Kingwatsiak Jaw facts for kids
Kingwatsiak (King) Jaw (1962–2012) was an amazing Inuk sculptor from a place called Kinngait. He was known for creating beautiful art from stone.
Early Life and Family
Kingwatsiak Jaw was born on March 20, 1962, in a community called Keatuk, which is in Nunavut. Art was a big part of his family! Both his parents, Melia Jaw and Joe Jaw, were carvers too. His brothers, Mathew Saviadjuk, Pootoogook Jaw, and Salomonie Jaw, also became carvers. King started carving when he was just a child. However, he didn't begin carving as his main job until he was in his early thirties.
His Art Career
When King started carving professionally in his early thirties, he also worked other jobs. He was a carpenter and an industrial mechanic at the Nanasivik Mine. This shows he was a very busy and talented person!
Kingwatsiak Jaw was especially famous for his sculptures of animals and figures from Inuit stories. Many of his artworks show powerful bears. He also often carved the sea goddess Sedna, who is a very important figure in Inuit mythology.
You can find King Jaw's incredible artwork in several museums. Some of these include the Penn Museum, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Museum Collections at the University of Delaware. His art helps people around the world learn about Inuit culture and the beauty of the Arctic.
