Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jul 24/98) - Inuvik artist Shane Niamatunna Goeson said even though he has been able to sell much of his art, he believes on a profit-per-piece basis, things were better years ago when his grandfather, Diamond Klengenberg, carved stone.

"I saw him making money off it so I started carving," the 23-year-old carver said, chisel in hand inside a tent at the Great Northern Arts Festival.

Imitation Northern art made from plastic or other synthetic materials are more prevalent today. And when they are sold in the south, they can gradually chip away at the prices authentic Northern art are able to fetch.

Watching his grandfather travelling around with his suitcase of carvings inspired the then-16-year-old Niamatunna Goeson, who first participated in the festival in 1991.

The first piece he sold was a carving of a drum dancer which went for $1,400. After the commission, he pocketed $700.

This year at the festival, the works he sells will have a 30 per cent commission deducted to help pay the event's organizational costs.

The versatile carver has created artwork out of soapstone, muskox and whale bone, and even antlers.

"I've made $2,500 since May," he said.

"But it can be difficult to support my family."

Niamatunna Goeson, who was born and raised in Inuvik, lives common-law with Clara Frost and their two children: three-year-old Cyrus and one-year-old Charrissa.

But his life is far more than carving.

Part of every year he spends out on the land, hunting caribou, fishing and leading very much a traditional lifestyle.

"I live in two worlds," he says.

"There's the traditional and the modern -- (my life) is sort of the intertwining of the two."

Sometimes he gets sentimental with his art and is loathe to sell one specific piece or another, but usually financial necessity wins the day and he parts with the pieces.

"Usually I need the money to pay a bill or buy food and everything and I end up selling it."

The past two years, Niamatunna Goeson said he has been thinking of how to line up southern contacts to help sell his art so he can work at the art full time.

So far, that is a future dream.