The 14 most recent additions to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection (YPAC) are featured in an exhibition titled Abundance, now open to the public in the Yukon Energy Community Gallery at the Yukon Arts Centre (YAC).
The exhibit, which is co-exhibited with Kwändü Nùchù N-Zhà (Early September Stories), the 20th anniversary retrospective for the Northern Cultural Expressions Society, opened with a public reception on September 12. It will be on display until November 15.
The set of new YPAC acquisitions showcases the work of Yukon artists Kaylyn Baker, Elizabeth Blair, Alice Buyck, Eldria Christiansen, Ava P Christl, Ernest Chua, Heather Dickson, Koshon Fred Edzerza, Anick Fernandez, Dorothy Profeit, Phoebe Gonzales Rohrbacher, Leslie Leong, Ed Smarch, Jean Taylor and Shadunjen van Kampen.
The exhibition comprises a variety of artistic styles and media, including beadwork, painting, sculpture, textile and traditional hunting tools.
“I knew it would be difficult, because so many good artists were presenting these awards,” says Anick Fernandez, whose piece titled Winter is among the YPAC’s newly-acquired works.
“It’s really an honour for me to have one of my works be part of that collection. I moved to the Yukon two-and-a-half years ago, so that makes it even more important to be in this collection, because it means I captured the essence of what I see around me and was able to transmit that.”
Fernandez says her first few months here after moving from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., were spent in awestruck admiration of the Yukon’s natural beauty, even going as far as to say she felt “artistically paralyzed”.
“The first three months, I was taking everything in, and then everything had to come out,” she says. “I spent one year without going out, just working on putting all these feelings together, because my work is mostly about feelings.”
Fernandez has since connected with a few other artists through Arts Underground, and is grateful to be welcomed into the Yukon’s vibrant artistic community.
According to the website of Friends of the Yukon Permanent Art Collection (FOYPAC) the Government of Yukon and FOYPAC–a charitable, non-profit society–together issue an annual call for submissions for the YPAC.
All Yukon, Canadian and international artists, at varying career stages and practising a wide array of styles are considered for inclusion. The works are adjudicated by the society’s arms-length acquisition committee.
According to the published criteria, submissions should show relevance to Yukon or the North, and must be of high quality and suitable for display in public buildings. This year, a total of 183 works were submitted by 86 artists.
“This year’s call for submissions was welcomed by me, as it was an opportunity to create a partner piece to Working With Grandmothers,” artist Jean Taylor, whose work was among the 14 recent selections, said in a statement released by the Government of Yukon.
“For many years I was drawn to creating something that would balance the feminine and cross-generational theme of Working With Grandmothers, and Learning From Grandfather is the resulting creation. I am very delighted that it was selected to join the Permanent Collection and hope that it will be enjoyed for years to come.”
Heather Dickson has been a professional, full-time working artist for nearly a decade. Since her art is typically made for people to wear, she says it was special for her to see her piece, I Learned it From My Mother, was picked to stay in the Yukon.
“It was a dream of mine to keep it here, because it really shows six generations back of my family. I really wanted my future grandkids and great-grandkids to see it someday.”
Among other things, Dickson’s piece is made from melton wool, canvas, heat transfer paper, bias tape, ric-rac ribbon, seed beads, antique European beads, abalone buttons, mother-of-pearl buttons and beads, and caribou hair.
It also includes 24-kt gold beads, porcupine quills, home tan moose hide, semi-precious gemstones, wool and synthetic yarn, vintage finishes, satin ribbon, nylon and polyester thread, iron-on interfacing. As a practical and wearable art piece, it helps show the diversity in styles and media in the YPAC and in Abundance.
Begun in 1981, the Yukon Permanent Art Collection is currently home to 550 works by over 290 artists. Works from the collection can be seen on display in over 30 government buildings across the territory, while some are also part of special curated exhibitions and can be lent out to other institutions.
In 2023, the Government of Yukon announced a permanent budget increase for the annual call for submissions to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection, from $30,000 to $60,000.
This was to help support the goals and actions of Creative Potential: Advancing the Yukon’s Creative and Cultural Industries– the Government of Yukon’s 10-year strategy to support the growth and development of the creative and cultural industries in the Yukon.
“The Government of Yukon congratulates all these talented artists,” Minister of Tourism and Culture John Strieker said in a government statement.
“Their unique perspectives and styles further enrich our growing Yukon collection, showcasing the incredible artistic talent thriving in our territory. I encourage all Yukoners and visitors to come explore the Yukon Arts Centre and enjoy the outstanding talent our territory has to offer.”To learn more about the YPAC and view its collections, visit foypac.ca.
