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IQALUIT - Jewelry students at Nunavut Arctic College will be presenting their work at two national exhibitions showcasing budding artists from across the country.

First-year students Kootu Noah, Miki Paliksalik and Alie Kippomee have had their metalwork pieces selected for the National Jewelry Student Exhibition, a juried show at the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto from Feb. 18 to March 4. .

Rose Machmer sands the makings of a silver bracelet during jewelry class at Nunavut Arctic College. - Carolyn Sloan/NNSL photo

The annual exhibit was themed "Secret Identity" this year, encouraging artists to challenge their own identity through their work and reveal a secret side to themselves.

Noah, who submitted a hollow pendant depicting two faces, said his piece represented "the pain and suffering my people hold within."

"It felt good (to have my art selected)," he said. "I didn't expect it."

Noah had tried carving before, but found his niche with jewelry making and design.

"I like doing art and I tried carving before," he said. "I was no good at it, so I just figured jewelry should be easier."

Originally from Baker Lake, Noah enjoys every aspect of the course.

"It takes me to a different place when I'm doing the artwork," he said. "I get carried away."

In addition to the jewelry exhibition, the entire class will also be submitting linocut prints to Art!, the Bank of Montreal invitational student art competition. The works were produced during a recent two-work introductory course in printmaking.

Last year, Arctic College student Jamasee Pitseolak came away with a winning entry for his print, titled "What's the Catch."

"Whenever a student wins from the Arctic, they fly them down to Toronto," said instructor Kirk Mitchell.

He said prints done by students at the college would be on display at an exhibition in April, hosted by the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit museum in Iqaluit.

While the program is primarily devoted to jewelry making, the students also take courses in drawing, art history, and business and communications.

"It adds some variety," said Mitchell.