The UALR Dr. J.W. Wiggins Native American Art Gallery announces its newest exhibit, “Inuit Sculpture from the Top of the World.”

The exhibit, free and open to the public, is showing through April 27 in the Dr. J.W. Wiggins Gallery of Native American Art, located in the Sequoyah National Research Center at University Plaza, Suite 500, on the south side of the UALR campus.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 501.569.8336.

The exhibit showcases contemporary Inuit soapstone carvings found on the northern edges of North America, especially Canada, and includes other indigenous materials such as bone and antler.

Although the Inuit originated as a nomadic people, they settled into communities early in the 20th century. Their art expresses strong ties to tradition and the land and natural resources that surround them.

Shamanism, mythology, animals, and modes of survival are predominant themes exhibited by the modern-day Inuit artists, whose carving produces so much dust it must be done outdoors under extreme conditions most of the year.

In addition to the extensive collection of Native American paintings, drawings, sculptures, pottery, and beadwork, the Sequoyah National Research Center houses a comprehensive Native American archival research facility.