Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

INUVIK
The Great Northern Arts Festival ended on July 24, after 10 days of workshops, professional displays of artwork in the gallery and creating throughout the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex.

Edith Haogak of Sachs Harbour received the 2011 Artists' Choice Award for traditional arts. Haogak is an accomplished seamstress and makes mukluks, parkas and muffs. Presenting the award are the curator of Great Northern Arts Festival Jennifer Allen left, and Sasha Webb, the executive director. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photos

Long-time Inuvik resident Cathy Ross said 2011 was the best year for the festival since its inception in 1989.

"The artwork is always superior, but this year there seemed to be more and more variety," Ross said. "People worked extremely hard and the work paid off a thousand-fold on the whole festival."

One of the people who worked extremely hard was Volunteer of the Year Tina Gordon. Over the 10 days, she worked 144 hours. This was her first year as a volunteer.

"I just wanted something to do, something to stay out of trouble," Gordon said. "I sure enjoyed it. I got to meet a lot of artists and people from out of town."

Volunteer co-ordinator Shirley Kisoun said she really appreciated Gordon's hard work.

"She was amazing. Anytime I needed her, she was right there," Kisoun said. "She never hesitated to do anything and everyone just loved her. Anytime we needed anything, we just called Tina."

This was also the first year for fellow volunteer Diane Dakers from Victoria. Her first visit to Inuvik was two years ago and she left before that year's festival. She knew that on this second visit she wanted to participate absolutely.

"I'm a real arts and culture aficionado," Dakers said. "I have a passion for hyper-local culture."

The part of the experience she found extremely interesting was how the elders and their artwork compared to that of the younger generation of artists. While the newer generation used electric tools or computers to do sketches, the older generation continued to work with hand tools.

"Young people are adapting to new technology and completing work that would have taken them hours by hand," Dakers said.

Iqaluit artist Patrick Ala found the opportunity to learn from elders, such as Bernadette Saumik of Rankin Inlet, a great learning experience. As a carver and jeweller, he said he found a lot of inspiration from other artists.

"I learned how to carve with a hammer and chisel, right beside Bernadette," Ala said. "I got to learn something new, or something old actually."

Plans for 2012 are already in the works. The focus will be the drum, with artists having the opportunity to incorporate that idea into their work for next year. Executive director Sasha Webb looks forward to having an entire year to plan for the festival, after this one, her first.

After a break, they'll get back into planning for sponsorship and finding artists for next year. The deadline for applications is Feb. 1, 2012.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.