Yellowknife (Sep 26/03) - One simple hobby can turn into quite the project. At least this was the case for Yellowknife resident Diane Boudreau.

As Yellowknifer reported over the summer, Boudreau took her love of collecting wine corks, combined that with her background in architecture and her interest in insects, and designed an ingenious raft with a caddisfly larva on top. She launched the raft Wednesday behind Northern Frontier Visitors Centre.

Boudreau has been collecting wine corks since 1993, and what started as a hobby has basically consumed much of her time the last 10 years.

"Some of my friends were drinking good wine in Montreal," laughed Boudreau. "I decided to do something with the corks."

Boudreau said that with the help of generous restaurants in the city, she has been able to add to her collection, which stands at a grand total of about 17,600 corks, all used to build her structure.

Boudreau also received a grant from the NWT Arts Council, which she said helped push her idea even further. As a member of the Western Arctic Motion Picture club, Boudreau decided to use her skills in cinematography and make a movie about the launch of the raft.

Halfway there

"This is like a sneak peak," Boudreau said about Wednesday's launch. Only half of the raft is complete to date, but she said people are anxious to see the finished product and she wanted to provide them with some evidence of her work. The exhibit will be displayed from Sept. 24 to 30.

"It's another world if you know how to use your imagination," said Boudreau of her work of art. "Many people encouraged me and since I am in Yellowknife, I want to promote landscape art."

Boudreau admitted she did have help from a number of people, and without them this project could not have been possible.

The completed structure is expected to be launched next June. In the meantime, Boudreau encourages people to save their corks. There is a donation drop-box for the corks at Pascal's French Bakery.