Evans Apatiki

Evans Apatiki, born in 1957 is a Siberian Yupik from Gambell, Alaska. One of the most remote areas of the United States, Gambell located on St. Lawrence Island, just south of the Bering Straits, about 40 miles off shore from Nome. It is a small village of about 700 people. Their Native language is spoken on both the U.S. and Russian side of the Straits. On a clear day (which is rare) you can see the mountains of Russia

Carving is a rich tradition for the Native Alaskan people on St. Lawrence Island. It helps sustain their ancient and proud culture and a way of life in a very remote and harsh area. Evans began carving at an early age, following techniques used by his family. He uses materials gathered from his subsistence lifestyle including the ivory tusks of walrus, walrus bone, whalebone, and baleen from Bowhead whales, much of which is either dug up or found washed up on beaches after storms.

Evans is noted for his whalebone masks and ivory carvings. His work may be found in private and museum collections including the Folk Art Museum of Central Texas.