Puvirnituq, Hunter Rescuing the Half-Fish from the, Rocks, ca. 1970, dark grey stone, signed "DEVID" and with syllabics, 7 x 12.5 x 6.5 in, 17.4 x 31.9 x 16.6 cm. ... Davidialuk was a true storyteller. In writings and interviews as well as in sculptures and graphics, he enjoyed recounting colourful tales and legends at least as much as he did the great Inuit myths. Folk tales often freely mixed fanciful creatures and narratives with snippets of remembered local history. This story tells of a hunter who discovered a stranded mermaid. As thanks for his rescuing her, the mermaid left him three gifts: a rifle, a record player and a sewing machine! Davidialuk carefully inscribed the story on the bottom of this sculpture’s base in syllabics. ... For an earlier version by Davidialuk of the same subject matter in the CMC collection, see Swinton (1972/92) fig. 350, or Maria von Finckenstein ed., Celebrating Inuit Art 1948-1970 (CMC 1999) p. 79. The latter book includes the artist’s account of the story as well.--- CATEGORIES: Inuit, Eskimo