Wow!! After nearly five months (off and on) the Iqaluit Centennial library murals (that's right: plural!) are done!!! There is A LOT to say about this project, but it's late and I just want to put the pictures up once and for all. So here it is: the second youth mural project I put on with funding from Brighter Futures. The murals were painted on massive pieces of canvas cut (as best as we could) to the odd shape of the walls. We primed the canvas and used interior latex paint to bring life to our pencil sketches. We then stapled these massive canvases to the walls of the library! Not an easy task! Worthy of mention: the mural that depicts the story of Kiviuq (i.e. the one that is not near the computers) was designed by young local jewelry artist (and now illustrator) Jesse Tungilik. He had a very strong vision and so I let him run with his idea, providing some technical and compositional guidance along the way. He showed so much dedication that it seemed like a no-brainer that he should get his own wall space, especially since that kind of artistic achievement really stands out in a portfolio. The other mural, the one I focused on, with the help of 3 other youth, is based on a series of old prints that we appropriated by changing the colours and arranging them in a way that tells a story about hunting. The names of the original artists are included in Inuktitut and English under each image. The goal of this mural was to provide something beautiful and educational for anyone using the computers to look at as they wait for their pages to load. The internet and computers provided by the library are an extremely popular public service and used by countless individuals, many of which are typically between 9 and sixteen years of age. This mural gives people something interesting, culturally relevant, and informative to look at: an aesthetically pleasing combination of art, tradition and language! It was also intended as an homage to some of the great artists of Nunavut. Both of the murals really brighten up the library, which is one of my favourite places in Iqaluit and truly has so much to offer the community. It seemed like the most natural thing to give back to this amazing institution! Now onto the next mural project: Elders' Qammaq... To be completed before March: aaaaand GO!
- Pascale Arpin
N.B. I will be uploading more pictures of Jesse's mural as the lighting wasn't right at the time. So stay tuned!
- Pascale Arpin
N.B. I will be uploading more pictures of Jesse's mural as the lighting wasn't right at the time. So stay tuned!
Final touches on the mural I worked on: a series of old prints, put together to tell a story about hunting.
Jesse Tungilik putting up his mural, which depicts the legend of Kivuq.
No wrinkles in the canvas... Whatsoever...
We all have our moments.
Life imitates art! Melissa Attagutsiak standing next to the caribou she helped paint.
Mel and Jesse: teamwork!
The artist meets his creation.
More teamwork!
Still more teamwork!
Nearly done!!
The final border to staple until the mural is finally up!
Success!!!
Success! Thumbs up!
All done.
Iqaluit Centennial Library, now with mural.
Close-up of important logistical consideration: not blocking the vent!
A celebration of Inuit art!
The end!.. Until next time.
