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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Comox Valley Arts
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250809T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250901T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20250731T201724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T201724Z
UID:10000698-1754740800-1756746000@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Jaques De Backer
DESCRIPTION:Jacques De Backer has filled the walls at Artful : The Gallery with colour and light through August 23. His iconic Cumberland alleyways\, farm scenes and stunning cow portraits are interspersed with his wood sculptures and memories from a life lived globally. Jacques De Backer has been painting and sculpting since he retired 30 years ago\, and he is a Comox Valley favourite\, with other artists\, and art collectors. The majority of the artworks are oil on canvas\, with a wide range of sizes and prices to choose from. From small oil on panel studies for $50 to 3’ X 4’ scenic oil on canvas panoramas well priced at $2000. Artist reception Saturday\, August 2\, 7 to 9pm at Artful : The Gallery. 526C Cumberland Rd in Courtenay. Gallery hours Weds-Sat 12-5pm.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/jaques-de-backer/2025-08-09/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Artful-The-Gallery-Jacques-De-Backer-Artist-Reception-IN.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250813T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250905T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20250731T201724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T201724Z
UID:10000699-1755086400-1757091600@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Jaques De Backer
DESCRIPTION:Jacques De Backer has filled the walls at Artful : The Gallery with colour and light through August 23. His iconic Cumberland alleyways\, farm scenes and stunning cow portraits are interspersed with his wood sculptures and memories from a life lived globally. Jacques De Backer has been painting and sculpting since he retired 30 years ago\, and he is a Comox Valley favourite\, with other artists\, and art collectors. The majority of the artworks are oil on canvas\, with a wide range of sizes and prices to choose from. From small oil on panel studies for $50 to 3’ X 4’ scenic oil on canvas panoramas well priced at $2000. Artist reception Saturday\, August 2\, 7 to 9pm at Artful : The Gallery. 526C Cumberland Rd in Courtenay. Gallery hours Weds-Sat 12-5pm.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/jaques-de-backer/2025-08-13/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Artful-The-Gallery-Jacques-De-Backer-Artist-Reception-IN.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250822T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250913T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20250822T083351Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250822T083351Z
UID:10000709-1755856800-1757779200@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Abundance: Fall Members Show
DESCRIPTION:The Pearl Ellis Gallery is hosting Abundance\, a members’ show that brings together artists from the Comox Valley and nearby communities. On display from August 19 to September 13\, the show includes paintings\, photography\, fibre art\, sculpture\, and more — each piece reflecting the creativity of the people who live here. \nJoin us for the opening reception on Saturday\, August 23\, from 1–3 pm to meet the artists\, enjoy some light refreshments\, and connect with others who love local art. Admission is free and everyone’s welcome.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/abundance-fall-members-show/
LOCATION:Pearl Ellis Gallery\, 1729 Comox Ave\, Comox\, BC\, V9M 3M2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/01-Abundance-Sandwich-Board-21-x-27_20250811_213727_0000.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250916T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251012T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20250917T035705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T035705Z
UID:10000714-1758016800-1760284800@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Text: The Art of Language
DESCRIPTION:The Pearl Ellis Gallery presents Text: The Art of Language from September 16 to October 11\, 2025. This exhibition explores the powerful role that text plays in communication\, expression\, and meaning-making within the visual arts. \nThe public is warmly invited to meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments at the opening reception on Saturday\, September 20\, from 1–3 pm. \nText\, in its many forms\, serves as a bridge between the visual and the verbal. It can tell stories\, convey ideas\, or function as a graphic element that adds depth and complexity to an artwork. In this show\, artists have taken up the challenge of integrating words and symbols into their creations\, inviting viewers to consider how language shapes the way we see and interpret art. \nThe exhibition features a diverse range of mediums—including painting\, photography\, collage\, glass\, and mixed media—each offering a unique perspective on how text can be used as both image and message. Some works use language as their central subject\, while others allow words to whisper quietly beneath the surface. Together\, they demonstrate the versatility of text as a creative tool.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/text-the-art-of-language/
LOCATION:Pearl Ellis Gallery\, 1729 Comox Ave\, Comox\, BC\, V9M 3M2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250916T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251004T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20250917T020910Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T021323Z
UID:10000713-1758024000-1759597200@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:“Artist in a Ric Rac Dress” Barb Hutson Exhibition
DESCRIPTION:Visit Artful : The Gallery to enjoy Comox Valley artist Barb Hutson’s exhibition of paintings\, drawings and sculpture. Her colourful paintings and her quirky sense of humour combine to create a delightful show. Gallery Hours weds-Sat 12-5pm. \nBarb Hutson was born in California in 1945 and grew up in North Hollywood\, the third of four children. Her father\, who had been to art school himself\, always encouraged her artistic endeavours.  \nFollowing High School\, she attended Chouinard Art Institute (now part of California Institute of the Arts) from 1964 to 1966. Her next art school was Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara\, California\, where she studied sculpture in 1969. \nAfter leaving Santa Barbara in 1971\, her family immigrated to British Columbia where they made their home. After years of raising a young family and running a local travel agency she decided to go back to art school (“To relearn everything!”she said) and attended classes at North Island College from 1995 to 1998.  \nBarb maintained a studio in Tin Town from 2002 to 2017 where she participated in events including The Needle Show\, The Shoe Show\, Hats and Fascinators\, and The Jar Show. She also participated in Tin Town’s Open Houses. She was a member of the Arts Council and served as a director of the Muir Gallery. She showed her work in the member shows at the Muir Gallery. Barb has received many awards for her work.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/artist-in-a-ric-rac-dress-barb-hutson-exhibition/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Artful-The-Gallery-The-Artist-in-a-Ric-Rac-Dress-Barb-Hutson-IN.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251022T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251115T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20251020T040516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251020T040516Z
UID:10000783-1761134400-1763226000@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Spirits of the Forest ~ Stumps and Stitches
DESCRIPTION:Sue Muirhead is a lover of deep connection\, the wild\, windy world\, and passionate\, soulful creating of all kinds. Sue began an exploration into a variety of art forms in the early 2000’s. She found great pleasure in putting colour and form on paper. Over time\, ‘process art’—art without an investment in the outcome—has become one of her most enlivening ways of expressing and processing her thoughts and feelings. Sue expresses creatively for the joy and the full bodied aliveness she feels when she engages her creative spirit.\n\nOver the last year she has shifted mediums and now has become a ‘process stitcher’ where she stitches for the sheer pleasure of expressing. Sue is calling this show ‘Spirits of the Forest – Stumps and Stitches”. Sue shares\, “When I walk in the woods\, my soul\, the essence of me\, connects deeply to what surrounds me.” Stumps fascinate her\, pull her in\, capture her attention.\n\nWhen in the forest and amongst the trees and stumps she often feels the presence of spirits. Most cultures in the world\, at some time in their history to present day\, have honoured\, feared\, and/or held in high esteem the many spirits of the forest and believe that they exist. Forest spirits are often thought of as protectors\, keepers or guardians of the woodlands.\n\nSue thinks of stumps as teachers – often cut down\, taken out\, they sit benevolently in the forest\, in clear cuts\, sometimes looking bedraggled or barren; forever changed from what they once were. Given time\, however\, new life begins to form and they can become a haven for new growth\, incomprehensible beauty. They teach that it is possible to be cut down in life by circumstances beyond our control\, and over time there is the possibility of innovative beauty and renewed life.\n\nFor this show\, Sue and her brother\, Patrick Hill\, went out into the forests around where they live and took over 200 pictures of stumps. Sue then took up what she now calls “Process Stitching” (an approach borrowed from Process Painting)\, where she stitched with no investment in a predetermined outcome \, emphasizing exploration\, experimentation and self expression. She called on the stitches to make visible\, to\nembody as much as possible the spirits of the forest. When stitching\, Sue states she “feels the fabric and thread as living beings\, alive.” Embroiderer Christi Johnson (2021) offers\, “The creative process is not simply about what is being made; it is an entirely mystical process that teaches us how to move between the internal world of the soul and the physical world outside….Embroidery offers an opportunity to return to the natural order. Stitching by hand slows down the body and\, over time slows down the mind.”\n\nThe essence of Spirits of the Forest – Stumps and Stitches is a full engagement of Sue’s creative energy and love. When engaged with her creative spirit and the wild world that surrounds her she shares\, “I feel the wind\, I feel the moonlight\, I feel the spirits in the forest…and my hands stitch and stitch and stitch…”
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/spirits-of-the-forest-stumps-and-stitches-2/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Artful-The-Gallery-Sue-Muirhead-Spirits-of-the-Forest-Stumps-and-Stitches-IN.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251026T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251026T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20251008T041938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251008T042048Z
UID:10000719-1761476400-1761494400@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:The 5th Annual Comox Valley Record Show
DESCRIPTION:Vinyl lovers\, collectors\, and music enthusiasts\, mark your calendars! The 5th Annual Comox Valley Record Show is set to groove its way back into town on Sunday\, October 26\, 2025\, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Comox Valley Curling Centre\, located at 4835 Headquarters Road\, Courtenay. \nThis beloved event brings together dealers from across Vancouver Island and the Mainland\, offering thousands of records spanning every genre imaginable—from classic rock and jazz to punk\, soul\, and beyond. But it’s not just vinyl: attendees will also find posters\, books\, CDs\, tapes\, and other music memorabilia to explore. \nWhat to Expect: \nA spacious venue filled with vibrant energy and rare finds \nFood and drinks available on-site\, including \nElevator access and plenty of free parking \nFriendly vendors and fellow music fans ready to share stories and swap treasures \nTips for Attendees: \nPrefer a quieter browsing experience? Arrive later in the day (2 to 4 PM) \nBring cash—while vendors increasingly accept digital payments\, vinyl culture still loves the old-school paper vibe. \nCome prepared to dig deep—hidden gems await! \nWhether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting your vinyl journey\, the Comox Valley Record Show is a can’t-miss celebration of music\, nostalgia\, and community. As the organizers say\, “It’s like Christmas—it comes but once a year!” \nAdmission is still only $2 and kids under 12 are free. Lots of parking and the kitchen and Extra End Lounge will be open\, not to mention curling to watch alongside the record show.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/the/
LOCATION:Comox Valley Curling Centre\, 4835 Headquarters Road\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9J1P2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/courtney_record_poster_2025_reduced.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="CVGBs":MAILTO:keith@scratchrecords.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251129T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251129T210000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20251118T170615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T170615Z
UID:10000791-1764442800-1764450000@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Improbable Objects Artist Reception
DESCRIPTION:Five pillars of the Comox Valley Art scene are collaborating to bring their varied artistic endeavours to Artful : The Gallery with the exhibition “Improbable Objects”. Collaborating for inspiration has always been a productive creative strategy\, and this exhibition reflects the varied sensibilities of the artists: Ed Varney\, Marci Katz\, Martha Jablonski-Jones\, Jeff Hartbower and Bill Friesen. \n\nThe absurdity and illogical scenes of Surrealism and Dadaism led the to the overall theme for this exhibition. From there\, each artist followed their own creative path into the dreamlike imagery. The broad variety of artistic expression utilized by this group of artists includes printmaking\, collage\, painting\, sculpture\, drawings\, paintings and contributes to the unexpected juxtapositions created by their artworks. The result is a playful exhibition of contrasts with bizarre and uncanny combinations to stimulate the unconscious; the ultimate source of creative freedom.\n\n“Improbable Objects” runs at Artful : The Gallery November 26 thru December 20. Join us for the Artist Reception\, Saturday\, November 29th\, 7-9 pm. Regular gallery hours are Weds to Sat\, 12-5pm. The gallery is located at 526C Cumberland Rd\, in Courtenay.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/improbable-objects-artist-reception/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Artful-The-Gallery-Improbable-Objects-Ed-Varney-Marci-Katz-Jeff-Hartbower-Bill-Friesen-Martha-Jablonski-Jones-Artist-ReceptionIN.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260221T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260221T210000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20260128T172219Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T172219Z
UID:10000818-1771700400-1771707600@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:Erotic Poetry & Artist Reception for Eros & Psyche Exhibition
DESCRIPTION:Three Comox Valley Poets bring their erotic poetic selves to celebrate the opening of the “Eros & Psyche” exhibition at Artful : The Gallery. The Artist Reception will begin with poetic performances by Liza Hughes\, Joanna Finch and Toni Dunne\, from 7-8pm. The evening will conclude with the artist reception for the exhibition featuring the artworks of Tessa Nunn\, Annette Nieukerk\, Joyce Ozier\, Tannis Hopkins\, Matthew Hildebrandt\, Nicky Evans\, Gary Dillon and Rosemary Burden.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/erotic-poetry-artist-reception-for-eros-psyche-exhibition/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Eros-Psyche-Erotic-Poetry-Artist-Reception-5-x-5-in.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260321T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260321T160000
DTSTAMP:20260405T132519
CREATED:20260219T002929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T002929Z
UID:10000828-1774087200-1774108800@comoxvalleyarts.com
SUMMARY:All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace*
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday\, March 21st\, Courtenay printmaker Clive Powsey is having a one day pop-up exhibition of hand-drawn\, printed and tinted intaglio impressions at Artful : The Gallery on Cumberland Road in Courtenay. \nPowsey has used a ‘savage’ rigorous prompt to elicit critique and assessment of hundreds of his prints from the large language model\, ChatGPT. Only the highest scoring images will be included in the show\, the content of which was decided by AI. Also on hand will be the prompt\, an artist statement outlining the metrics of selection\, a curator’s statement generated by ChatGPT\, and samples of the critiques which are\, of course\, mindless probabilistic arrangements of words determined by the prompt and the training of the model on vast amounts of art historical and critical writing. \nThere will also be a folio of rejected images and sample critiques for comparison. The show’s name comes from the title of a 1967 poem by Richard Brautigan*. Beyond any questions that might exist regarding the art imagery\, the exhibition asks the question of visitors\, ‘How does human judgment and sensibility fare against that of machines?’ \nVisit the show and decide what you think.
URL:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/community-calendar-event/all-watched-over-by-machines-of-loving-grace/
LOCATION:Artful the Gallery\, 526 Cumberland Rd\, Courtenay\, BC\, V9N 2C7
CATEGORIES:Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://comoxvalleyarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Artful-The-Gallery-Clive-Powsey-Pop-Up-Exhibition-All-Watched-Over-by-Machines-of-Loving-Grace-scaled.jpg
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