Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, May 07, 2007

INUVIK - When asked to select a favourite piece of art from Northern Images in Inuvik, Lilias Mitchener says she can't decide.

"I like all the pieces," she said with a laugh.

"You have to like what you're doing and I think all the pieces are beautiful."

Walking around the store - which has been in business more than 31 years - one is struck by the variety of interesting creations on display.

Some sculptures, like George Arlook's "Drummer," have fluid and abstract lines which evoke a Picasso.

Others, like a piece by Billy Merkosak titled "Face," made of whalebone and caribou, have rough edges and a craggy surface, which bring to mind traditional art.

"Everybody has their own preference for art, some like the finished work, and some like the abstract," Mitchener said.

"And it's always changing, because there are always new artists."

Originally from Aklavik, Mitchener said she started working at the store in 1976.

A mother of three - one son is an RCMP helicopter pilot, while her other son and daughter are teachers - today she manages the store and helps select which pieces to showcase.

Northern Images selects its art in Toronto from pieces purchased by the arm of the co-operative called Canadian Arctic Producers.

"We go down there and select the kind of pieces we want, then fly them up," she said, adding the store carries work from artists across the Arctic including Nunavut, and also local artists from the Beaufort Delta.

While the centralized trade show approach makes buying easier, Mitchener said it also causes some problems.

For instance, she said seal skin products are increasingly hard to find due to southern demand - to the point that Northern businesses like hers have trouble finding any.

"With sealskin, there is a big demand and people get more money down south," she said, adding the store has cut back its sale of sealskin mukluks and parkas.

"I wouldn't mind having more products made of sealskin again."

As travel and tourism continues to increase in the North, Mitchener said traditional artists are sure to gain.

"Our local people buy quite a bit, but I think the majority of people who buy are here for meetings, or tourism," she said

So, does she create art herself?

"Oh, I wish I could," Mitchener said with a laugh, as another customer entered the store.