IQALUIT - Students in the jewelry and metal work program at Nunavut Arctic College held a sale of Christmas ornaments in the school foyer late last month.

Students with the jewelry and metal work program at Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit sold dozens of ornaments at a sale in Iqaluit late last month. From left, metal artists Sammy Audlakiak, Rose Machmer and Miki Paliksalik display examples of their many Christmas creations. - Carolyn Sloan/NNSL photo

Each artist designed and produced as many as 17 ornaments during a very busy week.

The students designed three or four different ornaments on paper then cut the designs from a variety of metals. They produced multiple versions of each design.

"It was really exciting for the students because they finally get to produce some of their own artistic creations and sell them," said Beata Hejnowicz, senior fine arts and crafts instructor.

Second year student Ooleesie Alivaktuk, originally from Pangnirtung, fashioned ornaments representing a camel, an iglu with a Santa's hat and

Christmas light designs embossed with the image of a little Inuk boy in a parka and a little girl with long French braids. She added some Inuktitut, as well.

She said her skills have improved since this time last year.

"Last year I had six Christmas ornaments," she said. "It was slow and it was hard but this year there were 17 Christmas ornaments."

Most of her designs sold at the sale, however she kept a few to give to her sisters and mother back in Pangnirtung.

Quppa Jaw of Cape Dorset, also a second year student, crafted a rounded dome tent decorated with a textured rainbow over top and a couple of birds. Her other designs included an Inuk girl with a parka and a detailed walrus.

She said she enjoyed the challenge of making so many ornaments in such a short amount of time.

"I love it," she said. "I love the outcome of the production. I love learning arts and I'm very happy to be in my second year."

James Pitseolak made an ornament inspired by his passion for motorcycles. In addition to an inuksuk and a kakivak and harpoon featuring fish and belugas, he made a unique domed snowmobile design.

"It had the look of a chopper with one ski on the front and a track on the back," he said.

He sold the dozen pieces he made at the sale. His next project will be to carve a wax sculpture to use as a mold for a silver sculpture.

First-year student Rose Machmer of Iqaluit made ornaments of a small girl in a parka and kamiks. She used several small chisel-like tools to add detail and texture to piece. She also made a scene of a raven silhouette ascending in flight, a copper partridge riveted to a pear tree with chiseled leaves and a representation of Mary with a glowing halo and a flowing gown. She made 11 ornaments during the week, one of which was purchased for the Christmas tree at the legislature.

"The second year students really inspire me," she said. "Looking at what they do I just can't wait to do all the stuff they're doing."

Another first year student, Miki Paliksalik of Arviat, made 14 ornaments, including a hat with a star, a hat with a tree, birds and an iglu. He used brass for several of his designs.

"I'm having a fun time right now," he said. "I want to make more things and try to make money for myself."

Among the ornaments Kootu Noah made was a kakivak, or fish spear.

"That was the first ever Inuit tool I made back in high school in Grade 11 in Baker Lake," he said, adding he gave the 16-foot spear to his grandfather, Salas Aittauq.

His ornamental spear included a chiseled design representing sinew holding the barbs of the spear together.

His 16 ornaments all sold at the sale, including some inuksuks and fire place scenes with Christmas stockings.

Noah's father, Pootoogook Noah, graduated from the Nunavut Arctic College metal work and jewelry program in 2005.

"I'm following my father's footsteps," Noah said.