of these works is often dramatic as their style.