Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Nov 01/99) - For those at the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association, work never ends. Ongoing projects and the planning and execution of new projects keep Beth Beattie, Geri Mulley and Ann Damude on the run.

On the priority list is the upcoming Furrier Workshops to be held in Iqaluit beginning with a two-week introductory workshop Nov. 15.

The program, co-sponsored by NACA and the Department of Sustainable Development, Baffin Region, will bring in Ingo Moslener of Montreal.

"He has worked extensively with D'arcy Moses of Nats'enelu (Fort Simpson) on his last collection," says Damude.

Moslener, who has 30 years of experience in the fur industry, from cutting to manufacturing, has also worked extensively with Nunavut sewers over the last year.

In March, Theresie Tungilik of Rankin Inlet, along with four other women, joined Moslener in Montreal to become acquainted with the fur industry there.

The introductory workshop can accommodate 10 people, with the possibility of an advanced workshop in February 2000.

From the time NACA was formed in October 1998, it was decided that one of the first tasks at hand for the nine-member board would be filling the new Nunavut legislative assembly with art. A call for proposals from artists went out.

"The proposals have been reviewed," says Damude.

"A preliminary list has been selected. But all projects are pending the securing of funds. The next stage is fund-raising."

Fund-raising is a constant for the association. Most recently, funding was successfully secured for the sculpture symposium held in Iqaluit in late summer.

Our Life in Stone brought together carvers from all over Nunavut, with nine Canadian representatives from Prince Edward Island to the Yukon.

"Now we're looking for places to place the sculptures here in town," Damude explains.

The association will retain ownership of the pieces, which vary in size from big and able to be lifted to monumental and very difficult to move. The idea is to choose locations that will be appropriate and respectful of the work.

Damude indicates that there are government buildings as well as private sector buildings demonstrating interest.

"A lot of buildings are still under construction," she says, adding that until final resting places are found, the sculptures are located in a temporary "sculpture garden" outside the Arts and Crafts Centre.

Our Life in Stone, which ran for weeks, will run for another three during summer of 2000.

"We're doing the fund-raising for the second phase," Damude confirms.

NACA has other projects on the go, which will be announced in future.