The universe in beads: Margaret Nazon's unique artwork

Margaret Nazon of Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T., recently held a contest. She wanted to see if people would recognize thesubjectof her latest beadwork.

The winning answer:"ARP 147 or Double Ring Galaxies in Cetus."

It took four days for someone to find the answer. But it'sobvious if you'veseen the image from the Hubble telescope.

Nazon's beadwork is inspired bycelestial images.

In this case, ARP 147 refers toa colourful pair of galaxies more than 400 light-years from Earth. The Hubble image shows onescintillatingring of blue lightnext to a thinner pink-hued oval. These sparkling colours and shapes inspire Nazon'sbeadwork.

"It's free-form beadwork," Nazon says. "It's mostly galaxies and nebulas and other cosmic images. I don't use one size of bead, I use all differentsizes, just to emphasize the colours and interesting details."

The idea goes back to 2008when Nazonfirst saw the Hubble telescope images online. She immediately thought the stars looked like herGwich'inbeadwork.

"I was so impressedthat I thought I shouldat least attempt it," she said.

Nazon says she likes the creativity of the work andespecially how it allows her touse different beads in abstract patterns.

"It's not like making moccasins. I can just go wild."

So far, Nazonhas exhibited her work at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik,as well as various galleries in Alberta, Ontario, B.C., Yukon andN.W.T.