Saila, Pauta

Best known for the development of dancing bear sculptures, Pauta Saila was born on the land at Kilaparutua camp on Baffin Island in 1916. Saila learned by watching his father, who was also camp leader, to live on the land as well as how to shape stone. He remained a hunter throughout his life, and focused his artistic endeavours solely to carving in 1981, working primarily in soapstone. Saila also drew images of arctic wildlife, his work featured in the Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection from 1962-1981. He was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts in 2003. He passed away in 2009.