Annual show sure to delight Christmas shoppers
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Dec 06/00) - Kivalliq Hall in Rankin Inlet will be sparkling Dec. 17.
That is when Nunavut Arctic College's Kivalliq campus Christmas Jewelry sale will be held from 1-4 p.m. in the big lounge.
The show will feature unique, hand-crafted jewelry and Christmas ornaments, original, hand-printed Christmas cards.
There's also a Christmas raffle with a grand prize of 12 hand-crafted copper, brass and silver Christmas ornaments.
Program instructor Claude Roussel says the students have at least one show every semester.
"We try to have a spring show, as well as the Christmas show, but it depends on what stage the students are at with their various projects," says Roussel.
Students can take either a two year certificate or three year diploma program.
Roussel says the Christmas show exposes students to both the public and the selling process.
He says it encourages them to witness people's reaction to their work, especially when it sells.
"Suddenly they see a reason behind the items they're making and it's not just learning how to technically make jewelry any more.
"This profitable part to the whole process appears and it's a definite advantage to a student to be able to make a bit of income from their work."
Roussel offers free evening time for the students to come into the college and work on whatever they want.
The only material students pay for is silver.
"We keep track of the silver they use in class projects.
"The projects belong to the college but, at the end of the year, if the students want to keep them they only pay for the silver."
Last year's Christmas show netted nine participating students more than $2,000.
Roussel says the students have to keep a certain price range in mind when preparing for the show.
To further stimulate their interest, Roussel makes the show a class project.
"They have to make four Christmas ornaments that sell at a reasonable price.
"The ability to select a design to fit a price range is a component of the program."
There is limited time to place special orders and commissions for the show.
Anyone wishing to do so is asked to contact Roussel.
