Ukpik (ᐅᒃᐱᒃ) — In Inuktitut, Ukpik means “snowy owl.” In Inuit culture, the snowy owl is often associated with wisdom, guidance, and the transition between worlds.
Kelly discovered inspiration for Ukpik during her drive to Baja in January 2025. While traveling through snow-covered Colorado, she noticed an antler arch and an “Open” sign in the window of a small taxidermy shop in Afton. Turning back, she stepped inside and found a stunning set of velvet-covered antlers — a piece once commissioned by a hunter but never claimed.
Finds like this remind Kelly why she always stops at taxidermy shops along her routes, especially in Colorado and Wyoming, where unexpected treasures and stories often await