Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Dec 21/05) - The second annual Baker Lake Art Show was a rousing success earlier this month.

Inuit Heritage Centre arts co-ordinator Tania Marsh said there was a large turnout for the event, which was held in conjunction with the territorial basketball championship.

She said the 2005 show went smoother than the inaugural event last year.

"The artists were booked ahead of time and they all came out," said Marsh.

"We received a lot of positive feedback from the artists, so we're thinking of making it a biannual event and hosting one in the late summer.

"The timing of a second event would be critical to its success because we'd want to have all the teachers and seasonal workers in town, as well as being convenient for tourists."

This month's show featured numerous sewing items, while Simon Tookoome had his ever-popular art works on display and John Killulark came out with his traditional tools. There were also a number of beautiful wall hangings on display and three jewelry artists also took part.

Marsh said the items were reasonably priced.

She said while the artists have to get fair-market value, almost everything was priced in a range most people could afford.

"The only thing we were really missing that we had hoped to have more of were carvings.

"We couldn't attract the carvers again this year, but they tend to create things that sell right away, especially the more well-known artists.

"Carvers put a lot of work and energy into one piece, so they don't tend to collect a lot of items to display at one time."

Marsh said efforts to unite the Baker artists into one group with a strong voice are going smoothly.

She said the Baker Lake Art Society has recently been incorporated and there are big plans in the works for the new year. "I'm reluctant to say too much about our plans until they're solidified, but I'm sure we'll produce a couple of projects to help get a couple of groups back on track.

"We also have Nunavut Miqsuqtiit back up and running with three ladies back to work sewing at the Jessie Oonark Centre.

"We were late getting started this year due to funding difficulties, but their work was very popular last year.

"Hopefully that will continue on this year despite the late start."