Artist Story

Recognizing the beauty in things brings me great joy and inspiration, and makes me curious about what it might inspire me to create. As an artist I am very aware of my surroundings and constantly looking for inspiration in my environment. I especially notice colour combinations that naturally occur in nature. Shapes, forms and designs in the world around me catch my interest. While I find urban centres to be full of stimulation, I also enjoy rural environments and the world of nature, as well as the contrast between them, such as the small flower growing up between the cracks in the sidewalk.

My greatest inspiration however comes from examining culture and how it evolves. I believe deep-rooted traditions connect us to the past and to the legacy of our ancestors, and have an impact on us. For me personally, my Inuvialuit background is an important part of my identity. It is my heritage and so has meaning for me, which I carry inside of myself. Yet we live in a modern world and the richness of one culture combines with new cultures, and both become changed. I find it interesting to look at those changes and to see how cultures are shaped by their environments.

New materials, designs and techniques combine with the old and this is an important aspect of my approach to art. It is my roots in the Inuvialuit culture which form a departure point from which I can spread my wings to create unique art forms which intertwine the meaningful traditions of my past with modern techniques of my present. Each thing which I create is shaped partly by my own personal and cultural values, and it is also filled with a life of its own.

I enjoy creating pieces that combine the ancient with the modern in both technique and design. For instance, I use a variety of traditional northern materials, such as tanned caribou hide, antler, porcupine quills and dentalium shells, as well as contemporary materials such as computer-cut delica beads, chain, silver, and crystal. Out of this synthesis, I create my own personal style and vision of beauty.

Last Updated: November 28, 2018

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