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Arts association's 2007 contest is up and running

Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 24, 2007

NUNAVUT - If last year's territorial arts competition is anything to go by, the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association is about to be inundated with submissions.

NNSL Photo/Graphic


Mary Miraq's three-dimensional bird won first prize during last year's Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association competition.

NNSL Photo/Graphic

Jimmy Iqaluq won second place in last year's Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association competition - for which the theme was birds - with this sculpture. - photos courtesy of NACA

NACA held the competition last year for the first time, using birds as the theme. Visual artists were encouraged to send in their artwork - whatever the medium - for the chance to win.

Beth Beattie of NACA said that more than 100 people participated in the original contest. The winner, Mary Miraq of Baker Lake, made a three-dimensional bird using the same kind of stitches used traditionally in a wall hanging.

"Now she's making them and we're selling them for her," said Beattie.

It's not only the winners who took away a prize. All the submissions were put in a gallery, where the public could purchase them.

NACA's 2007 competition is taking on not only a different theme, but a different format.

For a number of reasons, the format has changed to include only pieces that are six inches or less. Beattie said this is partially due to shipping costs, but also because it is fair to artists who are used to working on a smaller scale.

The new theme is "In My House."

"It can be a table or a window or a kettle or a bowl or a TV, but it has to reflect something to do with inside the house," said Beattie.

She said the new format and theme will force artists to work outside their normal range of creativity.

"What we're trying to do is try and see what people will do with something they're not used to using as a theme," she said. "We'll get more abstract as the years go on but right now we just want to do something so that people can understand what it's about."

Artists are allowed to send up to five submissions each, which allows them to try out a few different ideas or mediums. The pieces, like last year's, will go on display at Gallery Atausiq in Iqaluit and on sale.

Beattie said she would like to see this competition continue annually, as she thinks it is good for Nunavut artists.

"We think it's just great because down south they have competitions, and I think artists like to compete, win prizes, win money and people get to see their work," she said.

The deadline to send submissions for the contest is Friday, October 26.