Skip Wallen Stone Lithographs
&   Small Bronze Sculpture


Prepared Exclusively for Dale Wallington
January 10, 2008


R.T. Wallen is an artist with an international clientele. Born in Wisconsin, he began spending summers in Alaska Territory in 1958 commercial fishing with his uncle. He moved to Alaska permanently following his graduation from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His degree in zoology led to work as a research biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and during long periods in the field, he sketched animals in his spare time. His artwork drew the attention of the commissioner, who transferred Wallen to headquarters to become the staff artist. In 1967, he left the department to become a full-time artist, opening his own small gallery in downtown Juneau.  From 1967 to 1984, he specialized in stone lithography, an ancient technique of original printmaking in which images are drawn on a smooth limestone slab and transferred to paper using ink and pressure. The hand-pulled prints were acquired by private collectors, museums and corporations and were given as gifts to and by heads of state and royalty. Wallen's first foray into sculpture was his landmark bronze bear, Windfall Fisherman, commissioned to celebrate Alaska's first 25 years of statehood in 1984. This monumental sculpture reposes in front of the Alaska Capital. He went on to produce other monumental sculptures which can be found at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, the World Health Organization in in Geneva, Switzerland and Amsterdam, Netherlands, the University of Houston and in corporate and private collections. His latest project, funded by the U.S. Congress, is a World War II monument to commemorate the Lend-Lease Program between Alaska and Russia. Several of his maquettes (small working models) for large sculptures have been cast in small editions for sale to individuals. These include the Windfall Fisherman bear, an African figure group, a male cougar, a female cougar and the American and Russian Aviators.  A Juneau group has also proposed a bronze life-size humpback whale in celebration of Alaska's 50th birthday.

Current Offerings:  

The Stone Lithographs

Printmaker 1978 Edition 175
A study of an Alaskan grizzly making footprints as it climbs a snow-covered hill.
Unframed
2007 value is $1,800


Your price $1,300

Tsulxan Gowukan "Peacedancer" 1971 Edition 100
A portrait of George Dalton, Sr., of Hoonah, the artist's adopted Tlingit father. Tsulxan in the Tlingit language is the mighty and beautiful Mount Fairweather on the southern coast of Alaska, visible from afar on the North Pacific and, in the old days, a weather forecaster for Tlingit sea otter hunters. Gowukan is literally Sitka Deer, but in this context is used in the sense of a peaceful creature, a Peacemaker or Peacedancer-A title of respect for a person who served in a ceremonial hostage exchange during the arbitration of an important tribal dispute. Mr. Dalton held the honorary title until his death.
Framed
2007 value is $3,500 +Framing


Your Price $2,500

Stoowu Kaa 1979 Edition 175
A second portrait of the artist's adopted father, George Dalton, Sr., of Hoonah, Alaska (the first was Peancedancer). He is wearing a Chilkat robe woven of cedar bark and mountain goat wool. Biographies of Mr. Dalton and his wife, written by the artist and his anthropologist wife, Lynn Wallen, were published in Haa Kusteeyi: Our Culture, Tlingit Life Stories, edited by Nora Marks Dauenhauer and Richard Dauenhauer (1994 University of Washington Press and Sealaska Heritage Foundation.
Framed 
2007 value is $2,000 + Framing 


Your price $1,500

Naa Klaa 1982 Edition 175
A portrait of Jessie K. Starr Dalton, a Tlingit woman of Hoonah, Alaska, wearing a traditional Tlingit kaayakoot'i x'oow (button blanket) of wool felt and mother-of-pearl buttons. Her name Naa Klaa is also a title of respect referring to "Mother of the Dak Dein Taan clan" of the Raven moiety. She is the adoptive mother of the artist.
Framed
2007 Value is $1,000 + Framing


Your price $700

Black Bear Study 1975 Edition 150
This print was developed from life drawings of black bears fishing for pink salmon on a creek in southeast Alaska. The artist spent five days sketching bears along this stream and had the experience of one of these bears stepping over his legs and splashing water on his charcoal sketch. 
Unframed, Flat
2007 value is $1,700.


Your price $1,200

Amur Tiger 1991 Edition 28
A study of a Siberian tiger produced after two trips by the artist to the Russian far east, including field studies in the tiger's habitat.
Framed
2007 value is $2,500 + Framing


Your price $1,500

Raven Child 1987 Edition 175
Portrait of master artist Nathan Jackson, whose Tlingit name Yeil Yadi means "Raven Child".
Unframed, Flat
2007 value $800.


Your price $500

Sheep Crossing 1985 Edition 175
Three Dall Sheep on a rocky ledge.
Unframed, Flat
2007 Value $600


Your Price $500

Tsee Xwaa 1972 Edition 110
A portrait of John B. Fawcett, Tlingit Indian of Juneau, Alaska. Tsee Xwaa belonged to the Woosh Ke Taan clan which claims the halibut as a clan crest. Study sketches for this print were made in the artist's valentine Building studio while Tsee Xwaa sang the song of the halibut spirit dance.
Unframed, Matted
2007 Value $3,500


Your Price $2,500

Current Offerings:  

The Small Bronze

Windfall Fisherman 1984 Edition 150

Wallen's first foray into sculpture was this landmark bronze bear, Windfall Fisherman, commissioned to celebrate Alaska's first 25 years of statehood in 1984. This monumental full size sculpture reposes in front of the Alaska Capital. This edition of small bronzes were to be produced to a maximum quantity of 150.  According to Wallen's wife Lynn, 107 saw production. They were originally issued at $3,000 to $3,500.  This is number 17 of 150.
2007 value $5,000





Your very special price is $4,250


Prices all included packing and shipping to West Hartford


All images © by Skip "R.T." Wallen. These prices reflect an exclusive offer to Dale Wallington only.


The Urban Eskimo
John DelGado, Proprietor
217 Seward
Juneau, Alaska 99801
866.996.3626 Toll Free