PAUL A T UKIQ A L U kIPk J A ROBM E E

Photos by Kirsten Fleuty

On a Wednesday morning in July 2007, six artists boarded a Twin Otter on their way to Ivvavik National Park, located in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region on the Yukon North Slope. They would be there in isolation for ten days, interacting with themselves, their art and the land. It was the beginning of the 2007 Artists in the Park, for many the experience of a lifetime!

Artists in the Park is an artist’s retreat hosted by Parks Canada in Ivvavik National Park. Up to six artists are invited to participate each summer. Three of the positions are given to artists who are beneficiaries of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, the land claim that led to the establishment of Ivvavik National Park. The other three spaces are for artists whom Parks Canada believes will do the best job of reaching Canadians with their work. This year, an artist from the Sahtu also participated.

The idea of the program is to encourage Canadians to think about national parks in different ways and to be inspired by them. National parks are not only important protected areas, but also deeply meaningful places that touch our emotions. Parks Canada hopes that the work of artists in national parks will help Canadians, who may never have a chance to visit, understand how it feels to be there. This is the fourth time that the Artists in the Park program has been held in Ivvavik National Park.

The program is an opportunity for local artists to learn from and network with established artists from other places in Canada. Cheryl Kaglik, a young participant from Inuvik, not only said that “everyone learned a lot and everyone really enjoyed each other’s company” but added, “it was the experience of a lifetime!”

The group of artists that attended this year’s program was very diverse, as was their art. Terry Pamplin, an artist from Yellowknife explained, “I thoroughly enjoyed the people. When you go on a program set up by someone else, and you know that you will be thrown somewhere with ten people that you never met, it may sound interesting, but you have no idea what will come of it. But the people were fun, the food was fantastic and the overall environment breathtaking.”

Both Cheryl Kaglik and Terry Pamplin were painters, as was Allen Egan from Ottawa. The other participants included Gary Elemie, a carver from Deline; Carolyn Hunter, a textile artist from Inuvik; and Anny Illasiak, a seamstress and elder from Paulatuk.

“ I really enjoyed myself. There is nothing to worry about. You meet a lot of people and you see what kind of art or craft they are doing. It is my first time in a program as such. (It is a) real good program. You think about your life long ago, growing up and how you do things,” said Anny Illasiak after her week in the park, where she worked on her arctic inspired wall hangings.

During the ten days in the Park the weather was sunny and warm, and the artists could work outdoors morning, noon and night.

So once again Ivvavik inspired, artists created and Artists in the Park had another successful year. In Anny Illasiak’s words: “I would recommend it to others and… also to my children and grandchildren!” p arks c anada had an a rtists in the p ark display at the Great n orthern a rts Festival in i nuvik this year. a rt produced during the four years of the program was displayed in the festival. v ideos produced by participating artists were also shown.

If you would like more information about Artists in the Park, please contact Pat Dunn at (867) 777-8800 or at pat.dunn@pc.gc.ca