An instructor who's spent the last two years trying to revive interest in the community to support the dozen well-known printmakers, Vladykov-Fisher is now raising funds to save the very art that put the community on the artistic map in the late 1950s.

That was when a print-making co-operative, Sanavik, was formed and local artists including Jessie Oonark, Irene Avalaaqiaq and Hattie Amitnaq went on to make Baker Lake prints famous.

What's unique about the prints coming from Baker Lake is that they were often made from stonecuts combined with stencil, which allowed the use of many colors.

But as time went on and the co-op expanded into retail sales to supplement its income, print-makers were slowly phased out. By the late 1980s the print shop was disbanded and the presses and equipment moved.

Since then, print-makers have come together to form a society where, ironically, the only way to get funds was apply for training money from the territorial government.

Vladykov-Fisher, who was brought to Baker Lake two years ago to spearhead the program through Nunavut Arctic College, has now completed her program and says if print-making is to continue at least $200,000 needs to be raised to refurbish the work space being used.

Print-makers are currently working out of the old Public Works garage. While it's been leased to the print-makers for $1 per year, Vladykov-Fisher describes the building as "battered and forlorn, as only an abandoned building in a tiny arctic community can be."

"Its concrete floor is convex and severely cracked. The walls need insulation against the winters. The roof leaks -- very badly now, "says Vladykov-Fisher. "Despite all this, people work away and put their parkas on when it gets too cold."

So far, Vladykov-Fisher says support through the Vancouver Inuit Art Gallery, which plans a special show of their work, leaves her optimistic donations will come through. Inuit Art Quarterly is also working on a article asking for donations.

If you'd like to make a donation, contact the Print-making studio at Box 144, Baker Lake, NT, XOC OAO.