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Business owner Lori Idleout and manager Allen Mullin at Nunavut Holdings have assembled an impressive array of contemporary Inuit art in the territorial capital. Hundreds of works have sold briskly through a frequently-changing display at Nova Inn.

Lori Idleout and Allen Mullin add new carvings to the Nunavut Holdings art display at the Nova Inn in Iqaluit. - Karen Mackenzie/NNSL photos

"It's so cool because we get to display the beautiful talents of many Inuit artists and to share their talents with people who appreciate their art makes me even more proud of being Inuk," Idleout said. "It's very exciting. We're picking up more artists all the time."

Artists from Cape Dorset, Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Iglulik, Arctic Bay, Iqaluit and several other communities are represented.

Tommy Curley of Arviat exhibits his popular framed miniature carvings of traditional men's tools such as harpoons, bows, scrapers and knives, in a display case at the inn. A soapstone carving of a an owl fused with a man's face by Eegeesiak Shoo went on display recently.

Mullin, who moved to Iqaluit 28 years ago, has collected and distributed Inuit art for galleries and collectors for more than two decades.

"It was a hobby that we ended up rolling into the company because it just grew and grew and grew," he said. "We're not trying to be big on the block. We're just trying to make a go of it and put back into the system. It's an honour to work with these artists."

Mullin and Idleout support many of their artists by providing work space and finding tools when they are needed by artists. They also supply soapstone for them to work with. They purchase all the carvings and do not sell on consignment.

"Allen has the passion and the eye to make sure we get nice carvings and to make sure we're working well with all the artists," Idleout said.

In the past year five special exhibits have been added at the inn for visiting members of the Canadian Armed Forces, cruise ship tours and other congregations of guests to Iqaluit.

Idleout and Mullin are meeting with the Nunavut Economic Department to develop a website to expand their distribution network beyond Iqaluit.

Nunavut Holdings is a interior and exterior residential and commercial renovation contractor with between five and 10 employees.