http://www.embassyofimagination.com/

Embassy of Imagination (EOI) is an ongoing project based in Kinngait (formerly also known as Cape Dorset, Nunavut) created for and by an evolving group of Kinngait youth, and art collective PA System (Alexa Hatanaka and Patrick Thompson). EOI animates yearly art workshops, and creates collaborative community art projects, including public murals, performances, and exhibitions, within Kinngait, across Canada and internationally. The youth have an important voice as individual artists, and collectively, contributing to place-making and expanding the impact of youth-engaged art.  EOI works with local collaborators including sewers Ooloosie Ashevak and Nicotye Qimirpik, artists, Elders and hunters to create art and land-based programming, and engage in contemporary art exhibitions and festivals.

EOI was started by visual artists Alexa Hatanaka and Patrick Thompson in 2014, with the guidance and inspiration of Kinngait youth, community members and high school staff. After having the good luck to accept commissions to paint public murals in a few communities in Inuit Nunangat from 2010-2012, they were approached by youth to learn and engage in this art form. Upon invitation to Kinngait in 2014, the youth they met in the workshops they were hosting inspired them to co-create the first EOI mural, still installed on Sam Pudlat School, made with Parr Etidloie and Aoudi Qinnayuaq. In that year life-long friendships were formed and from there EOI grew and evolved as an emergent and responsive project. Everyone involved, especially Hatanaka and Thompson, learned a lot along the way, and each participant has played a role in producing a project based in community-care, relationship, intergenerational learning, co-learning, fun, play, service, and reciprocity. 

Hatanaka and Thompson work under the collective name PA System, circa 2010. They exhibit their artwork in institutions worldwide, such as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona, the Canada House in London and the Art Gallery of Ontario. They have created public artwork across Canada and around the world.

In 2018 Hatanaka and Thompson partnered with the District Education Authority of Kinngait on an art program as well as a land program, for which the latter’s equipment is funded through the proceeds of their youth-engaged Future Snowmachines in Kinngait (FSIK) project. FSIK sculptures were exhibited at the Art Gallery of Ontario for its Every. Now. Then. Reframing Nationhood show in 2017, and were created with youth aged 13-15: Christine Adamie, Moe Kelly, David Pudlat, Nathan Adla and Lachaolasie Akesuk. One sculpture has been acquired for Dalhousie Art Gallery’s permanent collection. Another iteration with Janice Qimirpik was a temporary sculpture at The Bentway. 100% of the proceeds have gone to the District Education Authority in Kinngait, which so far is a total of $60 000, with which two new snowmobiles have been purchased thus far, housed at Peter Pitseolak School. This project is an example of the aim to find ways for art practice to support initiatives in the community, identified by the youth and in collaboration with the youth. Some of the sculptures are available, please contact embassyofimagination@gmail.com if interested. 

http://www.pasystem.org/towards-something-new-and-beautiful-future-snowmachines-in-kinngait-1

https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/65674nunavut_youth_from_cape_dorset_reframe_canada_150/

https://www.thebentway.ca/event/future-snowmachines/

Hatanaka and Thompson would like to express their gratitude to Kinngait for welcoming them, and making their lives full.