Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 19, 2007

RANKIN INLET - A group of Rankin Inlet artists were given a chance to hone their skills during a special two-week course earlier this month.

Amouyah Noah watches intently as instructor Claude Roussel works a piece of material in the vice during a jewelry-making workshop in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The program was facilitated by Claude Roussel, a former jewelry instructor with Nunavut Arctic College (NAC), who spent two years at NAC's Kivalliq campus in Rankin from 1998 until 2000.

Now residing in Iqaluit, the Halifax native said the course was initiated by Rankin economic-development officer Charlotte Hickes.

He said the workshop focused on advancing skills the five artists already possess.

"The course went very well and I was quite pleased to find I was working with a very committed group of artists," said Roussel.

"They really want to pursue their craft and hope to obtain a space where they can work together as a group.

"They came to class every day, worked hard at honing their skills and produced some nice work.

"These workshops are important if our artists are to continue developing their skills to take advantage of the growing number of art festivals in Nunavut."

Roussel said the group was limited by the lack of equipment available for the program.

He said that forced him to be a little creative with the projects, focusing on aspects that would help the artists sell their work.

"The creation of art is an ongoing process and every improvement an artist makes in their work increases the chance of a successful sale.

"An important aspect of the workshop was the discussions we had on the pieces they were creating.

"I would show them why some pieces had a good chance of being sold and others didn't.

"Even though two pieces may feature beautiful designs, technique accounts for at least 50 per cent of what makes a piece attractive to a buyer."

Roussel said people notice when pieces with even the simplest of designs are well made.

They are also quick to notice one little mistake.

"With jewelry, people quickly notice that one little mark or imperfection such as improper centring.

"That turns them away from purchasing the item just as quickly.

"These are some of the points we discussed during the workshop and I'm curious to see how it's, ultimately, going to work out for them.

"Hopefully, they'll see positive results from the course and this approach will continue or go even further."