Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 08/99) - Pangnirtung's Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts is taking the leap -- across the Atlantic, that is. Specifically, Pangnirtung prints will hang on the walls of the Inuit Galerie in Ahlen and the Inuit Galerie in Mannheim, Germany.

Similar collections have been shown in many cities across Canada and the United States. In the States they've shown in San Francisco, Connecticut, Seattle, Portland and Minnesota, among others.

Historically, Pang prints have been well-received wherever they've shown. It was time to take them further.

"This is the first time that a commercial gallery in Germany will exhibit prints from the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts," says general manager Geoff Ryan. "This is an excellent opportunity for the Pangnirtung printmakers."

The printmakers taking part in the exhibits opening March 14 (Ahlen) and March 21 (Mannheim) are Josea Maniapik, Jacoposie Tiglik, Enookie Akulukjuk, Jolly Atagooyuk and Andrew Qappic.

Tiglik, who has been printmaking since 1977, and Ryan, in Pang since August, 1996, will be travelling to Germany for the opening of both shows. Tiglik will be present also to demonstrate two types of printmaking practice at the Uqqurmiut Centre, stencil and stonecut.

An artist travelling with the prints is also a new development. In the past, it has been impossible financially.

"The expense has to be borne by the exhibiting gallery or by the Uqqurmiut, and in most cases we can't afford it and neither can the exhibiting gallery."

This time round, it was made possible with the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, as well as the Canada Council for the Arts.

Another factor that aided in the development of these exhibits was the presence of the Uqqurmiut Centre at the Tendence trade show held in Frankfurt, Germany, in August. This presence was made possible by financial support from Aboriginal Business Canada.

Two sets of prints -- each set totalling 89 images drawn from the 1996, 1997, and 1998 annual collections -- have already been shipped to Germany, where they are being framed and made ready for the exhibits.

As a result, on April 1, come Nunavut Day, two full Inuit print collections will be hanging overseas.

For the Uqqurmiut Centre specifically, this double exhibit signifies a definite move forward.

"It's hopefully going to lead to a whole new market for us," says Ryan. "As I'd said earlier, we already deal with a majority of Inuit art galleries across Canada and in the States, so this gives us the opportunity to start dealing with Inuit art galleries in Europe."

Owners of galleries in Berlin and Munich may possibly attend these shows, which will definitely help start spreading the word.

This type of exposure is wonderful for the printmakers themselves, who definitely have the potential to make a good living with printmaking. As Ryan explains, some already do, some year-round and others half the year.

With this potential in mind, not to mention the clearly talented people in Pang, the centre is assuring that the skill are passed on to youth. The high school endeavours to teach young people at least two weeks out of every school year. "And right now Arctic College is conducting a printmaking course here," explains Ryan. "There was a request that was put in by the board of the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts. And we have let the instructors and students have access to the print shop."