IQALUIT - Lori Idlout and her family have a lot more space in their house this month. That is because Idlout and her common-law partner, Allen Mullin, moved more than a thousand carvings out of their home and into Idlout's new downtown gallery, Carvings Nunavut.

Gallery owner Lori Idlout and her eight-year-old daughter Mylena Idlout-Mullin share a smile in the family's new gallery, Carvings Nunavut, in downtown Iqaluit. Idlout and her common law partner, gallery manager Allen Mullin, are inviting the community to visit the gallery this week to help celebrate their grand opening. - Kassina Ryder/NNSL photos

"It is very exciting," Idlout said. "I'm really excited about establishing my own gallery."

The 1,800-square foot storefront occupies the former location of DJ Sensations, which closed its doors three weeks ago.

Although Carvings Nunavut opened earlier this month, the new business is celebrating its official grand opening this week. Idlout and Mullin have been selling carvings in Iqaluit together for about three years. They displayed carvings by a variety of artists at the Nova Inn.

"It started out in that little display space," Idlout said. "It really was successful. It started out as a really small display case and then we bought more display cases for the lobby area."

Carvings sold briskly from the little venue and soon their home transformed into storage for overstock.

Nunavut tourism contacted the dealers and they began holding exhibitions during cruise ship season.

"That's when we realized that it would be successful if we had our own shop," Idlout said, adding they began planning to launch a gallery about a year ago.

The new gallery is spacious, with display cases around the perimeter and chrome and glass-top tables supporting larger work in the middle of the room. There are about 1,200 pieces by about 50 artists, mostly from the Baffin region. The works range from $10 to $10,000.

"We have some carvings from Rankin and Arviat and we're dealing with some people in Gjoa Haven right now," Mullin said.

"We're trying to encompass all of Nunavut. That's why we went with the name Carvings Nunavut."

The gallery also carries sealskin mitts and a luxury line of high end diamond jewelry.

While Idlout is fairly new to the art industry, Mullin has been dealing in Inuit carvings for more than two decades. "What I love about the carving industry is how we're trying to do it differently," Idlout said. "We try to have a good relationship with the carvers and the main reason we're successful is because we have a positive relationship with the carvers. It works out for the both of us. When we have a good relationship with them it gives them a pride in what they do and challenges them to do better carvings so it improves their work, as well."

Refreshments will be served at the gallery this week and customers will be entered for a draw to win a carving by Iglulik-born artist John Nutarariaq.

Idlout is taking a month off from her position as executive director of the Embrace Life Council as the family establishes the new gallery.

"It's a huge risk, but I think it's going to be a good one to take," Idlout said. "I'm hoping that it will be just another example of an Inuk success story in Nunavut. We need more success stories in Nunavut."