ARTISTS PAUTA SAILA Pauta was born in 1916 in an area northwest of Cape Dorset known as the Foxe Basin (or Nuwatta, to the region’s Inuit). He moved to Cape Dorset around 1962 and took up drawing and carving to supplement subsistence hunting. He is much better known as a sculptor for his singular ‘dancing bear’, which became remarkably popular and highly sought after for many years. In 1967, Pauta spent several weeks in Toronto participating in an International Sculpture Symposium Pauta has also contributed many images to the annual graphics collections over the years and we are pleased to include two more in this year’s collection. Late Arrival (04-29) is reminiscent of an earlier time in both its subject and style, using a few simple motifs to convey an atmosphere and lifestyle once very familiar to Pauta and now gone. At 88, Pauta holds the distinction and honour of being the oldest resident in the community. He is married to Pitaloosie Saila – a well-known graphic artist in her own right – and they live in Cape Dorset. Last year, both Pauta and Pitaloosie were appointed members of the Royal Canadian Academy, in recognition of their life’s work and contributions to Canadian art.