Art

Local artists Kara Dee Harrison, Russell Morland and Austin Weflen will be painting murals in downtown Nanaimo as part of the inaugural Hub City Walls festival. (Photos submitted)

Mural artists announced for Nanaimo’s inaugural Hub City Walls festival

Local artists Kara Dee Harrison, Russell Morland and Austin Weflen to paint downtown walls

Local artists Kara Dee Harrison, Russell Morland and Austin Weflen will be painting murals in downtown Nanaimo as part of the inaugural Hub City Walls festival. (Photos submitted)
Nanaimo artist Pattiann Withapea, seen here with her piece ‘Blinding Nemo’ at the Federation of Canadian Artists gallery in Vancouver, is presenting a new exhibition at the McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville. (Photo courtesy Pattiann Withapea)

Nanaimo artist showing holographic, glow-in-the-dark paintings in Parksville

Pattiann Withapea presents ‘Designs From My Abstract Mind’ at McMillan Arts Centre

Nanaimo artist Pattiann Withapea, seen here with her piece ‘Blinding Nemo’ at the Federation of Canadian Artists gallery in Vancouver, is presenting a new exhibition at the McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville. (Photo courtesy Pattiann Withapea)
COVID and a time of isolation: an artist’s personal observation

COVID and a time of isolation: an artist’s personal observation

Campbell River artist Ken Blackburn shares his thoughts on finding inspiration in tough times

  • Jul 26, 2020
COVID and a time of isolation: an artist’s personal observation
Ben Sopow and Lynn Hunter are two artists showing work at the upcoming Renewal exhibition at Arbutus Books next month. (Photos courtesy Lynn Hunter/Ben Sopow)

Shop window art show explores COVID-19, the Black Death and the Renaissance

Rotating ‘Renewal’ exhibition coming to Nanaimo’s Arbutus Books display window in August

Ben Sopow and Lynn Hunter are two artists showing work at the upcoming Renewal exhibition at Arbutus Books next month. (Photos courtesy Lynn Hunter/Ben Sopow)
Local artist Sara Robichaud is presenting work from her ‘An Unapologetic Affair’ series as part of the Nanaimo Art Gallery’s ‘Small Gatherings’ exhibition. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Art Gallery holds first exhibition since COVID-19 rules implemented

‘Small Gatherings’ features work by local artists and from gallery’s collection

Local artist Sara Robichaud is presenting work from her ‘An Unapologetic Affair’ series as part of the Nanaimo Art Gallery’s ‘Small Gatherings’ exhibition. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)
Writer Libby King is one of the artists in residence for 2020 at the Walter Morgan Studio. Photo supplied by Campbell River Arts Council

Two Campbell River artists take residency at Walter Morgan Studio

Writer Libby King and sculptor Orland Hansen to use studio space this summer

  • Jul 20, 2020
Writer Libby King is one of the artists in residence for 2020 at the Walter Morgan Studio. Photo supplied by Campbell River Arts Council
Gabriola Island artist Tammy Hudgeon has released her first book, ‘Tender Brave Spirit: An Expressive Life Almost Missed.’ (Photo courtesy Ode Howard)

Gabriola Island artist recounts creative journey, struggles in new memoir

Tammy Hudgeon presents ‘Tender Brave Spirit: An Expressive Life Almost Missed’

Gabriola Island artist Tammy Hudgeon has released her first book, ‘Tender Brave Spirit: An Expressive Life Almost Missed.’ (Photo courtesy Ode Howard)
The Sooke Fine Art Show will take place virtually from July 24 to Aug 3. This painting by Richard Hunt is one of the wide range of pieces to be featured at this year’s event. (Contributed - Sooke Fine Arts Society)

Purchasers Preview Night offers first glance into this year’s Sooke Fine Art Show

Annual event to be held virtually on July 23

  • Jul 17, 2020
The Sooke Fine Art Show will take place virtually from July 24 to Aug 3. This painting by Richard Hunt is one of the wide range of pieces to be featured at this year’s event. (Contributed - Sooke Fine Arts Society)
Members of the Nanaimo Art Gallery’s 2019 Dazzle Camouflage summer camp don colourful camo at the Nanaimo harbour. This year’s camp will take place online via video conference. (Photo courtesy Yvonne Vander Kooi)

Nanaimo Art Gallery summer camp moves programming online due to COVID-19

Teenage artists have until the end of next week to apply to Dazzle Camouflage

Members of the Nanaimo Art Gallery’s 2019 Dazzle Camouflage summer camp don colourful camo at the Nanaimo harbour. This year’s camp will take place online via video conference. (Photo courtesy Yvonne Vander Kooi)
Work by Gabriola Island artists Yvonne Noyon, Sandra Civitarese and Marylyn Beaubien (clockwise from top-right) are among those on display at the Gabriola Arts and Heritage Centre. (Photos courtesy Carol Fergusson)

Gabriola Arts Council presents six-week exhibition featuring 43 local artists

Precautions in place for organization’s first show since COVID-19 outbreak

Work by Gabriola Island artists Yvonne Noyon, Sandra Civitarese and Marylyn Beaubien (clockwise from top-right) are among those on display at the Gabriola Arts and Heritage Centre. (Photos courtesy Carol Fergusson)
Nanaimo artist Yvonne Vander Kooi’s upcoming exhibition, Bestiary, is inspired by medieval illustrations of the animal kingdom. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)

Nanaimo painter inspired by medieval animal illustrations in new exhibition

Yvonne Vander Kooi to unveil ‘Bestiary’ via Gallery Merrick live-stream

Nanaimo artist Yvonne Vander Kooi’s upcoming exhibition, Bestiary, is inspired by medieval illustrations of the animal kingdom. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)
The National Arts Drive takes place on Saturday, June 6 in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

National drive-by art show rolls in Victoria on Saturday

Map shows drivers where local artists have set up displays in windows, balconies, driveways

The National Arts Drive takes place on Saturday, June 6 in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
A field of poppies painted by Port Alberni artist Ali Spence. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Artist Ali Spence finds freedom to paint in adopted Vancouver Island home

Spence is one of several artists whose work is showing online at DRAW Gallery

A field of poppies painted by Port Alberni artist Ali Spence. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Among the work in the VIU grad art show is Brianna Winsby’s Wildest Dreams in collaboration with Bernhard Harr, Nesta Morgan’s Moon Jar, Celena Barnes’s Comfort, Grace Pedde’s Emotional Detritus, Elizabeth LaRose’s Fable and Sydney Fleming’s Unfinished Tarot Deck (cropped, clockwise from left). (Photos courtesy the artists)

VIU visual art grads hold final exhibition online due to COVID-19

‘Pandemonium’ features more than 100 works by 17 graduating students

Among the work in the VIU grad art show is Brianna Winsby’s Wildest Dreams in collaboration with Bernhard Harr, Nesta Morgan’s Moon Jar, Celena Barnes’s Comfort, Grace Pedde’s Emotional Detritus, Elizabeth LaRose’s Fable and Sydney Fleming’s Unfinished Tarot Deck (cropped, clockwise from left). (Photos courtesy the artists)
A cartoon by Gord Barney. (Submitted)

Ladysmith cartoonist documents loggers’ lives through caricatures

Gordon Barney’s cartoons tell stories of lives inside logging camps along the west coast of the Island

A cartoon by Gord Barney. (Submitted)
Paul Archer stands outside his shop on Broughton Street, holding Luna — who appears in the self-portrait above the doorway — with Takaya’s mural along side him. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Victoria artist commemorates Discovery Island wolf Takaya with mural

Longtime artist doesn’t want Takaya’s death overshadowed by news of pandemic

Paul Archer stands outside his shop on Broughton Street, holding Luna — who appears in the self-portrait above the doorway — with Takaya’s mural along side him. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Artist Jillian Mayne stands beside a piece called “No Place - Outsider” at the Alberni Valley Museum show in 2018. The theme of the show was Place. “I was part of a group working at bringing over a refugee so this was my response to the theme,” said Mayne. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Alberni Valley artist adjusts to the COVID-19 times

Jillian Mayne was set to show in three venues this year, but all that has changed

Artist Jillian Mayne stands beside a piece called “No Place - Outsider” at the Alberni Valley Museum show in 2018. The theme of the show was Place. “I was part of a group working at bringing over a refugee so this was my response to the theme,” said Mayne. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Nanaimo artist Andrea Thomas is auctioning a series of COVID-19-inspired paintings with all proceeds benefitting the Nanaimo Community Response Fund. (Photo courtesy Andrea Thomas)

Nanaimo artist auctions COVID-19-inspired art for pandemic relief charity

Andrea Thomas’s paintings will benefit Nanaimo Community Response Fund

Nanaimo artist Andrea Thomas is auctioning a series of COVID-19-inspired paintings with all proceeds benefitting the Nanaimo Community Response Fund. (Photo courtesy Andrea Thomas)
The Campbell River Arts Council’s 38th annual members’ show moved to online.

After 37 years, Campbell River Arts Council annual members’ show goes online

38th Annual Members Show shifted from physical gallery to website

The Campbell River Arts Council’s 38th annual members’ show moved to online.
Horticulture Centre of the Pacific combines arts and music for 25 years

Horticulture Centre of the Pacific combines arts and music for 25 years

Over 50 artists, 15 bands, several food trucks on hand for Arts and Music at the Gardens, Aug. 10-11

Horticulture Centre of the Pacific combines arts and music for 25 years