03/31/2026
Today we are spotlighting an artist whose work is instantly identifiable at first glance. Donald Ungott (Donald T. Ungott) was a Siberian Yupik [Gambell, St. Lawrence Island], (1935-2002) whose whimsical owls stare out at the distant ice and snow from beautifully crafted inset eyes composed of fossil ivory and baleen pupils. These walrus ivory carvings are adorned with scrimshawed outlines which suggest at the physical attributes of the owl. Don is also known for his part in a cold war rescue of 11 Navy crewmen who had been shot downey Russian MiG-15’s over theBering Sea. 16 Alaska Army National Guard "First Scouts” stationed in Gambell travelled over the rough and treacherous terrain to posthumously earn the Alaska Heroism Medal, the state's highest award for valor during peacetime. His carving style has been passed to his family including his son and daughter (Fabian and Maxine Ungott) who are also talented carvers as there father was. You can see their work at Maruskiya's of Nome, ( https://www.maruskiyas.com/store/search/ungott ). See these owls at Island to Island Arts in FireBrand Forge at 1580 Teller St. Lakewood Colorado 80214. Come see them for yourself and add one of these extremely rare pieces of carving history to your collection.
