George Aden Ahgupuk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Aden Ahgupuk
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|---|---|
| Twok | |
| Born | October 8, 1911 |
| Died | April 1, 2001 (aged 89) |
George Aden Ahgupuk (born October 8, 1911 – died April 1, 2001) was an amazing artist. He was also known as Twok. This name means "man" in the Iñupiaq language. George was an Inuit-American artist. He was famous for his paintings and drawings. His art showed scenes from Iñupiat life.
George Ahgupuk used special ink-wash techniques. He drew on different surfaces. These included paper, bleached walrus skin, and caribou hide. He was one of the first Inuit artists to make drawings. Before him, many artists focused on traditional ivory engraving. Ahgupuk's artwork is in many important museums. These include the National Museum of the American Indian and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. His art is also at the Alaska State Museum and the Anchorage Museum.
Contents
Early Life and Art Beginnings
George Ahgupuk was born on October 8, 1911. His hometown was Shishmaref, Alaska. This village is at the very tip of the Seward Peninsula. His father was a fisherman. George grew up in a small, one-room sod igloo.
As a child, George went to a government school. This school was in Noorvik, Alaska. His brother Ben was a teacher there. George did not like reading much. But he really loved drawing pictures.
In 1930, George had to travel far. He went 200 miles by dog team. He needed to see a dentist in Nome, Alaska. On his way home, he stopped to hunt. He was looking for ptarmigan birds. While hunting, he slipped and fell. He broke his leg against some rocks.
There was not much medical help back then. So, his broken leg was not treated right away. It bothered him for several years. In 1934, a nurse urged him to get help. She worked for the Office of Indian Affairs.
George went to an Indian Service hospital. Doctors found he had a bone illness. He stayed in the hospital for six months. To pass the time, he started drawing. He used toilet paper because it was all he had. A nurse named Nan Gallagher saw his drawings. She was very impressed. She bought him paper and crayons. She even paid him to draw Christmas cards. Other nurses and doctors also bought his art. George earned $10 from his drawings. He was able to go home with money from his art.
George Ahgupuk's Art Career
George realized he could earn a living from his art. So, he started drawing much more. He also created a special way to bleach caribou hides. This made them perfect for his ink-wash art. By 1936, many people noticed his work.
A famous artist named Rockwell Kent supported George's art. He wrote about George in big newspapers. These included The New York Times and Time magazine. Soon, companies started buying his art. They used his drawings for things like Christmas cards.
In the 1940s, George was asked to illustrate a book. It was a collection of stories called Igloo Tales. Edward L. Keithahn wrote the stories. George also illustrated other books. These books were about life in Alaska.
In 1955, George had a serious accident. Both of his arms were badly burned in a fire. Doctors had to take skin from his legs. They used it to fix his arms. But by the end of 1955, he was able to draw again. He wrote that he was back to creating art.
Artistic Style and Subjects
George Ahgupuk's drawings have a special look. He used ink wash shading. This made his subjects stand out with thick outlines. His art often showed scenes from coastal villages. He drew people fishing and hunting. He also loved to draw dog teams and northern animals.
Books Illustrated by George Ahgupuk
