Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - In its fourth year running, the Aurora Arts Society's ArtsWalk is taking on a different approach, partly due to the need for a different venue.

Emilio Williams Portal provides some background music during the open house of the Arts Week gallery at Centre Square Mall, 2006. - NNSL file photo

"The mainstay of our ArtsWalk has been our ArtsWalk gallery, which showcases work done by local artists," said Vivian Gustafson, acting society president. "And that's always been done in the mall, but this year the space has been taken up by the election."

Instead, the group teamed up with Squatterz Books & Curiosities, which will provide a venue for the work of nearly 20 visual artists.

Gustafson said this year's event will be a collaborative effort. Along with the society and Squatterz, events will be held by Yellowknife Glass Recyclers, the Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts and Down to Earth Gallery.

"We're hopeful that people will just take the time to come out to Old Town, which is where most of it is taking place," said Gustafson.

"It's a little different this year so it's kind of nice trying a different thing," said Rosalind Mercredi, of Down to Earth Gallery, adding that the gallery will host an open house and a glass demonstration.

Along with the usual workshops and displays of visual art, this year's ArtsWalk will incorporate live musical entertainment spread out over several days. Musicians Greg Hobbs, Rick Poltaruk and Godson will perform at Squatterz during the afternoons this Saturday and Sunday as well as Sept. 22.

"This year we're adding on the Trashformations competition, which is making a sculpture out of trash basically," said Gustafson, adding that it seems like a popular contest. "We hear a lot of talk but they're supposed to turn up on the 14th."

During weekdays when the special events slow down, the Trashformations entries along with other artwork will remain on display between 6 and 8 p.m. at the bookstore.

Feeling good about the level of co-operation this time, Gustafson said it is possible that similar efforts will be made in future years.

"There may be an opportunity to collaborate and to kind of make it bigger and better," she said. "There's opportunity to expand this to all the arts, doing a major event but we're not there yet."

In the meantime, Gustafson said this is a great opportunity for people to get out and get exposed to some of the city's visual art.