Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Pangnirtung (June 20/05) - The works of eight Panniqtuuq printmakers will travel across North America starting June 24.

The 32nd annual community release will add 19 unique prints to the market, each with between 35 and 70 copies.

The prints are destined for more than 25 galleries across the continent, including Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit.

Unlike reproductions of paintings done in mass quantities, but called "prints," true prints are each hand-done and hand-signed, said Peter Wilson, manager of the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts.

The printmaking shop is located in the Uqqurmiut Centre, where more than 10,000 original drawings are housed.

Many printmakers use these drawings to base their prints on, he said.

"There are two names that appear on the prints - one for the original drawing and one for the printmaker," he said.

Printmaking represents a significant source of income for the artists, Wilson said. Some artists, such as Andrew Qappik, earn their sole income from printmaking.

Qappik has been making prints for about 25 years. He has three prints being released later this month.

As a boy, Qappik worked at the printmaking shop as a type of workplace experience program through school.

"I cleaned brushes, swept the floor and watched the artists work," he said. "The next year they asked if I wanted to learn to make prints and I never went back to school."

Qappik makes all his prints based on his own drawings. After 25 years, his work hangs in homes and offices all across North America.

"A collector from North Carolina came to Pangnirtung and wanted to meet me," he said. "He has more than 100 of my prints - it blew me away."

Qappik has since visited with a Duke University history professor in the U.S. to talk about Nunavut.

"I am happy with what I am doing and have no plans to stop or retire," he said. "I do get frustrated here and there, but I am not quite a starving artist."

Qappik demonstrated his work to Governor General Adrienne Clarkson during her visit to Panniqtuuq last week.

The other artists releasing prints this year are Leetia Alivaktuk, Enookie Akulukjuk, Geela Sowdluapik, Abigail Ootoova, Tommy Angnakak, Josea Maniapik and Jolly Atagooyuk.

Cape Dorset inspiration

After seeing the success of printmakers in Cape Dorset, artists in Panniqtuuq wanted to develop the art there also, Wilson said.

Cape Dorset is the oldest and most famous printmaking centre in the North. Artists in the community have been making prints for almost 50 years since the late James Houston introduced the technique.

Three prints from Cape Dorset artist Kananginak Pootoogook were released in late May as part of a special Spring 2005 "Land, Sea and Sky" release.