Great Northern Arts Festival artistic director Christina Wilsdon got a taste of success with her gallery display at the fifth annual Inuvik Petroleum Show last week. In the first hour, the three sculptures pictured sold and the display proved to be one of the most popular on site.

Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Inuvik (June 27/05) - It was a success. Organizers of the Great Northern Arts Festival raised more than $10,000 and sold many artists' works during the fifth annual Inuvik Petroleum Show this month.

"We sold a lot of the art during the first hour," said organizer Christina Wilsdon. "The fundraising auction was a lot of fun."

Wilsdon served as auctioneer alongside Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson and recreation programmer Bobby Despres.

Items up for auction included soapstone carvings by Raquel Nuttal, Bill Nasogaluak, Charles Trimble and David Reuben Piqtoukun.

The Town of Inuvik donated a limited edition print by Janet Mildner-Lie.

A woman from Scotland who enjoyed a previous festival during a Northern vacation shipped a treasure box she handcrafted specially for the fundraiser.

The 17th annual Great Northern Arts Festival will feature 60 artists from throughout the territories, B.C., Alberta and New York.

Entertainment will include Leela Gilday, Razzmajazz, the Wrigley Fiddlers, and drummers and dancers from the Delta.

The annual CBC North fashion show, story telling and a coffee house jam will also be on the July 15-24 schedule, which will be released soon.