JOANIE RAGEE

Joanie Ragee was born in Cape Dorset on Baffin Island in the Territory of Nunavut. The artist enjoys carving animals of the high Arctic: polar bears, seals,
walrus and birds. He has also carved ‘transformation’ pieces. Joanie carefully selects the serpentine (stone), a stone found on Baffin Island, because he is able to polish it to a high finish. His walking and dancing bear carvings are realistic, showing a sense of ‘mass’ and ‘movement’. The artist began his carving career at the age of 14 by working under the tutelage of his grandfather, Master carver, Enook Manomie (deceased) and his older brother, Siutapik. Joanie says that they “taught me to carve in the traditional way, first by watching, observing and then by assisting.”