Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Nov 21/05) - The traditional arts workshop at the Matchbox Gallery in Rankin Inlet brought artists together with one of the Kivalliq's best-known artists last month.

Simon Tookoome, 71, of Baker Lake spent a week with the next generation of talent, speaking to them on a variety of topics.

Gallery owner Jim Shirley said it's vital for renowned artists such as Tookoome to pass on their knowledge to the next generation.

"We have to look at what the previous generation of artists have done if we're going to have any continuity with our art, and those artists have to convey that to our newer generation," said Shirley.

"If not, every generation will have to reinvent the wheel as far as the art is concerned. We don't need that, particularly in an area where we have veteran artists sitting around underutilized."

Shirley said it's a tremendous benefit for younger artists to learn from people with 50 years experience, who are totally committed to the artistic process.

He said those benefits also include their sense of value and self-worth as people.

"Having a person like Simon Tookoome - whose work is known and respected internationally in drawing and printmaking - come in for a week is a tremendous resource for us," he said.

"Tookoome is a legendary person and the artists appreciated having him here. The students take to him because he's a warm, kind, thoughtful and sensitive person."

The participants had read Tookoome's book, The Shaman's Nephew, before his arrival.

Shirley said artists like Tookoome bring a broader perspective into the classroom than simply using art as a way of making money. He said exposure to such revered artists has as much to do with their potential as people as their art, and what they're going to do with that potential.

"Tookoome spoke to the students for more than an hour every day, read to them from different sources, showed them his drawings and worked with them in class.

"He was trying to pass on some of his wisdom to help the artists make the type of decisions in life that produce positive results.

"Hopefully, some of what he passed along will help them to lead healthy, happy lives and benefit from the skills they've been blessed with.

"I couldn't have selected a better person to address them."