Len Masse

Len Massé was born in 1949. After completing secondary school he attended the Chappel School of Art in New Westminster, British Columbia, where he studied art during the day and paid his tuition by cleaning the school at night. After graduation from art school, he embarked on a commercial art career that commenced in Los Angeles, USA. There, he worked in the music industry and created the very popular "doodle art" poster which sold millions of copies and still remains in circulation today.

In time, Len Massé moved to Canada's vast Northwest Territories, travelling extensively and reaching as far as the Arctic Ocean. It was there that he discovered the beauty and simplicity of Inuit Art. He liked the concept of using natural canvas - soapstone, ivory, and fur. This influenced him to trade his paper in for the more unique mediums of moose, elk, and deer antler. He uses pen, ink, and knife to create his original etchings.

Living in Canada's far north and rural Alberta has given Len Massé a love for recreating Inuit art and Alberta's diverse variety of wildlife on antler. Working at this art form for the past thirteen years has given him the time and expertise to perfect this medium into this unique collection found on today's art market. Both his original and limited edition pieces have been commissioned and purchased by various corporations and government departments, and Len Massé's work has been sent to many countries including Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Korea.

Len Massé's antler art is available in exclusive gift stores and galleries across Canada.

Moose Antler Art - No Threat for Conservationists

Confusion over moose antler has become common, due in part to increasing awareness about conservation. To be noted, however, is the difference between horn and antler. Horn, like tusks on an elephant or rhinoceros, must be cut off to be removed from the animal. Antler (the only product used in Antler Art) is a pair of branching growths on the head of moose, elk, and deer which fall off and grow afresh each year. Many of the antlers we use are "drop-offs" (antler found in the bush after naturally being shed by an animal). Thus, antler is a truly renewable resource.

Though some of our antlers are obtained from hunters, before we accept them we ensure that these are properly tagged. Moose, elk, and deer are not endangered species. Modern game laws have saved these species and also have insured their longevity by allowing hunting for the purpose of controlled culling. We have met with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, as they strictly enforce regulations which curtail abuse by trophy hunters. All hunters we deal with hunt for the meat, and the antlers would have been discarded had we not requested saving them.

The artwork of Len Masse is represented by Rowles & Company Ltd., Alberta's Corporate Gift & Art Gallery, in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, Canada.