Dyan catches first place in this year’s Nunavut Directory Art Contest with a jigger and family traditions
Dyan loves her family. She also loves to laugh. This warmth and good humour infuse her conversation as much as they do the layers of meaning within My Ice Hole, her winning art piece for the 2023 Northwestel Art Directory contest.
The painting depicts Dyan sitting next to an ice fishing hole, wearing mitts, a parka and traditional seal-skin kamik – all made by her daughter. The kamik showcases the same design as their mother–daughter matching stick-and-poke tattoos.
“Traditional Inuit tattooing was once almost extinct,” Dyan explains, “so it’s super special … and personal.”
The setting for her piece stems from a shared passion for ice fishing within her home community of Rankin Inlet. In fact, the “My” in My Ice Hole is a playful take on how possessive folks can get about their fishing holes on derby days. Dyan laughingly concedes, however, that she’s happy to share her space on the ice. For her, it’s more about being out there and being part of the community.
Contributing to the family ties within her piece, the aulasaut - ice jigger – also plays a central part in My Ice Hole. The jig was imagined by Dyan’s daughter, designed by Dyan, and created by her father. Between the jig, the clothing and the fishing, My Ice Hole is a true representation of layer upon layer of family tradition, artistry and connection.
For Dyan, winning top prize means a lot. She’s been inspired by artists all her life – by her mother especially, but also by many other women and artists in her community. “I was super honoured to have mine selected for the phone book. It’s a blessing.”
My Ice Hole. 18” x 24” Acrylic on canvas
Humble by nature, Dyan doesn’t love to talk about herself. But when the subject turns to her daughter, she is quick to open up. “She is super. She surpassed me with arts and crafts and keeping our culture alive. She learned how to process skins, and she learned the traditional way to make the seal-skin kamik.”
Dyan signing lithographs of “My ice hole” at her home in Rankin Inlet
Turns out that Dyan’s pride in her daughter is a two-way street. It was her daughter who pushed her to enter the contest in the first place.
“She’s always challenging me, pushing me to try something, to be brave.”
It makes sense, then, that her daughter was a big influence for the piece itself. Dyan decided that if she was going to enter, she wanted it to be a celebration of her daughter. “I wanted to show her how proud of her I am, of her skills.”
Dyan with her anaana (mother) Angelina and her panik (daughter) Haley.
Ever brimming with playful spirit, Dyan grins as she talks about the title for her winning piece, My Ice Hole. “I was feeling spicy that day,” she giggles.
And good thing, too. We could all do with a little more spice, a little more laughter, a little more family connection.
As the winner of the directory art contest, Dyan receives a $5000 prize from Northwestel. Find more of Dyan’s work here.
Photography by David Kakuktinniq Jr.
For over 30 years, Northwestel has published rich northern art on the covers of our directories. The land we live in inspires all of us in different ways. From touching family traditions to realistic recreations of arctic landscapes, we admire and celebrate the creativity of those who make up our North.
Think about submitting your artwork for next year's directory art competition? Visit our Directory art page and keep an eye out for the 2024 contest, opening in September.
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