art exhibition Archives | Coast Cultural Alliance (CCA)

Art Exhibition: SCAC – Clare Wilkening

to Dec 5th. Clare Wilkening’s upcoming exhibition “Digestion and Transformation in the Salish Sea” explores through various forms of ceramics to understand on a bodily level the socioecological systems within the Salish sea.

Clare explores how animals interact with the world through embodied sensorial perception and the movement of energy through ecosystems via feeding, excreting, and dying.

The narrative in the work emerges from the connections between projects, creating an ecosystem in and of itself, within and parallel to the Salish Sea ecosystem.

Join us for the opening and artist talk this Friday at 5PM!

Art Exhibition: SCAC – The Banner Project

We are so excited to bring to you the 34th annual Banner Project! Please come vote on the banner you feel best resonates with the theme!

2026 theme: “Capture the Moment”, draw a favourite memory, or memory you hope to have one day.

20 final designs will be selected to be hand painted onto banners by artists, parents, students, and volunteers. This intergenerational art-making project has been in place since 1994!

We acknowledge the support of Sunshine Coast Financial for generously sponsoring this beloved project!

Art Exhibition: GPAG – Yeonmi Kim | Sai

to Nov 22nd. Sai is a Korean word that describes a state of being existing between time, space, and relationships. It encompasses coexistence, interconnections, process, and the present as a constantly moving energy. This series documents Kim’s journey as an immigrant, reflecting the sense of disconnection experienced as a stranger in an unfamiliar place, cultural transition, and inner reflection.

Created with limited colours and simple lines, Kim’s illustrated diary distills her thoughts, emotions, and everyday experiences into a form of visual poetry. Presented for the first time in this exhibition, the diary series is reinterpreted through different materials, including paper, wood, and fabric. By translating the same images into these distinct mediums, Kim explores how their inherent material qualities and characteristics transform the images, opening up new visual possibilities and interpretations. While rooted in her own personal experiences, Sai touches on feelings and struggles that many of us share. Uncertainty, loneliness, impermanence, and the longing to belong are part of the human experience, especially in a world that is constantly changing. Through these works, viewers are invited to pause and reflect on their own sense of identity, their capacity to find their way through difficult times, and their search for belonging.

An exhibition on display in the Main Gallery Oct. 29th – Nov. 22nd. Join us for an Opening Reception on Saturday, October. 31st, 2pm – 4pm; and for a free workshop on Nov. 14th, 2pm – 3pm. Find more info and register for the workshop online. All are welcome!

Art Exhibition: GPAG – Charles Keillor | Pacific Graphite

to Nov 22nd. Created using the most elemental medium, Keillor’s black and white graphite drawings explore the relationship between human habitats and the immediate natural world; as well as the connections between modes of transportation and infrastructure, architecture, lifestyle, the economy, and the environment. These stylized depictions aim to instill elements of anticipation, mystery, contemplation, and celebration for the viewer. Pacific Graphite reflects Keillor’s fascination with interpreting our local region, from the historic and recent past to the present day. His work focuses on our local landscapes and seascapes, with architectural, urban, industrial, and recreational components.

Originally from Vancouver, Charles Keillor is a full time artist now based in Nanaimo. Working in graphite, the high contrast and monochromatic nature of Keillor’s drawings results in a palpable tension. In combination with this tension, the stylized trees and natural features of the landscape juxtaposed with urban or architectural elements creates a strong sense of place and time, grounding the viewer within the scene.

Join us for an Opening Reception on Saturday, Oct. 31st, 2pm – 4pm; and for a free Artist Talk on Sat. Nov. 7th, 2pm – 3pm. All are welcome to attend, no registration required!

Art Exhibition: GPAG – Deb Willis | Khutzeymateen Shoreline Inhabitants

to Nov 22nd. The Khutzeymateen Valley is Canada’s only grizzly bear sanctuary and the home of one of British Columbia’s most important populations of grizzly bears. Located on the northwest coast of BC, the Khutzeymateen is a stunning land of dense Sitka spruce rainforest, fjords, and high, rugged mountains. Created in 1992 after threats of logging and subsequent lobbying by environmentalists, the Khutzeymateen Park is a pristine wilderness that is home to a minimum of sixty grizzlies, perhaps the largest concentration of grizzlies on the entire BC coast; as well as to black bears, wolverines, wolves, mountain goats, otters, whales, and more. In 2024 Deb Willis travelled by float plane, and then by boat, to the Khutzeymateen Park, approximately 45km northeast of Prince Rupert. She then travelled on a small inflatable boat with seven other passengers and their guide into the southeastern end of the Khutzeymateen inlet to observe grizzlies on the shore as they moved through their daily lives eating, playing, sleeping, and mating at close range.

Grizzly bears are often portrayed in the media as aggressive, man-hunting, fear inspiring animals; these bears, however, present a completely different view. There are only two commercial operators allowed into the sanctuary, and visitation is strictly regulated in order to protect the park and its wildlife. The grizzlies in the Khutzeymateen Sanctuary have never had a negative interaction with a human, and they ignored the visitors’ presence completely, focusing instead on their usual daily activities. Through her artwork, Willis portrays these majestic animals in a new light, and raises awareness of how important it is to set aside lands where these animals can live without human conflict.

An exhibition on display in Joe’s Lounge Oct. 29th – Nov. 22nd. Join us for an Opening Reception on Saturday, October. 31st, 2pm – 4pm. All are welcome!

GPAG Opening Reception | Yeonmi Kim, Charles Keillor, Deb Willis

Join us at the Opening Reception of our newest exhibitions by Yeonmi Kim, Charles Keillor, and Deb Willis on Saturday, October 31st, 2pm – 4pm. All are welcome!

In the Main Gallery, Yeonmi Kim’s illustrated diary is transformed into an exhibition grappling with personal identity, reflecting on the sense of disconnection experienced as a stranger in an unfamiliar place, cultural transition, and inner reflection.

In the Eve Smart Gallery, Charles Keillor’s monochromatic graphite drawings explore the relationship between human habitats and the immediate natural world; as well as the connections between modes of transportation and infrastructure, architecture, lifestyle, the economy, and the environment.

In Joe’s Lounge, Deb Willis shares her experience travelling deep inside Canada’s only grizzly bear sanctuary, the Khutzeymateen Park north of Prince Rupert. Often portrayed as aggressive man-hunting animals, Willis sheds a new light, raising awareness of how important it is to set aside lands where these animals can live without human conflict.

GPAG: Artist Talk with Charles Keillor

Join us for a free Artist Talk on Saturday, November 7th, 2pm – 3pm. All are welcome, no registration required!

Created using the most elemental medium, Keillor’s black and white graphite drawings explore the relationship between human habitats and the immediate natural world; as well as the connections between modes of transportation and infrastructure, architecture, lifestyle, the economy, and the environment. Originally from Vancouver, Charles Keillor is a full time artist now based in Nanaimo. Keillor’s work is held in both private and corporate collections, and has been exhibited throughout the Lower Mainland, on Vancouver island, and at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery (2021). His exhibition, Pacific Graphite, is on display in the Eve Smart Gallery Oct. 29th – Nov. 22nd.

Art Crawl at GPAG

Join us for our biggest Art Crawl yet! We have invited 8 artists working in a variety of mediums and styles to exhibit their work during the Art Crawl; plus, over 60 local artists and artisans represented in our Gift Shop. Also on display is a collection of artwork from our Artwork Sales/Donation Program, available to purchase as a fundraiser for GPAG. Don’t miss your chance to see this collection!

Featured artists exhibiting their work include: Saskia Jetten, Nadina Tandy, Manon Staiger, Laurie MacHale, Hilary Moses, Crystal Boeur, denise allen and Allie Bartlett. Artists represented in our collection include Todd Clark, Don Jarvis, Robert Bateman, Andrea Pratt, George Pennier, Henry Standing Alone Niitsitaipoiyi, Peggy Small, Gordon Kit Thorne, Donna Balma, Patricia Richardson Logie, and Ed Hill.

GPAG: Rooted in Gratitude with Dr. Rahul Gupta

Join us for a talk with Dr. Rahul Gupta. This event is part of our Woodland Rhythms exhibition programming, is free to attend and all are welcome to join us!

In a world that often feels fast-paced and isolating, we easily forget that we are deeply woven into a vast, living ecosystem. This experiential talk invites us to slow down together and use the practice of mindfulness to tune into the immense, unwavering support of the natural world. Through gentle, sensory-focused awareness, we will explore feeling ourselves held by nature—from the steady grounding of the earth beneath our feet to the vital rhythm of the air we breathe. Leave this session with practical mindfulness tools to open our senses, orient to wonder, and tap into the restorative energy that the earth constantly and freely provides. Dr. Rahul Gupta is a local physician and mindfulness instructor supporting individuals and teams to cultivate compassionate self and situational awareness.

Persephone Art Kiosk: Cyanotype Workshop

Join artist Allie Bartlett to learn how to make your own cyanotype! This drop-in workshop will be at Persephone Brewing and participation is by donation. Weather dependent as sunshine is needed for this technique. Meet at KIOSK: A Tiny Studio. All ages welcome.

Davis Bay Hall: Children’s Art Show (Free)

CHILDREN’S ART SHOW IN DAVIS BAY

We’re filling the Davis Bay Community Hall with artwork by children from across the Coast!

Kids of all ages are invited to submit 1-3 pieces of art for display at the Children’s Art Show on Saturday, Oct. 3. Admission is FREE, and everyone is welcome. Come admire the creativity of local young artists at this fun exhibition, including a kid-friendly reception.

-Location: Davis Bay Community Hall (5123 Davis Bay Rd, Sechelt)
-Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
-Artwork drop-off (please include child’s name and age): At the hall on Saturday, Sept. 12, 19 & 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
-Questions, or need a different drop-off time? Email db_arts_show@hotmail.com

This event is made possible with support from the Neighbourhood Small Grants program.

GPAG: Oil & Cold Wax Workshop | Kathy McKnight

Curious about how to use cold wax medium with oil paint? Join us on Tues. Oct. 6th, 10AM – 4PM, with exhibiting artist Kathy McKnight! There is a limit of 12 participants, so register now to save your seat!

Kathy’s style is abstract impressionism using oil mixed with cold wax medium for the unique effects it creates. She develops her paintings intuitively, with multiple layers utilizing the translucency of the oil & wax mixture. This style of painting brings complexity and depth to the work with visual and physical textures that she finds reminiscent of the natural world. In this one-day hands-on class Kathy will demonstrate the tools, and various techniques including solvent reduction and glazing, while you work along throughout the day in stages using the same materials and tools. You’ll leave the day with your own painting and an understanding of why cold wax medium is popular with so many artists. Painters of all levels, from beginners to advanced welcome! Find more information and register online via EventBrite.

GPAG: Oil & Cold Wax Workshop | Sandy Kay

Curious about how to use cold wax medium with oil paint? Join us on Tues. Oct. 13th, 10AM – 4PM, with exhibiting artist Sandy Kay! If you missed our last workshop with Sandy Kay, here’s another chance to experience this amazing way to paint with minimum commitment and maximum fun. There is a limit of 12 participants, so register now to save your seat!

Sandy’s paintings are informed by her emotional response to the natural world of forest and sea. She strives to create a feeling rather than a picture, to evoke a deeper emotional response in the viewer. In this one-day hands-on class artist Sandy Kay will demonstrate using the tools, how to blend, mix and layer the paints using cold wax medium, and why it’s a most intriguing, joyful (and easy) way to paint! Sandy will demonstrate in stages while you try this method throughout the day using the same materials and tools. You will leave with your own original fall-themed painting and confidence creating your artwork. This workshop will introduce her latest techniques in tools, glazing, solvent reduction, lifework, and working in a limited palette, and is for painters of all levels, from beginners to advanced. Find more information and register online via EventBrite.

Art Exhibition: GPAG – NADINA TANDY | Monopoly

to Oct 25th. In fragments of memories, curiosities and dreams, Nadina Tandy’s new work “Monopoly” invites us to travel into new worlds. Worlds made of mythologies and maps, and specimens and memories, gathered joyfully together on paper and sculpture. Collage becomes storytelling – disorienting stories, humorous ones, strange collections – wunderkammer – a glimpse into wonder. An exhibition on display in Joe’s Lounge from September 18th – October 25th, 2026.

Vancouver-born Nadina Tandy (1962) has extensive experience in varied aspects of art and culture, since 1988. She earned a Fine Arts diploma from Langara College (Vancouver) and studied drawing and painting at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (Vancouver). She also completed photography certificate studies at Concordia University (Montreal). Tandy has a broad exhibition history and her works are part of private and public collections throughout North America and Europe. Her work has been featured in print and on television and radio and she has also produced artwork for several book covers. She has produced and hosted cable TV shows and various info spots for CBC Television. She lives and works on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.

Join us for the Opening Reception on Saturday, September 26th, 2pm – 4pm. All are welcome!

Sechelt Arts Festival: Exhibition Opening + Festival Reception: Bracken Hanuse Corlett, Jessica Silvey + Robert Joe, Laiwan and others

Up and down the pacific northwest coast there are stories shared of the great flood. They speak about the rising waters, the urgency to escape to higher ground and coming down to start over again after the water recedes. In my home community, Wuikinuxv, it is said the People who survived the flood climbed the mountain known as Kvauma (seat of the eagle) to escape the push of the ocean water. In making a lot of the work for this show I was thinking about the art we make and the work we do after loss…after a series of losses. What happens when catastrophe and heartbreak are normalized in our bones? Where do we place focus? Do we look at what has been taken, or to what remains and can be reclaimed?

GPAG: Artist Talk | Sandy Kay & Kathy McKnight

Join us for a free Artist Talk on Saturday, October 3rd, 2pm – 3pm with Sandy Kay and Kathy McKnight. All are welcome!

Sharing a profound connection to the coastal forests, Sandy Kay and Kathy McKnight are abstract impressionist painters working primarily in oil and cold wax. Their complementary approaches unite in a celebration of the coastal woodland, blending their unique personal visions with a shared artistic language. Sandy Kay and Kathy McKnight are both Sunshine Coast artists working primarily in oil and cold wax. Together they weave a rich tapestry of perception, where the boundary between visual art, musical expression, and natural landscape dissolves into a singular, evocative experience.

Art Exhibition: SC Arts Council: Sechelt Arts Festival: Bracken Hanuse Corlett, Jessica Silvey + Robert Joe, Laiwan and other artists.

to Oct 16th. Up and down the pacific northwest coast there are stories shared of the great flood. They speak about the rising waters, the urgency to escape to higher ground and coming down to start over again after the water recedes. In my home community, Wuikinuxv, it is said the People who survived the flood climbed the mountain known as Kvauma (seat of the eagle) to escape the push of the ocean water. In making a lot of the work for this show I was thinking about the art we make and the work we do after loss…after a series of losses. What happens when catastrophe and heartbreak are normalized in our bones? Where do we place focus? Do we look at what has been taken, or to what remains and can be reclaimed?

GPAG: Opening Reception | Kay & McKnight, Nadina Tandy

Join us for the opening receptions of our newest exhibitions, Woodland Rhythms by Sandy Kay & Kathy McKnight and Monopoly by Nadina Tandy, from 2pm – 4pm on Saturday September 26th. All are welcome!

In the Main and Eve Smart Galleries, Woodland Rhythms features oil and cold wax paintings that create a sensory echo of the woodlands where perception blurs and transforms. Kay and McKnight’s complementary approaches unite in a celebration of the coastal woodland, blending their unique personal visions with a shared artistic language.

In Joe’s Lounge, Nadina Tandy’s Monopoly invites us to travel into new worlds. Worlds made of mythologies and maps, and specimens and memories, gathered joyfully together on paper and sculpture. Collage becomes storytelling – disorienting stories, humorous ones, strange collections – wunderkammer – a glimpse into wonder.

Tag: art exhibition