Note:  Sylvester Ayek is not from the village of Kingigan but from the nearby community of King Island.  While it is important to acknowledge the the Inupiat are not a monolithic homogenous culture, it is meaningful to draw comparisons across their communities because of broadly shared cultural traditions and a long history of exchange within their territories. Work remains to be done identifying differences and specificities in the tradition amongst artists and communities.  

King Island Inupiat artist Sylvester Ayek is a subsistence hunter and a sculptor who works in wood and ivory.  In addition to producing his own work, he has consulted with museums in Alaska and Washington D.C. to share his knowledge of his community and their traditions.  Below is a link to a video interview with Ayek.

Tara Young, “Inupiat artist Sylvester Ayek balances life, art,” Alaska Dispatch May 23, 2012. http://www.adn.com/video/video-inupiat-artist-sylvester-ayek-balances-life-art