TOONOO SHARKY

`I was influenced by my grandfather Kopapik Ragee, and also by Shorty Killiktee. The first carving I did was at the age of ten. I think it was a bird or a seal.” Toonoo has been carving ever since and it has been his only source of income. He likes to carve in serpentine and marble stone. “I like the colours and also the textures of both stones. When I’m starting on a piece of stone, I like to slowly work on the piece until the shape starts forming into a shape I can recognize. Sometimes, I just go by the shape of the stone. My favourite subjects are bird figures with human faces.
- Toonoo Sharky
Toonoo is the son of the late carver, Josephee Sharky and Ragee Killiktee. “My younger brothers, Napachie and Alasua are also carving”, says Toonoo. He lives with Mary Saila, and they have an adopted child. Toonoo’s favourite pastimes are carving, hunting, watching television and spending time with his family.
Toonoo started carving at the age of 10, and by his mis-teens he wasw already supporting himself through his work. He thinks that his first piece was a seal; however, the WBEC print shop has one of his first pieces and it is a small bird.
He claims that his style evolved naturally from watchign his grandfather, Quppapik Ragee, from whom he also learned his land skills. Toonoo prefers top carve large works. In the last few years, however, he has not been able to quarry the stone himself and has been buying the stone from the WBEC. He used to quarry with his stepfather, Shorty Killiktee from Kimmirut, now deseaced. When he used ot quarry the stone, he would give the smaller pieces away, but now he uses them himself.
Toonoo Feels that his creativity is limited by his circumstances. Because he has a large family to support, he does not have the time or freedom to experiment with new ideas. Toonoo is a perfectionist and drives himself hard. His work is carefully executed and delicately balanced, and has a dinstinctive individual style quite different from any other work that is made in the community. Transformation birds and seasls predominate as subject matter.
Toonoo has been exhibiting since he was 17 years old and has an extensive and impressive exhibition record. He has exhibited in Canada, the United States, France, Switzerland, and Germany.