Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 29/99) - Work done by women has often been undervalued. So too, has artwork from female hands.

A soapstone carving -- an art-form dominated by male artists -- created sometimes in half a day, can sell for $1,000.

But a pair of moccasins made from animal hide and adorned with intricate and colourful bead patterns taking three days to make, sell for $50 to $80.

The entire process of making a pair of hide moccasins, valued not just as functional but also as works of art, might take three weeks to complete.

"I think it's outrageous," that such time to create such items is not reflected in the price, said Glenn Wadsworth, who manages Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.'s Northern Images store in Yellowknife.

But, sadly, there is not always a correlation between hours worked and price for art, he said.

Wadsworth said, however, he is noticing an increase in demand for Dene art. That means producers of such work could command higher prices.

"Collectors are looking for Dene art," he said.

Wadsworth made the comments at last week's Business in Art conference in Yellowknife.

The conference, which brought together 77 people from artists to gallery owners to government officials, was sponsored by the Dene Cultural Institute, Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and Aboriginal Business Canada.

On Inuit art, Wadsworth said dealers are selling more than ever.

"The North has an edge. People are clamouring to get Northern art."

Wadsworth, whose resume includes head of the GNWT's arts and crafts division of RWED, suggests Northern artists should consider other items such as art cards and prints.

These items are much less expensive than original works, but there is a demand for such items. Tourists often look for an inexpensive item as a memento of their visit to the North.

An "enormous" amount of purchases fall into the under-$100 range, he said.

Wadsworth was among four people who spoke on the art business from the gallery-retail perspective.

Dennis Hillman, who was with the North West Company for 17 years and is now launching a new Northern art magazine named Genus in June, said when a retailer buys a carving from a carver for $500 it will cost the customer $2,000.

"Each step adds value because there are costs associated," he said.

When the piece arrived at a North West Company's Northern Store it was appraised and given a wholesale price, he said.

If a gallery wanted more of that artists work, the price went up because demand went up, he said.

Nor-Art International Gallery owner Kenneth Huss said artists should check prices on other artists works when they are deciding how much they want to sell to galleries for.

"Keep the pricing consistent," Huss, who promoted a few artists through a Web site prior to opening a gallery in Yellowknife, said. Inconsistent pricing damages an artists' credibility and jeopardizes his or her relationship with the gallery owner, he said.

He also said up-to- date portfolios are critical.

Dana Britton, co-owner of the recently-opened Birchwood Gallery, said artists need to "match" themselves to the gallery. And artists need to understand if they are to be successfully marketed they need to produce marketable items.

Lisa Seagrave, who recently took part ownership in the North West Company's Trading Post in Yellowknife -- the trio of new owners named the Yellowknife business the Gallery of the Midnight Sun -- said most gallery owners are willing to share their knowledge with artists.