NWT Art Week Kicks Off with an Artist Conversation at WAG-Qaumajuq

Five artists from Northwest Territories and moderator, Casey Koyczan will engage in a panel discussion

Winnipeg, Manitoba, February 8, 2024: As part of NWT Art Week, the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq is excited to host a free panel discussion, in partnership with Northwest Territories (NWT) Arts on Tuesday, February 13 at 7pm, moderated by Casey Koyczan. Five artists from the NWT will take part in the panel: Candice Ferdinand, Cathy (Kotchea) Gonet, Karen Wright-Fraser, Margaret Nazon, and Robyn Scott, who will discuss their art, living and working in the North, and the NWT Art Week celebrations.

Artists in Conversation: Living and Working in the North will kick off the five-day marketplace and workshop event, held at Maker Faire by The Forks Trading Company from February 14-18. The events include workshops, demonstrations, and retail sales by the artists.

From the Artists:

Candice Ferdinand, Deline, NWT
I make beadwork art. I bead earrings, purses, mitts, crow boots, slippers, card holders, head pieces for hats, and more. Beading feels like medicine to me. It keeps me calm and humble. I like to be creative and feel free to express myself through my beadwork.

I feel that I am more connected to my culture when I am beading because I like to think that I inherited the gifts from my Grandmas. My Great-Grandmother Rosa was really good at making moose and caribou hides. My grandma Rosie was one of the best local sewers as well. And when my Ama picked up sewing, I was learning right alongside her.

Cathy (Kotchea) Gonet, Fort Liard, NWT
I was born and raised in and around the community of Fort Liard where I still live with my husband-to-be and son. For me, traditional arts come from deep within my culture and from my family’s influences. I grew up watching my parents and grandparents making and selling birchbark baskets and moosehide products.

In the early months of my pregnancy and sobriety, I felt the importance to carry forward my culture and artwork that I learned from my parents. My culture and my traditional teachings are very important, and I would like to pass that down to my children.

Karen Wright-Fraser, Yellowknife, NWT
Creating art makes me feel alive and it connects me to my Gwich’in roots in many ways. I do a lot of research on our culture, and I try to incorporate some of those traditional techniques into my art and my storytelling. I am always expending my knowledge about traditional ways of being and I love to practice new skills.

My creativity always starts from my heart. The first item I ever made was a small wall hanging when I was expecting my first child. I beaded the word “baby” and added a flower and a tree. I have kept sewing ever since, making a wide variety of work such as dream catchers, bone and antler jewelry, traditional dresses, moccasins, vests, mitts, and so on.

Margaret Nazon, Tsiigehtchic, NWT
Like most young girls, I learned to sew by helping my mother. When I entered residential school, I was introduced to new sewing techniques. I quickly learned to use the sewing machine and with that knowledge I became interested in altering and making my own clothing. Today I teach young and old to sew parkas; mukluks and vests.

I have always been interested in learning new art forms and new techniques, which I try to apply to my own work. In 2009 I started creating beaded space images influenced by the Hubble Space Shuttle Program. There are beaded galaxies, supernovas, stars, and planets in my repertoire.

Robyn Scott, Yellowknife, NWT
I’m a painter, working primarily with acrylics and oils. My inspiration comes from northern wildlife motifs, such as caribou, moose, and bears, and birds such as ravens and magpies. Even though my work is mostly realistic, I often use saturated colour and contrast to make the unique qualities of each animal truly shine.

What I find the most inspiring about the North is the understated beauty. When I first moved to the Northwest Territories years ago from the Maritimes, I knew little about my new home. So, when I first stood overlooking Great Slave Lake, the dynamic colours of the rocks, the water and the seemingly endless sky took my breath away. There is elegance and ruggedness here that continues to fuel my inspiration.

Quick Facts:

• Artists in Conversation: Living and Working in the North will take place at WAG-Qaumajuq on February 13 at 7pm, FREE for all to attend.
• Five artists from the Northwest Territories will take part in the panel: Candice Ferdinand, Cathy (Kotchea) Gonet, Karen Wright-Fraser, Margaret Nazon, and Robyn Scott, moderated by Casey Koyczan.
• The panel discussion kicks off a five-day marketplace and workshop event at The Forks Trading Company from February 14-18 that promotes northern artists and workshops.
• Events include workshops, demonstrations, and retail sales by the artists.

Quotes:

“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Forks Trading Company and WAG-Qaumajuq to host NWT Art Week. The NWT Arts Program, through its Artist to Market Program, works with partner organizations to create economic development opportunities for artists so they can share the story of their art and build their creative business. Thank you to our partners for this amazing opportunity!”

— Johanna Tiemessen, Manager, Art and Traditional Economies, Government of the Northwest Territories

“This event is a chance for our cohort of artists to overcome geographical isolation and reach a broader audience. It’s a testament to the thriving talent in our northern communities, and I hope it encourages appreciation for our unique artistry. My paintings are a fusion of representational subjects against abstract backgrounds that capture the raw beauty of Northern Canada. I’m confident that Winnipeg’s community, with its deep connection to the land and wildlife, will resonate with all the beautiful artwork that is being showcased from the five NWT artists for NWT Art Week!”

— Robyn Scott, Artist

“The Forks Trading Company is grateful and thrilled to welcome the talented artists from the Northwest Territories to Winnipeg. Their presence will enrich our cultural tapestry with unique perspectives and skills. The opportunity to experience their artwork, appreciate their creations and learn from their expertise, presented in collaboration with WAG-Qaumajuq will be a true gift to our community.”

— Brad Hewlett, owner Forks Trading Company

“We are thrilled to have another partnership opportunity with NWT Arts. They have been long-time supporters of the CRAFTED: Show + Sale at the Gallery and this is another chance for North and South to connect and build relationships. We are grateful to be a part of this event and host the kick-off celebrations with a free panel discussion.”

— Sherri Van Went, WAG-Qaumajuq Manager of Retail Operations and Partnerships

Associated Links

Artists in Conversation x WAG-Qaumajuq
Northwest Territories Arts

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For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Katryna Barske
Public Relations Officer
Winnipeg Art Gallery
204.789.1295
kbarske@wag.ca

About Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq
WAG-Qaumajuq is a cultural advocate using art to connect, inspire, and inform. Playing a dynamic role in the community, we are a place for learning, dialogue, and enjoyment through art. Opened in 2021, Qaumajuq connects to the WAG on all levels, celebrating the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world. The new WAG-Qaumajuq cultural campus is now one of the largest art museums in Canada. To learn more visit wag.ca.

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