Visual Arts

Steve Smith’s image of two sibling adolescent grizzly bears playfighting in the Chilko River in the B.C. Interior earned him best of show at the prestigious Lion’s Gate Celebration of Nature club competition for 2020-21. (Photo by Steve Smith)

Victoria Camera Club captures top spot in prestigious nature and wildlife competition

Saanich Peninsula photographers part of award-winning team

 

Tomo Vranjes, a Greater Victoria musician and longtime fan of late rock guitar icon Eddie Van Halen, joins artist Paul Archer behind the latter’s Fort Street gallery. Archer, whose airbrushed paintings of rock greats have made him many connections in recent years, painted a likeness of Van Halen following the guitarist’s death last month from cancer. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Victoria artist’s king-sized tribute to Eddie Van Halen draws on personal connection

Paul Archer had an up close and personal day with the legendary guitarist in 1980

 

Performing arts productions of all kinds, incuding theatre, are eligible for the 2020 Greater Victoria Regional Arts Awards, the nomination deadline for which is Aug. 24. (Photo by Jason King/Langham Court Theatre)

Greater Victoria artists, performances and behind-the scenes volunteers to be honoured

Third annual regional arts awards gala happens online Oct. 3, nomination deadline Aug. 24

 

Peninsula-based Donna K. Williams is among the artists featured in the ArtSea Virtual Artist Tour, which replaced the 2020 Artists’ Studio Tour cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (YouTube/ArtSea Community Arts Council)

VIDEO: Annual artist studio tour goes virtual on Saanich Peninsula

ArtSea converts popular event to online format with personalized artist videos

Peninsula-based Donna K. Williams is among the artists featured in the ArtSea Virtual Artist Tour, which replaced the 2020 Artists’ Studio Tour cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (YouTube/ArtSea Community Arts Council)
Chantal Gibson’s show, A Grammar of Loss, Studies in Erasure, closed early at Open Space due to COVID-19 restrictions, but you can view the show online through the gallery’s website and Facebook page. (Courtesy Open Space)

Victoria art gallery provides Open Space in an online way

View Chantal Gibson’s recent show on the web, hear Indigenous stories on Instagram starting Sunday

  • Apr 10, 2020
Chantal Gibson’s show, A Grammar of Loss, Studies in Erasure, closed early at Open Space due to COVID-19 restrictions, but you can view the show online through the gallery’s website and Facebook page. (Courtesy Open Space)
The annual Urbanite interactive art event at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, on this year March 20, is a great way to explore the galleries in a fun and social way and mingle with fellow art lovers. Photo by Cedar Coast Photo

Ring in spring with gallery glamour in Victoria

Annual Urbanite event March 20 offers customized beverages and music in an artful environment

  • Mar 1, 2020
The annual Urbanite interactive art event at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, on this year March 20, is a great way to explore the galleries in a fun and social way and mingle with fellow art lovers. Photo by Cedar Coast Photo
Elaine Hughes’ Colours of Sunset, watercolour on paper. Hughes and other Coast Collective instructors will be showcased in the first show of 2020 at the gallery in Colwood.

Coast Collective Gallery shows open the new year right

Instructors Showcase free exhibit kicks things off starting Jan. 2 in Colwood

Elaine Hughes’ Colours of Sunset, watercolour on paper. Hughes and other Coast Collective instructors will be showcased in the first show of 2020 at the gallery in Colwood.
Scene from Techno Tihuacan, by filmmaker Rob Fatal. He and DJ Bianca Oblivion will perform live at the screening of the film Oct. 19 at Deluge Contemporary Art during the Antimatter media art festival. Film still contributed

Antimatter 2019: The best in experimental media art comes to Victoria

22nd annual festival of film, performance art and more biggest ever – 120 artists, 30 countries

  • Oct 14, 2019
Scene from Techno Tihuacan, by filmmaker Rob Fatal. He and DJ Bianca Oblivion will perform live at the screening of the film Oct. 19 at Deluge Contemporary Art during the Antimatter media art festival. Film still contributed
Attendees at the Sidney Fine Art Show will find a wide variety of styles and formats at this year’s event, scheduled for Oct. 18-21 at the Mary Winspear Centre. Courtesy ArtSea Community Arts Council

Sidney Fine Art Show: Art worth talking about

Photography gets a bigger spotlight at this year’s event, Oct. 18-20 at the Mary Winspear Centre

  • Oct 12, 2019
Attendees at the Sidney Fine Art Show will find a wide variety of styles and formats at this year’s event, scheduled for Oct. 18-21 at the Mary Winspear Centre. Courtesy ArtSea Community Arts Council
The Bluffs, an acrylic piece from ArtSea Community Arts Council member Eunmi Conacher. The council will be busy featuring its artists throughout the month of October. Painting by Eunmi Conacher

Experience new works and more throughout October with ArtSea

Busy non-profit organization supports Peninsula artists through events and showings

  • Oct 4, 2019
The Bluffs, an acrylic piece from ArtSea Community Arts Council member Eunmi Conacher. The council will be busy featuring its artists throughout the month of October. Painting by Eunmi Conacher
Haunting imagery sandwiched between colourful exhibits at Coast Collective in October

Haunting imagery sandwiched between colourful exhibits at Coast Collective in October

Free gallery in Colwood features three meet-the-artists events, starting with Megan Evans on Oct. 5

  • Oct 4, 2019
Haunting imagery sandwiched between colourful exhibits at Coast Collective in October
These pieces by Fern Long, along with one other, make up her new installation in Commercial Alley, based around the theme of ‘home.’ Her concept was selected from a group of 19 submissions to the City of Victoria recently in the annual call for proposals to fill this temporary outdoor gallery space. Artwork by Fern Long, collage by Monday Magazine

Panels proliferate in Victoria’s Commercial Alley Art Gallery

City artist Fern Long’s themed works will be on display through August 2020

These pieces by Fern Long, along with one other, make up her new installation in Commercial Alley, based around the theme of ‘home.’ Her concept was selected from a group of 19 submissions to the City of Victoria recently in the annual call for proposals to fill this temporary outdoor gallery space. Artwork by Fern Long, collage by Monday Magazine
Zimbabwean-Australian artist Jonathan Madzinga brings his touring art exhibition to Colwood in August, as Coast Collective Gallery hosts a collection of his works, July 31-Aug. 18. You can meet Madzinga at a reception Aug. 2. Photo Facebook

WATCH: Exhibit of colourful ‘living life’ paintings kick off busy August at Coast Collective Gallery

Meet Zimbabwe-Australian artist Jonathan Madzinga on Aug. 2, solo exhibit ends Aug. 18

Zimbabwean-Australian artist Jonathan Madzinga brings his touring art exhibition to Colwood in August, as Coast Collective Gallery hosts a collection of his works, July 31-Aug. 18. You can meet Madzinga at a reception Aug. 2. Photo Facebook
A volunteer (or artist) enjoys a quiet moment at the Sooke Fine Arts Show before the crowds come. Facebook

Head to Sooke this month for annual Island arts extravaganza

The 33rd Sooke Fine Arts Show offers visitors a veritable museum of modern art

  • Jul 7, 2019
A volunteer (or artist) enjoys a quiet moment at the Sooke Fine Arts Show before the crowds come. Facebook
Mural projects, like this one undertaken by former Victoria artist in residence Luke Ramsay, help liven up the city. Open Space is calling for artist proposals for a mural that would face Helmcken Alley off Bastion Square. The submission deadline is July 16. Photo courtesy City of Victoria

Calling all artists: mural project coming up

Open Space overseeing proposal submissions process for downtown wall painting

Mural projects, like this one undertaken by former Victoria artist in residence Luke Ramsay, help liven up the city. Open Space is calling for artist proposals for a mural that would face Helmcken Alley off Bastion Square. The submission deadline is July 16. Photo courtesy City of Victoria
Esquimalt artist captures culinary personalities with body art

Esquimalt artist captures culinary personalities with body art

Mary Ploegsma’s unique chef/tattoo portrait series on display this month in Chinatown café

Esquimalt artist captures culinary personalities with body art
Unformable Things: Emily Carr and Some Canadian Modernists, is on display at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria through Oct. 27. It’s one of many exhibitions currently showing at the gallery. Painting collage courtesy aggv.ca

Pay-by-donation day, social night on this week at Art Gallery

May is a busy month for exhibitions, activities at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

  • May 10, 2019
Unformable Things: Emily Carr and Some Canadian Modernists, is on display at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria through Oct. 27. It’s one of many exhibitions currently showing at the gallery. Painting collage courtesy aggv.ca
Pay-by-donation day, social night on this week at Art Gallery

Pay-by-donation day, social night on this week at Art Gallery

May is a busy month for exhibitions, activities at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

  • May 6, 2019
Pay-by-donation day, social night on this week at Art Gallery
The Victoria Arts Council’s 20th annual Look Show, featuring art pieces in multiple mediums from local artists at varying levels, both emerging and established, kicks off April 6 in a new venue at 747 Fort St. The VAC is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Four simultaneous solo exhibitions are also running as part of the show, including one by Maria Curcic (The City Unfolds, acrylic on canvas, shown here).

Take a Look! 20th annual art exhibition set to liven up vacant Fort Street storefront

Victoria Arts Council prepares to host the Look Show while celebrating 50 years in the community

The Victoria Arts Council’s 20th annual Look Show, featuring art pieces in multiple mediums from local artists at varying levels, both emerging and established, kicks off April 6 in a new venue at 747 Fort St. The VAC is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Four simultaneous solo exhibitions are also running as part of the show, including one by Maria Curcic (The City Unfolds, acrylic on canvas, shown here).
Students’ artwork celebrated with a banner day at Christ Church Cathedral

Students’ artwork celebrated with a banner day at Christ Church Cathedral

Grade 8 students’ abstract designs enlarged, used to create lamppost panels

Students’ artwork celebrated with a banner day at Christ Church Cathedral