INUVIK
Almost like a game of telephone on a canvas, the Great Northern Art Exchange produces collaborative works without artists ever meeting each other, and the next round is set to begin soon.

Marie Horstead, executive director of The Great Northern Arts Festival, shows off one of the collaborative pieces from last year's art exchange. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

"The Great Northern art Exchange is a fun event that we run in conjunction with our wine and cheese fundraiser that's going to be happening in the last weekend of February," said Marie Horstead, executive director of the Great Northern Arts Festival.

Sixteen to 20 people take part in the exchange, producing a corresponding number of works in the end. But the catch here is each person starts a canvas and then drops it off at the library, picking up a new one and adding to someone else's. Everyone starts a canvas, everyone finishes one and everyone works on some of the in-between stages.

"We have amazing, established artists who like to join in, and we have people who just think it sounds like it would be really fun, a great creative event to contribute to," said Horstead.

"It's a wonderful event for anybody who's interested."

No skill level is required and participants are free to take the canvases in whatever direction they like. Some results in years past were more cohesive, all done in watercolour for example, and some more a mish-mash of styles.

"There are no rules at all," said Horstead. 

The only rule is the canvas can fit in the envelope so you can drop it off at the end of the week. Even that rule could be broken if you're the final person working on the canvas and don't need to fit it back in, said Horstead.

"My favourite part of it is just the idea of collaboration with all of the artists, and we do end up with some wonderful pieces," she said.

The works will be displayed at the wine and cheese fundraiser, one of GNAF's main fundraising events throughout the year, in February.

Seeing the surprising unveilings at the end is one of the best parts, said Horstead.

"I think it's a great way to invest a little creative energy into a fun, larger project and create connections in the community and have something to look forward to," she said.

Anyone wishing to fill some of the last spots to join in should contact Horstead soon, as the deadline is Jan. 13 but she might keep it open another week.

"Don't be nervous about participating if you don't have artistic skill," said Horstead.

"This is a wonderful event to just meet other artists in the community and be involved. Everybody has something to contribute."

Email gnaf@inuvik.ca to participate.