Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

Holman (Jun 26/00) - One of the North's most prolific print studios has released its year 2000 collection.

The Holman Eskimo Co-op has been producing prints since the 1960s, when all that was needed was a trusty toothbrush and sealskin for stencils. Over time materials have changed, and the artists have experimented with different techniques. Stencil work is still the favoured medium.

Thirty prints make up the Holman collection, 14 of which are etchings created with the new ElectroEtch machine, which the print shop acquired last year.

The innovative etching method uses low-voltage electricity and a zinc and copper sulphate solution rather than the caustic acids usually used in etching.

The ElectroEtch inventors, Marion and Omri Behr of New Jersey, travelled to Holman with the machine last year to demonstrate its use.

"Every time (the artists) use it, they get more used to it. The prints are very nice that came off it. They're gorgeous prints," says Holman co-op manager Bill McManus.

Freedom of stencilling

Mary Okheena, a printmaker since 1977, uses the new method, although it isn't her favourite. A master at stencilling, she has tried etching with acids and the ElectroEtch.

"I never really got into it," says Okheena, whose prints have sold throughout North America.

"I can print and everything, but it's not really what I like to do."

Okheena finds more freedom with the stencil method.

"I can do a lot of shading, different colours overlapping. Just playing around with it, I can do a lot of different things."

Okheena adds she doesn't like working with machines. "I like working with my hands."

Despite the obvious preference, Okheena nevertheless contributed etching work to the Holman collection.

Susie Malogokak agrees with fellow stenciller Okheena. "We have used the machine for the 2000 collection," she says.

"It's a lot more work than what I'm used to. It is interesting. It's something different than stencil work. It does make nice, beautiful images."

Glenn Wadsworth, manager of Yellowknife's Northern Images gallery, says it's hard to say right now how art lovers will react to the new etchings.

"I see a lot of potential," he says, "but right now it's at the potential stage."

He says clients have grown accustomed to Holman's colourful stencil style. He also feels the new medium will become popular if the use of colour is added by way of ink washes.

"The images translate beautifully into the traditional stencil style. The choice of images may even have to change. But it can take years to translate in a new technique. It will take some experimenting. It will be interesting to see what they will do over the next few years," says Wadsworth.