Laura Power
Northern News Services
Monday, July 30, 2007

INUVIK - Transportation costs have limited organizers of the Great Northern Arts Festival to choosing fewer Eastern artists to represent Nunavut.

"I'm very pleased with the artists we got up this year," said the festival's executive director Marnie Hilash. "Something we really want to strengthen is our representation from the East."

Obed Anoee, a caribou antler carver from Arviat, is shown here in the carving tent at the Great Northern Arts Festival with his materials.Laura Power/NNSL photo

This year, eight Nunavut artists made it out to the festival. Eugene Ipkarnak, a carver from Iglulik was the sole representative from his home town.

Other communities represented were Arviat's Oben Anoee and Baker Lake's Simon Tookoome. Ruben Komangapik and Mathew Nuqingaq travelled together from Iqaluit. Three artists from Pangnirtung, Manasie Maniapik, Danny Etooangat and Jolly Atagooyuk were also invited to attend.

"It's a big chunk of change to get an artist from point A to point B," said Hilash.

"Next year we hope to do a little better on the spread and again, that's just a matter of funding... we don't have that many Eastern artists this year, but we would love to have more."

Komangapik said he felt that the East was well-represented by the people who made it out, but said the festival should consider stronger advertising in the future.

"That's the key thing. If you want to have a successful festival, you have to advertise it everywhere," he said.

He added that along with advertising, they could ask for help from the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association (NACA) when it comes to funding.

Hilash said this year application forms were sent to communities for interested artists to fill out. She said she is encouraging those who know other artists to apply to be visiting artists next year.

"We are receptive to new artists and we're interested in exciting new work," she said.

Komangapik, a 31-year-old jewelry maker who will soon be opening up a jewelry shop with Nuqingaq, was at the festival for the first time in eight years, and said taking part was a good way to make new friends.

"It's a good experience. You get to learn new tricks from other artists," he said.

Making new friends was also made a little easier this year for the only two artists who needed translators, Ipkarnak and Tookoome.

"We're lucky this year - we have many fluently bilingual people to help," said Hilash, who is hoping future years will allow more Nunavut artists to come and take part in the festival.