Clyde River

Clyde River carvers work with a supply of light green stone from the Mary River area of northern Baffin Island. The predominant medium, however, is old whalebone found along beaches in this area. In fact, this community is now the centre of whalebone carving in the Arctic. 

Although some sculptors are straightforward and representational depictions of animals, humans and simple hunting scenes, one trait that characterizes the work from Clyde River is the sense of humour and whimsy that results in images such as dancing and waving walruses. The stone sculptors generally have soft, undulating outlines and are highly finished. Whale vertebrae carved with Janus-faces are an example of the use artists make of natural shapes.