Art camp explores skills and techniques
'You're here to challenge yourself with what you haven't done before'
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
KIVALLIQ
Prominent Pangnirtung graphic artist Andrew Qappik, honing his work as a professional for more than 30 years and known for his design of Nunavut's Coat of Arms, teaches whenever he can.
Tobi Tookoome of Baker Lake works painstakingly on enlarging a portrait on the canvas at the Kivalliq Inuit Association Art Camp held in Rankin Inlet July 13 to 24. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo |
This week he joined Ontario artists Paul Mantrop and Rob Saley in delivering a two-week arts camp in a space donated by the Nunavut Trades School in Rankin Inlet. The camp is possible thanks to funding from the Government of Nunavut's Departments of Culture and Heritage and Economic Development and Transportation, as well as discounted airfare from Calm Air.
Qappik's focus is on stencil printmaking, but he is familiar with many mediums and techniques.
"I'm glad I can put something to young artists," he said. "I started when I was 14. I see the students coming from different communities, I see a variety of techniques, how they work ... I offer them a bit a bit more knowledge. Stuff they can put into their own technique."
He says he tells them they aren't competing with anyone.
"You're only competing with yourself. You're here to challenge yourself with what you haven't done before."
Mantrop and Saley went to high school together, and are part of an artist collective called Drawnonward who explore Canada's landscape through art.
"For the last 20 years we've been travelling across Canada, making our way from coast to coast," says Saley. "In 2005 we were trying to find our way up to the Arctic. Being a hard destination to get to and also an expensive place to get to, we formed a partnership with tour company Adventure Canada."
It was while on one of that company's ship tours that the two met Bernadette Dean, now the Kivalliq Inuit Association's (KIA) social development co-ordinator. She and program officer Daisy Panika organize the art camps for KIA.
At the time, Dean was working on the ship as a cultural guide as well as the interpreter for renowned Cape Dorset carver and printmaker Kananginak Pootoogook, says Saley.
In 2006, Saley and Mantrop, as well as others from Drawnonward, were invited to teach their first art camp in Nunavut, then again in 2007.
Most recently, the duo ran a one-week camp in November.
"The camp went incredibly well and Bernadette thought we'd have a little longer time to explore the process and be able to teach a few different styles," says Saley.
For example, Tobi Tookoome of Baker Lake has come to learn, among other techniques, how to enlarge portraits. She's considering pursuing art as a career, since she's done art before. Now she'd like to see if she can sell it.
"I have a painting in my living room from the last course I took and people are always asking me, 'Who painted that?' I think I can go somewhere," she says.
In fact, both Saley and Mantrop note that Rankin Inlet artist Ippiksaut Friesen attended one of their courses and later went on to Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver to study animation.
"What motivates us is seeing students reach their potential and seeking further education," says Mantrop. "From art camp to seeking a career. There are some shining stars."
All 20 students in the art camp will participate in a public exhibit at the Kivalliq Inuit Association boardroom Thursday, July 23.
