Yellowknife artist Christina Carrigan's trip to Winnipeg for the CRAFTED: Show + Sale event was big success. Not only did she sell nearly all of the pieces she prepared for the popular annual event, but she believes she helped attendees understand what life is like in the North a little bit better. 

"People who have never been [to the North] totally don't understand it," she said. "I just think that there's like a vast chasm between people who have experienced life here and people who haven't.

"It's so interesting to bring work from there [and] to somehow try to convey what it feels like to exist in that place."

CRAFTED ran from Nov. 6-10 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG-Qaumajuq). Carrigan was one of 12 artists to attend the event with the support of NWT Arts, a division of the GNWT that supports the territory's artists and craftspeople. 

It's no surprise that her art helped attendees connect with the North, given that most of her pieces feature items she has found and foraged on the land in the territory.

"Typically I forage and find things during the summer, then I make the art pieces in the winter," she said. "The bones that were used in [some of] this work were from a river otter carcass that I found last summer... the spinal bones and the rib bones.

"A lot of bird stuff came my way this summer," she added. "Some bird wings, lots of bird feet that I dried, preserved, and mounted. I also found quite a few bird nests, which was a really neat thing.

"I think when you are using materials that come from a place that inevitably you are going to evoke a feeling of that place in your work... A lot of people who are not from here who witnessed the work really felt something in it. They felt a connection, and that was really rewarding."

Marti Lys, a bead-worker from Fort Simpson, also took pride in representing the Northwest Territories in Winnipeg SA国际影视传媒� particularly her Metis heritage. 

"It's very empowering," she said. "It was nice to be in Manitoba, because my Metis roots are from Manitoba, but I'd never been before.

"Not a lot of people get opportunities like this. People can't afford do this type of stuff on their own dime, so it's nice that NWT Arts is there to support us with that."

Lys also enjoyed the opportunity to network with other artists at the event, and learn about about their creative processes. 

"It's definitely a good tool for networking," she said. "I got to meet some artists that I follow on social media. It's nice to be able to gather and travel together that way. 

"It's is a really good opportunity to learn. It's a really good way to get your name out there."

Carrigan feels the same way. In fact, she believes communication and collaboration between artists is "critical" to improvement. 

"No matter what practice you're in with your art SA国际影视传媒� unless it's some kind of collaborative performance art or you're in theatre or music SA国际影视传媒� you're often just toiling away in your own little world. That's part of fleshing out and exploring your own creative expression, but it's very, very inspiring to hear people talk about their process and kind of learn something from them too that might inform your work."

Each year, NWT Arts sends artists and craftspeople to events in destinations like Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa SA国际影视传媒� and even a major art show in Santa Fe, New Mexico. CRAFTED is a staple of the NWT Arts calendar, and one of the most important of the year, according to program manager Johanna Tiemessen, and this year once again delivered. 

"We have attended this show now for the past four years based on the growing success NWT artists have year after year," Tiemessen said. "NWT artists continue to have some of the top sales figures at CRAFTED, which had over 80 vendors this year. Not only is the economic return there, but the artists are also fulfilled and inspired professionally to continue creating work, grow their business, and are assured that the work they create is sought after and valued in the national fine craft marketplace."

A spokesperson from the Winnipeg Art Gallery also extolled the artistic talent in the NWT. 

"Our relationship with NWT Arts and the artists they work with and bring to the market and the retail store is crucial to our success," the gallery spokesperson said. "WAG-Qaumajuq is committed to championing Northern artists and we would not be in this position without our partnership with NWT Arts.SA国际影视传媒�