Based on groundbreaking new scholarship, Upside Down: Arctic Realities brings together ancient and modern works from the Arctic region, including major sites in Russia and Alaska. The featured pieces dramatically illustrate the continuing influence of centuries-old traditions in modern times and include both utilitarian and decorative items such as amulets, funerary offerings, and ceremonial masks from the Alaskan Yup'ik. Essays by leading scholars in the field explore such topics as the relationship between artist and material and between the aesthetics of native Arctic cultures and their environments.

Contributions by: Anne Bahnson, Ann Fienup-Riordan, Patricia Sutherland, Robert McGhee, Kirill Dneprovsky, Mikhail Bronshtein