Iqaluit (Aug 04/03) - With a pencil on white drawing paper in a ringed notebook, Therese Ukaliannuk has sketched a striking Inuit woman.

Therese Ukaliannuk, 63, makes fine jewellery, carvings and prints. - Kathleen Lippa/NNSL photo

It took her just a few moments to create the stunning image, and her notebook is filled with dozens of simple pencil drawings.

It starts there, usually, at a desk in the Arts and Crafts centre in Iqaluit. Then she branches out to large prints and fine silver jewellery of whale tails, Arctic birds and Inuit people in caribou skin.

They are subtle but powerful images of Inuit life, sensitively captured in ink, or metal.

From her studio space at the Arts and Crafts centre, Ukaliannuk spoke through translator Okpik Pitseolak about growing up in Iglulik and how both her parents carved.

Both Pitseolak and Ukaliannuk are excited about an upcoming trip to Montreal arranged by Nunavut Arctic College to give their students major exposure.

Pitseolak was there from July 30-Aug. 4, along with 19 Nunavut student artists from Nunavut Arctic College.

Ukaliannuk, 63, started carving when she was 18 years old. Her strong hands tell this tale while she talks about carving small walrus teeth.

She moved to Iqaluit six years ago and spends much of her time in the studio at the Arts and Crafts centre.

On Saturdays she is one of a dozen or so artists selling work in the cinema at the Frobisher Inn.

Ukaliannuk is excited about the trip to Montreal. The last time she went south it was for a health reason, so this trip, she said with a big smile, will be much more pleasant.