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Artists enjoy living large
Drawings catch-on with audience at arts festival

Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, July 24, 2014

INUVIK
Nicotye Samayualie is living large and loving it.

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Nicotye Samayualie of Cape Dorset was displaying the large scale drawings she's become noted for July 15 at the Great Northern Arts Festival. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The Cape Dorset artist is part of the renowned Cape Dorset/Kinngait WBEC Studios. She and several other artists from the collective were among the highest-profile visiting artists at the Great Northern Arts Festival last week.

That was partly by reputation, and partly due to their eye-popping "large-scale drawings" that have helped turned the Northern art scene on its head during the last few years.

She was accompanied by William Ritchie, who manages the collective and contributes artwork as well, and fellow artist Tim Pitsiulak. It was their first visit to the festival, which was a bit of an eye-opener for them.

Ritchie said they were invited by festival executive director Marnie Hilash. After seeing some of their work, particularly the large-scale drawings, she insisted they come to the festival, he said with a grin.

"It wasn't an invitation, she insisted we were coming. I think it's a wonderful idea, just mixing it up with some new blood here.

"We're the newcomers," he continued, "but all of these guys have paved the way for us. A lot of people know us by reputation or by our work, which is what you want, but may have never met."

As well as exhibiting, the artists offered a workshop of their large-scale drawing techniques. It was one of Hilash's regrets that she couldn't "sneak off" to take it.

Jen Lam, the chairperson of the Great Northern Arts Society, was also excited about their work.

"It's incredible, isn't it," she said, gesturing to a massive drawing of a bowhead whale in the gallery.

"The studio is the longest-running fine arts studio in the Arctic in Canada," said Ritchie. "It was founded in 1958. It's gone through a multitude of morphing, from pottery to jewelry, before we settled on print-making and drawing."

The studio also does a significant amount of work in etching and lithography based on the drawings, Ritchie said.

"Out of that came this large-drawing phenomenon. So we just bought a lot of large paper and people just took to it and the market went crazy for it because it was nothing that had ever been seen before. In the last five years it's become our calling card."

The large-scale photos are generally done on four-foot by four-foot sections, Ritchie said.

Samayualie said she began her artistic career "by taking art through her high school years."

One of her grandmothers was an accomplished artist as well, and she felt the pull of the family tradition," she said.

"I was into drawings, and I just decided to become an artist. I mainly focus on landscapes and flowers and anything that comes out of my mind that I've ever experienced. I draw stuff that I've experienced in my life so far."

The large-scale drawing has been a welcome challenge for her, Samayualie said. Traditionally, most drawings have been small-scale, so there's been a learning curve to mastering the new style.

Ritchie agreed it's been an adjustment for the artists.

"The biggest thing is the commitment (to finishing it)," he said.

"It needs a span of time."

He compared the process to being a "mural on paper."

Pitsiulak is the exception to that rule, though. He said he began drawing with similar large-scale work, so there's been no adjustments for him.

"I'll switch to regular paper or drawings, but I don't mind drawing either size."

"I get great response from people who have never seen large-scale drawings," he said. "It's fantastic."

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