Medium: Bentwood Visors, Carving in Wood, Ivory, and Soapstone
Born in a sod house in Chignik, Alaska in 1930, Artist Peter Lind began carving when he was just 7 years old. With an old pocket knife, he fashioned a small boat. Thus began a lifelong interest in carving inspired by his Aleut / Alutiiq heritage. Today Peter lives in Wasilla, Alaska with his wife, artist Darlene Lind.
Peter Lind specialized in producing bentwood hunting hats. He enjoys his own proud identity in researching and crafting his art in the Aleut / Alutiiq tradition. The traditional styled Aleut / Alutiiq bentwood visor with its painted geometric designs and decoration of ivory, feathers, and Russian trade beads, honors the spirits and transformed the wearer into a mighty hunter capable of braving the ocean and its dangers. It also hid his human identity from his prey. More visibly, it protected his eyes from glare and sea spray and even improved his hearing.
Peter remembers his early years walking the tundra with his mother as she collected the materials for making dyes. Some of the stains used in his traditional artwork come from natural dyes made from berries collected on the tundra. An iron-bearing clay known as ocher created the yellow-brown stain.
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The Alutiiq Museum Store works with many of the artists in this gallery. Visit the store to see more examples of their work.