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Iglulik's Bart Hanna chosen to create House of Commons sculpture

The House of Commons has selected Iglulik's Bart Hanna to create a sculpture in honour of Nunavut's 20th anniversary as a territory in 2019.

Iglulik's Bart Hanna will sculpt art in recognition of Nunavut's 20th anniversary in 2019. The sculpture will be displayed in the House of Commons in Ottawa.
photo courtesy of Jose Quezada

The sculpture will go on display in Parliament's West Block until it can be permanently moved to Centre Block, upon completion of renovations in the foyer there.

Hanna took up carving in the early 1960s and received formal art training in Canada and in the United States. He works in many different media including soapstone, serpentinite, narwhal tusk, baleen, walrus bone and tusk, caribou antler, white marble from Arctic Bay, muskox horn and crystalline alabaster, according to a news release from M.P. Geoff Regan, Speaker in the House of Commons.

Hanna's style is described as "highly detailed, depicting life in the Arctic as well as cultural spirits. He is well known for his carvings of the sea goddess Sedna, drum dancers and shamanism," the news release states.