Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 17, 2007

NUNAVUT - This month, artists from Nunavut were featured at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian's Christmas art market in New York.

It was the first time the market has ever been host to artwork from the territory, and as Matt Nuqingaq and Beth Beattie of the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association (NACA) reported, the artwork was very popular.

"The audience was really quite good," said Nuqingaq. "I was really happy that they really liked the elders' work that we brought in."

The artwork - which was done by about eight different artists from different corners of the territory - differed greatly from the traditional American Indian artwork that buyers were used to.

The fair normally only lets one person per table put work on display, but they made an exception so Beattie and Nuqingaq could also bring in the work of Alice Akkamuk, Mark Alikaswa and Raymond Aliktiluk of Arviat, Alex Akikulu of Arctic Bay, Simionie Amagoalik of Resolute Bay, Toona Iqulik and Mary Mariq of Baker Lake, Peona Keyuakjuk of Pangnirtung and Annie Taipana of Rankin Inlet.

"People really gravitated to the unusualness of it," said Beattie. "Matthew did everything from telling the legends to what is an inuksuk ... where is Nunavut and where are we from," she said.

Though Nuqingaq said there were a number of Canadians present at the market, he enjoyed educating many of the others about the artwork.

"Some of the artworks have legends on them, so I did a bit of storytelling," he said.

Nuqingaq brought some of his own handmade jewelry, but said the other traditional artwork such as wall hangings and sculptures were the most popular. Many of the American artists also had jewelry on hand.

Beattie said the event was great for Nunavut artists, partly because of the networking it allowed them to do.

"We handed out business cards left, right and centre, and told them about our website," she said, adding, "I think for us it was educating people about all the different styles of work."

Several pieces of artwork from Nunavut were sold, raking in about a fifth of what the entire fair totalled in sales last year.

"I think it was pretty popular compared to the other stuff because it was totally different," said Nuqingaq. "I think our stuff was quite nice."

While networking, Beattie became aware of another big fair that takes place in Santa Fe in June, which they may also participate in.