\u00a0My name is LeeC, I have been a Mammoth Ivory Carver for about 25 years.\u00a0 I was born and raised in Alaska in the small settlement near Mantasta. I spent my younger years in Tok and my formidable years in Nenana, an Athabascan Indian village of about 250 people.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As a young girl growing up in Nenana, I became a dog musher and made friends with the Carson family.\u00a0 I would latter become apprentice to Mike Carson, a Master Ivory Carver and Knife Maker.\u00a0 I spent 17 years working and learning from the master, before branching off on my own.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 Part of my apprenticeship would be finding and recording the conditions, of all the bones and ivory found, basically Laymen Paleontology work.\u00a0 In doing so I was able to meet and visit with scientist from the largest museums in the country.\u00a0 I learned a lot about the animals of the Paleolithic Period and the world they lived in.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 All of this has taught me to greatly respect the resources I use in my jewelry making.\u00a0 I use only Ivory that is naturally colored, and so as not to disrespect that animal that gave me the ivory, I use only the finest gemstones and other exotic goodies I can acquire.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Another aspect of my jewelry making is that nothing is ever wasted.\u00a0 Nothing is ever duplicated and I let the Ivory become what it wishes to become.
\n\u00a0 I work in the lost art of Intaglia, kin to Intarsia, but using a backing piece of Ivory and steel pins instead of glues.\u00a0 A basic 3 dimensional art form of sculpture where ever single piece must fit with such precision that there are no gaps on any surface.\u00a0 This is done by hand with no magnification.
\n\u00a0 I feel that my main job as a Master Mammoth Ivory Carver is to educate people as to what the ivory truly is and to let them know that it is not illegal,\u00a0 but a natural resourse that is truly beautiful.<\/p>\n
Thanks for visiting.\u00a0 If you have questions please ask as it gives me something to write about.\u00a0 LeeC<\/p>\n