Arts program allows for socializing, inclusion
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Mar 21/01) - This past weekend held a special day for participants in the art portion of the Taparti Centre Day program in Rankin Inlet.
Funded by Brighter Futures through the hamlet, the arts program has been guided for the past five years by Jim Shirley of the Matchbox Gallery and runs four mornings per week.
On March 17, the first ever sale was held for the accumulation of art work in the program since its inception.
Taparti Centre manager Lesia Lucan says program participants were excited about having their own special sale of artwork.
"The prime facilitator of the project is Pierre Aupilardjuk and he's done a wonderful job with the participants, as have Philip Ugjuk and Lucy Sanertanut," says Lucan.
"We owe the hamlet and Brighter Futures a great deal of thanks for funding this program for the past five years and hope they continue to do so."
Program participants work with clay, draw and paint.
Although they work mostly with clay, Lucan says there have been some wonderful drawings produced throughout the five years of the program, as well as ceramics.
The arts program the Taparti Centre provides does more than simply benefit its participants artistically.
Lucan says the program is also an opportunity for them to socialize with local artists and people who visit the gallery, and to feel a part of their community.
"We're having a Community Inclusion Workshop here in Rankin Inlet on March 28-29 and, by having an arts program, the participants are made to feel that they're a productive part of the community and that's tremendously important to them.
"Our participants truly love the arts program, which we're planning to expand.
"We can't thank Jim and Sue Shirley enough for sticking with it through the past five years."
