Andrea Duffy pulled into the limelight
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Dec 11/00) - Being a stay-at-home mom and working on her art, that's all Andrea Duffy had in mind in the fall.
"I was just trying to pursue a minor career in art. My focus was kids and artwork," she says.
It was three years ago that Duffy first tried her hand at wall-hangings. She found that it allowed her to let out her creativity.
"I no longer have the need to create trapped inside me," Duffy told Kivalliq News back in 1998.
She has since turned to painting and drawing. She's also learning how to bead.
"I want to grow personally as an artist," she says, adding that she wants to do it all.
But it turned out that fate had something more on its agenda for Duffy, something beyond personal creativity and children.
The Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association needed an on-site co-ordinator for the Nunavut Arts Festival, slated to take place in Rankin Inlet in mid-November. Duffy got the call.
Having made the conscious decision to spend lots of time with her daughter (2) and her son (5), she had already turned down job offers.
But this one appealed to her at a deep level.
"I have a personal love for art and artists. That's why I took that job."
Not only did Duffy co-ordinate the arts festival with Theresie Tungilik (Department of Sustainable Development), she was later elected to NACA's board as the Kivalliq representative.
Though she isn't yet clear on all the responsibilities she'll have as a board member, Duffy says that she will definitely be representing the interest of the artists.
(NACA's board will hold its first teleconference since the AGM tomorrow.)
Duffy is more than equipped to handle the job. Besides the hands-on experience she gained organizing the festival, she has a varied background.
She holds a management studies diploma and has worked for Arctic College organizing workshops and courses for staff. She's even done a stint for CBC radio. Plus, she's a people person.
"I guess that's my main undefinable skill ... I'm fluent in both languages (Inuktitut and English) and I'm totally not shy."
Since the festival, Duffy has also accepted to work as MLA Jack Anawak's constituency assistant in Rankin.
"My life has changed very much in a short period of time. I guess it was sort of meant to be."
With her son already in school half days and her daughter beyond the infant stage, she figures working part time can give her the best of both worlds.
"And I'm still doing my artwork part time. That will never change."
