Yellowknife (Sep 29/06) - This week, Centre Square Mall hosted a slew of established and emerging artists during the Aurora Arts Society's third-annual Arts Week.

"This is one of our main events," said co-ordinator Rosalie Power, which included a tour of Yellowknife artists' studios on Saturday, as well as the opening of the Arts Week Gallery at Centre Square Mall.

A "Northern Centaur" lines up a shot in this mixed media work by Monique Robert, which will be on display until tomorrow afternoon. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

The gallery features works from a number of Yellowknife artists, including Vivian Gustafson, Terry Pamplin, Antoine Mountain, Monique Robert and Catherine Graydon, a Sir John Franklin student, among others.

Power said inspiration for the event came from a big, smoggy place in the south that some call "Toronto."

"I was reading somewhere that Toronto was celebrating an event called Arts Week, and I said, 'why don't we?'" she said. Since then, the Yellowknife society has carried on the tradition, while the event has fallen by the wayside down south.

She said the event was fun because it focused on art and artists, instead of the constant drive for funding.

Painter Linda Hough said the gallery was a good chance to show off her work, as well as to share ideas with fellow artists.

"I'm very isolated," she said. "It's giving me a chance to meet other artists."

She said some of the ideas floating around included the ever-present desire for an arts centre in Yellowknife, as well as an agent to help artists with the business of art.

"(He or she could) help us develop some skills other than painting, like how to market ourselves."

Art Week wraps up tomorrow afternoon at Centre Square Mall.