Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, August 27, 2007

YUKON - Several weeks after Yukon's Ivvavik Park hosted to a group of artists, artwork inspired by its scenery is still being produced.

This is the scenery that inspired the artists at Ivvavik Park. Below is A Terry Pamplin rendition of the scene. - photos courtesy of Terry Pamplin

Six artists gathered last month for a program called Artists in the Park, a 10-day-long workshop aimed at producing promotional materials for the national park. But, the experience has lasted much longer than the scheduled 10 days. Some artists have kept in touch with their new friends and have held on to the inspiration they took from the trip.

Cheryl Kaglik, one of the NWT artists who took part, managed to finish 16 paintings during her stay and took away several photographs and sketches to work from. Unfortunately, her luggage was lost and thus so was much of the film. But she will never lose the lessons, calling the trip "the experience of a lifetime."

"I think everyone learned a lot and everyone really enjoyed each other's company," she said, adding there were artists in many different mediums.

Among these other artists was Terry Pamplin, of Yellowknife, who worked on sketches and paintings during the trip. He said the artists were taken aback by the beauty of their surroundings.

"I think it coaxed out four to five people to actually work outdoors," he said. "It was lovely - it was like a big open air classroom."

The others in attendance were Allen Egan from Ottawa, Carolyn Hunter from Inuvik, Anny Illasiak from Paulatuk, and Garry Elemie from Deline. They brought to the mix felting, carving, sewing, photography and sketching.

"Every group is special and they were great this year," said Pat Dunne, manager of community and visitor services with Parks Canada.

Much of the artwork made in the park was displayed in Inuvik during the Great Northern Arts Festival.

Dunne said there is talk of getting all the artwork together from this year's group along with work from other years to form a travelling exhibit.

"We would like people in the different small Arctic communities to see the work and to learn a little about Ivvavik Park," she said.

If the travelling exhibit goes ahead, she said, it will travel to many communities in Northwest Territories and possibly even in Yukon Territory, where the national park is situated. She is hoping to get the exhibit moving by this winter.