Comox Valley Arts

Natural Dye; Deep Dive!
2025-05-10 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver) | #4-420 Fitzgerald Ave., Courtenay, BC, Canada
May 10 – Jun 7
If you love natural dyes, working with fibre and exploring colour, you’ll love this six week course with Eloise Holland!
Take control of your dye work and look more closely at the processes and chemistry behind the colours. This six-week intensive course is geared for fascinated beginners. You will finish this course feeling more confidence in your ability to safely and beautifully use natural dyes at home, with resources to continue building your skills!
On day one we will touch on best practices for a safe and efficient dye process, and look at the different materials to dye including recycled fabrics, wool, cotton and silk. We will cover tannin dyes with either Sumac or Walnuts
On day two we learn about the charm of red dyes. Madder is one of the oldest reds, and is a plant that can be grown locally. Coccineal is derived from an insect that feeds on cactus. These reds will bring us a variety of tones using modifiers and post mordants
On day three we cover the various yellows that are so abundant in the plant world. From Goldenrod to Tansy and Chamomile we look at the subtle shade variations these flavonoid dyes produce.
On day four is an introduction to Indigo which is always magical and exciting. We will touch on the basics of this vat dye, exploring resist dyeing and giving you the grounding for your own experiments.
On day five we will build on our previous work by looking at overdyeing. This is a day of experimentation.
On day six we will touch on dyeing with mushrooms and lichen. We are blessed with several locally available dye mushrooms and this is your chance to learn to coax colours from them.
-All materials will be provided, but please bring gloves and a face mask (to protect against small airborne particles). Feel free to bring a notebook, and please dress for mess. If you have some small fabrics or textiles you would like to dye, please feel free to bring them (doilies, scraps, small pieces only. No yardage!)

Lecture: Challenging Exile: Japanese Canadians and the Wartime Constitution
2025-05-10 14:00 - 15:30 | the Courtenay and District Museum, 207 4th St, Courtenay, BC, COURTENAY, BC, V9N 1G7, Canada
Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum
Speaker: UVic Professor of History Dr. Jordan Stanger-Ross
Dr. Stanger-Ross’ illustrated talk will explore the government’s attempted mass banishment of Japanese Canadians after the close of the Second World War.
Stanger-Ross was the lead researcher for the Broken Promises travelling exhibit from the Nikkei National Museum currently on display in our upstairs gallery.
Tickets: $5 for Historical Society members; $6 for general public. Advance tickets recommended. Tickets can be purchased over the phone by calling 250-334-0686 ext 2.

Slow Stich Series
2025-05-02 18:30 - 20:45 | #4-420 Fitzgerald Ave., Courtenay, BC, Canada
May 2 – May 23
If you find yourself seeking a chance to slow down, to deepen your relationship with your garments and with your self, this 3-4 week series is an opportunity to do just that.
Join costume maker and artist Lori Kenney for a deep breath and many small stitches.
The practical side of this course is one of basic sewing skills many of us are missing, taking care of our clothes to make our wardrobe last longer.
The artistic side of this course will help you add character and understand traditional textile art practices from around the world, connecting you to the way humans have worked with fibres through history.
The meditative elements of this series will help you slow down, connect to your breathing and the rhythm of stitching.
Take inspiration from global textile traditions such as Kantha
techniques, mending and darning, and Japanese Boro, which focuses on re-purposing old textiles, re-piecing fabrics and building texture with stitch. Bring awareness to the calming repetition of hand stitch rhythms and discover the simple pleasure of making.
There will be time in this class for connection with each other, and portions of silence and breath.
The goal is to leave this series with a set of skills and abilities you can carry with you to calm your heart in times of need.
Please bring some worn and loved garments, as well as any scraps you would like to incorporate.
We will include materials to use, and have additional supplies available for purchase to bring home.

Bag Making With Lorraine
2025-05-02 10:00 - 12:00 | #4-420 Fitzgerald Ave., Courtenay, BC, Canada
May 2 – May 16
Join Lorraine for this great bag-making class!
You will use the Traverse Bag by Noodlehead Patterns, with a small modification to make it even more beginner-friendly.
Choose from two sizes!
This class is a great way to keep practicing those straight lines, sewing zippers, and making accurate measurements and cuts. You’ll learn how to use bag patterns, rotary cutters, and hardware.
For your convenience, we have included all the hardware, straps, zippers (with a few colours to choose from) and interfacing, so all you need to buy is your fabric. Use a lovely canvas or even a linen!
The only prerequisite: Basic knowledge of the sewing machine (Foundations, Get to Know your sewing machine class or Fundamentals are a great start.). If you are still beginner, Lorraine can help set up your machine, but there isn’t time to explain how to thread the machine, in order to keep the class focused on bag making!

Step-by-Step Acrylic Painting with Alexander Campbell
2025-04-27 13:30 - 15:30 | Lion’s Den, 1729 rear, Comox Ave, Comox, BC, V9M 3M1, Canada
Dates: Sunday, April 27th, 1:30-3:30 PM
Location: The Lion’s Den, Comox
Level: Beginner
Cost: $45
Join Alexander Campbell for a guided acrylic painting experience, perfect for beginners. In this step-by-step class, Alexander will demonstrate a painting while participants follow along on their own canvases. By the end of the session, each participant will leave with a completed painting.
About the Instructor:
Alex Campbell is a Comox Valley artist known for his vibrant West Coast-themed paintings featuring wildlife and wilderness. Skilled in multiple mediums, he has experience painting on rock, wood, glass, fabric, and canvas. As a dynamic Paint Nite host and tour guide, Alex is adept at leading groups through creative activities in a fun and engaging way.
All materials are provided, including aprons, brushes, paints, canvases, easels, water cups, and tablecloths.

Just in Time Choirs Spring 2025 Concert "New Orleans"
2025-04-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Sid Williams Theatre, 442 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2J2, Canada
Just in Time Choirs present “New Orleans”, their Spring Concert at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay at 7:00 pm on Saturday April 26th.
Join us in celebrating the fabulous, diverse music of this vibrant and iconic city, the city that gave us Louis Armstrong, Harry Connick Jr., Jon Batiste and John Boutte to name just a few. The songs are legendary. The choirs will be covering much loved tunes like “Iko Iko” by Dr John, Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya”, the trifecta of “Sweet”, “Freedom”, and “It’s All Right” by Jon Batiste, the cherished “Mr Bojangles” by Jerry Jeff Walker, and a reprise of a choir favourite, “Proud Mary”. And of course, a New Orleans set list would not be complete without Harry Connick Jr’s “It Had to be You” and “What a Wonderful World” by the master, Louis Armstrong.
“The music borne of the vibrant multicultural hub of New Orleans has heavily influenced modern music genres such as jazz, blues, R’n’B, and gospel,” says Wendy Nixon Stothert, Just in Time’s founder and choral conductor. “With 40 of us from Just in Time having travelled to NOLA during March Break, we’ve gleaned a deeper understanding and appreciation of the musical legacy of New Orleans and we’re looking forward to sharing that with our audience.”
Now in their 20th year, the thriving Just in Time Choirs organization comprises three ensembles: Unplugged (everyone welcome), and the smaller auditioned groups, the Jems and Vocal Minority. These renowned local contemporary choirs will be joined by talented musical collaborators: Sean Mooney on piano, Britt Bowman on bass, Beau Stocker on drums, and special guest, Rachel Cooper on clarinet and saxophone. The infectious joy that all three choirs project in their presentations is uplifting and entertaining and has the audience tapping their feet and singing along.
Tickets are $28.00 for adults, $15.00 for children 12 & under (including fees). There is also a live stream option for $28.00 per household, and we are again offering a limited number of Community Supported Tickets at $15 for those under financial constraint. Tickets and full details available online from the Sid Williams Theatre or the Just in Time web site. Tickets may be purchased at the door, subject to availability, but patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets early as performances regularly sell out.
So, if you “Feel like funkin’ it up” join us at the Sid. We look forward to sharing the joy of singing with you and welcoming you to the show!

CCFS Earth Week: Reading of "Together a Forest" with author illustrator Roz MacLean
2025-04-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Smol Store, 2704 Dunsmuir, Cumberland, BC, Canada
Join the Cumberland Community Forest’s Earth Week Festival and local author illustrator Roz MacLean for a reading of Together, a Forest: Drawing Connections Between Nature’s Diversity and Our Own, accompanied by a nature activity and snacks offered by the Building Connections Project. The book’s reading level is for 4-8 years, but all ages are welcome. This story explores the parallels between human and natural diversity while illuminating the ecology of old growth forests.
This is a FREE event!
– author reading– art activities– snacks– time for mingling and Q and A– all ages welcome
Wednesay, April 23rd, 4pm
Taking place at Smol Store’s NEW location, 2704 Dunsmuir, Cumberland!
“Together, a Forest begins as an exciting journey into nature and blossoms into a meditation on how our unique personalities and ways of being help create a more vibrant and beautiful world. The forest reveals that everyone―including those of us with disabilities and neurodivergence―belong to nature. There is no one right way for a mind, body, or person to be.
Roz MacLean is an artist and children’s book author illustrator living on the traditional territory of the K’omoks First Nation in Comox Valley, British Columbia. Roz is interested in reflecting the rich and diverse world we live in and using imagination to wonder, explore and create. Her previous book More Than Words: So Many Ways To Say What We Mean was nominated for CBC Kids Read as Well As a the Forest of Reading’s Blue Spruce Award.
This event is presented with support from the Building Connections for Vallely Families Project, the Cumberland Community Schools Society, the Cumberland Community Forest Society, and Smol Store on the unceded ancestral territories of the Pentlatch, Ieeksan (eye-ick-sun), Sasitla (sa-seet-la), and Sathloot (sath-loot) people, known today as the K’omoks First Nation.

Lecture: The Francophone Ranchers of BC’s Interior Plateau, 1860s-70s
2025-04-15 16:30 - 20:00 | the Courtenay and District Museum, 207 4th St, Courtenay, BC, COURTENAY, BC, V9N 1G7, Canada
Event type: In-person
Time and Date: 4:30 pm en francais; and 7:00 pm in English. Both on Tuesday, April 15th (doors open 6:30 pm for 7:00 pm lecture)
Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum
Speaker: Historian Maurice Guibord
Tickets: free admission thanks to a Heritage Canada grant to the SHFCB. Please call to reserve a space as seating is limited. 250-334-0686 ext. 2

Join Maurice Guibord for a lively presentation on this noteworthy aspect of early BC history. Attendees will also hear how the Indigenous descendants of these ranching families found their respective places during their historical journeys.
Maurice is the Executive Director of the Société Historique Francophone de la Columbie-Britannique and an award-winning contributor of francophone history and heritage in BC.

words + images: collage poetry workshop
2025-04-13 13:30 - 16:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
Celebrate National Poetry Month by exploring this year’s theme, “family,” to create your own collage poem, as well as to contribute to a collaborative poem.
All materials will be provided, just bring your own scissors and any extra special bits you want to use for your creation.

Email wordsandimagescollagepoetry@gmail.com to register.

Layering Colours for Luminosity A Watercolour Class with Alora Griffin
2025-04-13 13:00 - 17:00 | Lion’s Den, 1729 rear, Comox Ave, Comox, BC, V9M 3M1, Canada
Date: Sunday, April 13, 1 to 5 pm
Location: The Lion’s Den, Comox
Level: Intermediate – participants should be familiar with colour theory and mixing.
Cost: $100 per person
Students will learn how to layer transparent watercolour paints to achieve a luminous effect on paper, much like layers of stained glass. The instructor will illustrate the technique which the students will try out in the first half of the class. In the second half of the class, students will create a painting of a simple landscape or seascape by layering colours. Students can work from their own photo or print although prints will be provided.
About the Instructor
Alora is a skilled watercolourist who has recently returned to Vancouver Island to retire. She was previously a practicing architect in Toronto, Prince Rupert and on Salt Spring Island and prior to this taught high school art in New Zealand and Vancouver. She was recently accepted as an exhibiting member of the Federation of Canadian Artists.
What to bring

PAINTS: We will be using a limited palette of transparent colours. (If you wish to substitute other primary colours they have to be transparent, not opaque.)

Aureolin Yellow

Rose Madder Genuine or Permanent Rose

Cobalt Blue

Viridian

PAPER: We will be painting on 2 blocks of 140 lb. watercolour paper, which have 3 or 4 sides glued. Sizes may vary depending upon the manufacturer.

1 block – 7” x 9.5” ( 18 x 24cm )

1 block – 9.5” x 12.5” ( 24 x 32cm )

BRUSHES: Brushes can be natural fibres ( the most expensive ) synthetic ( the least expensive ), or a blend:

1 Pointed #8 or #10

1 Round #12 or #14

1 Flat 1/2” or 3/4”.

Small roll of paper towels and a soft graphite pencil

NOTE: Palettes for mixing paint and containers for rinsing brushes will be supplied.
Where to purchase

PJ’s Art Supply, 1365 Cliffe Ave (Pearl members receive a discount)

Monk Office, #3-2760 Cliffe Ave (Pearl members receive a discount)

Benjamin Moore House of Color, 249 5th St (Pearl members receive a discount)

Valley Art Supply, Comox Mall, lower level

Layering Colours for Luminosity: A Watercolour Class with Alora Griffin
2025-04-13 13:00 - 17:00 | Lion’s Den, 1729 rear, Comox Ave, Comox, BC, V9M 3M1, Canada
Date: Sunday, April 13, 1 to 5 pm
Location: The Lion’s Den, Comox
Level: Intermediate – participants should be familiar with colour theory and mixing.
Cost: $100 per person

Students will learn how to layer transparent watercolour paints to achieve a luminous effect on paper, much like layers of stained glass. The instructor will illustrate the technique which the students will try out in the first half of the class. In the second half of the class, students will create a painting of a simple landscape or seascape by layering colours. Students can work from their own photo or print although prints will be provided.
About the Instructor
Alora is a skilled watercolourist who has recently returned to Vancouver Island to retire. She was previously a practicing architect in Toronto, Prince Rupert and on Salt Spring Island and prior to this taught high school art in New Zealand and Vancouver. She was recently accepted as an exhibiting member of the Federation of Canadian Artists.
What to bring

PAINTS: We will be using a limited palette of transparent colours. (If you wish to substitute other primary colours they have to be transparent, not opaque.)

Aureolin Yellow

Rose Madder Genuine or Permanent Rose

Cobalt Blue

Viridian

PAPER: We will be painting on 2 blocks of 140 lb. watercolour paper, which have 3 or 4 sides glued. Sizes may vary depending upon the manufacturer.

1 block – 7” x 9.5” ( 18 x 24cm )

1 block – 9.5” x 12.5” ( 24 x 32cm )

BRUSHES: Brushes can be natural fibres ( the most expensive ) synthetic ( the least expensive ), or a blend:

1 Pointed #8 or #10

1 Round #12 or #14

1 Flat 1/2” or 3/4”.

Small roll of paper towels and a soft graphite pencil

NOTE: Palettes for mixing paint and containers for rinsing brushes will be supplied.
Where to purchase

PJ’s Art Supply, 1365 Cliffe Ave (Pearl members receive a discount)

Monk Office, #3-2760 Cliffe Ave (Pearl members receive a discount)

Benjamin Moore House of Color, 249 5th St (Pearl members receive a discount)

Valley Art Supply, Comox Mall, lower level

Cancellation & Refund Policy:
Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the event.
If Pearl Ellis Gallery must cancel and is unable to reschedule, or if the new date does not work for you, you will receive a full refund.

Pop-Up Poetry Booth
2025-04-12 14:30 - 16:30 | Gladstone Brewing Company, 244 4th Street, Courtenay, BC, Canada
Come celebrate National Poetry Month by visiting a Pop-Up Poetry Booth at Gladstone Brewing Company on Saturday, April 12th from 2:30 – 4:30, where you can meet with a poet, have a chat, and they’ll write you a brand new poem to take home…for free!

Spring Fling and Easter Things 2025
2025-04-12 11:00 - 14:00 | the Courtenay and District Museum, 207 4th St, Courtenay, BC, COURTENAY, BC, V9N 1G7, Canada
Celebrate spring at the Spring Fling and Easter Thing, hosted by the Courtenay and District Museum, on Saturday, April 12th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This exciting, family-friendly event has something for everyone to enjoy!
Enjoy a Petting Zoo with friendly and adorable animals like bunnies, chicks, and guinea pigs, provided by Barnyard Party Animals. Get your face painted by the talented Amy Louise for just $5, and don’t miss the lively performance by children’s singer/songwriter Mr. Day, featuring his playful puppets Gus Giraffe and Rocco Raccoon. Shows are at 11:15, 12:00, 12:45, and 1:30. You can also take part in a fun bird nest hunt, indulge in tasty Easter treats, and try your luck at winning exciting games and door prizes.
Best of all, admission is by donation, so bring the whole family for a memorable day of springtime fun!

POEM-PALOOZA
2025-04-05 14:00 - 16:30 | Courtenay Library, 300 6th Street, Courtenay, BC, Canada
Come celebrate National Poetry Month at the Courtenay Library on Saturday, April 5th at this free, family-friendly event!
There’s an interactive poetry booth, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., where you chat with a poet who will write you a brand new poem to take home. Then, from 3:00 – 4:30 you can join us for a showcase reading by poets who have written poems for this year’s downtown Poetry Walk.

Wingnut Comedy Open Mic
2025-04-02 19:00 - 21:00 | HighTidePub, 268 Fifth Street, Courtenay, BC, V9N 1J6, Canada
WINGNUT open mic comedy night for local and visiting comedians. Want to try doing standup comedy for the first time? Want to practice your jokes/sets? Check this open mic out! April 2, 16, May 7, 21. At High Tide Pub in Downtown Courtenay. Featuring headliners. Door prizes. Comic sign up at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm. $5.00 cover charge (used to pay headliners).

Waterways: The Comox Valley Gallery Hop
2025-04-01 10:00 - 2025-04-30 17:00 | BC
This April, nine galleries across the Comox Valley are coming together to celebrate the beauty and power of water through Waterways: The Comox Valley Gallery Hop. Each gallery will present a unique water-themed exhibition, offering visitors an opportunity to experience a diverse range of artistic interpretations.
The goal of Waterways is to encourage both locals and visitors to explore the incredible art spaces in the Comox Valley. Many residents have never visited these galleries or have only been to one or two. This event is a chance to discover the unique character of each gallery, connect with local artists, and find original artwork—often at very affordable prices. All galleries are offering free admission, so visitors can enjoy the diverse exhibitions without any cost. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore the vibrant local art scene!
Participating galleries include Artful: The Gallery, ARTWRX Studio + Gallery, Comox Valley Art Gallery, I-Hos Gallery, Pearl Ellis Gallery, Studio 211, The Gallery @ Weird Church, The Worthy Room, and YQQ + CVA Arts and Culture. Visitors are encouraged to explore them all, enjoying a variety of art forms and perspectives from talented local artists.
To make the experience even more engaging, guests can collect stamps on a Waterways stamp card as they visit each gallery. Once their tour is complete, they can fill out their information and drop the card off at any participating gallery to be entered to win a wide array of incredible art prizes generously donated by local artists—the more galleries they visit, the more chances they have to win!
Exhibitions will run throughout April, with individual galleries hosting their own opening receptions and events. For details on each gallery’s show, hours, and reception dates, visit pearlellisgallery.ca/waterways.
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate local art and the natural beauty of water—mark your calendar and start planning your gallery hop!

Ebb & Flow at Pearl Ellis Gallery
2025-04-01 10:00 - 2025-04-26 16:00 | Pearl Ellis Gallery, 1729 Comox Ave, Comox, BC, V9M 3M2, Canada
The Pearl Ellis Gallery presents Ebb & Flow, a juried exhibition running from April 1st to 26th, 2025, inviting viewers to reflect on the profound relationship between humanity and water. Featuring paintings, photography, sculpture, and fiber arts, the show explores water’s many forms—its power, beauty, and significance in our past, present, and future.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 5th, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, where guests can meet the artists and engage in conversations about their work while enjoying light refreshments.
Through diverse artistic interpretations, Ebb & Flow encourages reflection on historical ties to water, particularly in the Comox Valley and surrounding areas, while addressing contemporary environmental, social, and cultural challenges. The exhibition also envisions a future where humanity fosters a renewed respect for the watersheds that sustain us.
Ebb & Flow is part of Waterways: The Comox Valley Gallery Hop, a collaborative event taking place for the month of April, celebrating the region’s vibrant arts community.
Located at 1729 Comox Ave, across from the Comox Mall, admission to the Pearl Ellis Gallery is always free. For more information, visit www.pearlellisgallery.ca.

Layering Colours for Luminosity: A Watercolour Class with Alora Griffin
2025-03-26 08:00 - 17:00 | Lion’s Den, 1729 rear, Comox Ave, Comox, BC, V9M 3M1, Canada
Date: Sunday, April 13, 1 to 5 pm
Location: The Lion’s Den, Comox
Level: Intermediate
Cost: $100 per person
Students will learn how to layer transparent watercolour paints to achieve a luminous effect on paper, much like layers of stained glass. The instructor will illustrate the technique which the students will try out in the first half of the class. In the second half of the class, students will create a painting of a simple landscape or seascape by layering colours. Students can work from their own photo or print although prints will be provided.
About the Instructor
Alora is a skilled watercolourist who has recently returned to Vancouver Island to retire. She was previously a practicing architect in Toronto, Prince Rupert and on Salt Spring Island and prior to this taught high school art in New Zealand and Vancouver. She was recently accepted as an exhibiting member of the Federation of Canadian Artists.

What to bring

PAINTS: We will be using a limited palette of transparent colours. (If you wish to substitute other primary colours they have to be transparent, not opaque.)

Aureolin Yellow
Rose Madder Genuine or Permanent Rose
Cobalt Blue
Viridian

PAPER: We will be painting on 2 blocks of 140 lb. watercolour paper, which have 3 or 4 sides glued. Sizes may vary depending upon the manufacturer.

1 block – 7” x 9.5” ( 18 x 24cm )
1 block – 9.5” x 12.5” ( 24 x 32cm )

BRUSHES: Brushes can be natural fibres ( the most expensive ) synthetic ( the least expensive ), or a blend:

1 Pointed #8 or #10
1 Round #12 or #14
1 Flat 1/2” or 3/4”.

Small roll of paper towels and a soft graphite pencil

NOTE: Palettes for mixing paint and containers for rinsing brushes will be supplied.
Where to purchase

PJ’s Art Supply, 1365 Cliffe Ave (Pearl members receive a discount)
Monk Office, #3-2760 Cliffe Ave (Pearl members receive a discount)
Benjamin Moore House of Color, 249 5th St (Pearl members receive a discount)
Valley Art Supply, Comox Mall, lower level

Introduction to Chalk Pastels with Sandra Lamb
2025-03-22 13:30 - 2025-03-23 16:00 | The Genoa Room, Sail Buildings, Marina Park, Comox, BC, Canada
Dates: March 22 & 23, 1:30 – 4:00 PMLocation: The Genoa Room, Sail Buildings, Marina Park, ComoxLevel: Beginner
Cost: $125 per person

Discover the expressive possibilities of chalk pastels in this two-part beginner-friendly class. Learn about mark-making, surface techniques, pastel types, and layering while exploring the unique qualities of this versatile medium. Instead of completing a single artwork, participants will create small studies on different surfaces to build confidence and technique.

About the Instructor
Sandra Lamb has been teaching art in the Comox Valley for over 20 years, offering instruction in a wide range of mediums, including watercolors, chalk pastels, oils, acrylics, pen & ink, portraiture, landscape, figurative work, cartooning, book illustration, and drawing. After a short hiatus, she is excited to reconnect with familiar students and welcome new ones.

What to Bring

11″ x 14″ (or larger) watercolor paper (student grade is fine)
Basic soft chalk pastel set (10-15 colors)
Three primary colors in watercolors or acrylics (only if you already have them)
Medium-sized watercolor brush
Cheap brush for applying gesso
Water container, rags, apron
Table easel (if you have one)
Optional: Old shower curtain or plastic sheet, pastel paper, pastel crayons, or Nupastels
Sandra will provide additional materials.

Plenty of parking is available at Marina Park.
For more information and registration visit our website at www.pearlellisgallery.ca/art-classes

Bob Log III
2025-03-15 19:00 - 22:00 | Comox Valley Curling Centre, 4835 Headquarters Road, Courtenay, BC, V9J1P2, Canada
Bob Log III is a one man band slide guitar blues punk party. A perverse product of the Arizona desert, Bob Log III has been diligently travelling the globe since 1996, showcasing his incomparable talents and developing a devoted following along the way. A whirlwind of dexterous limbs and digits, this super star sonic showman has to be seen to be believed.
Clad in his cannonball man, extra tight jumpsuit and signature motorcycle helmet with telephone/microphone attached, Bob Log III unfailingly sweats up a river while kicking on a kick drum, stomping his homemade foot cymbal and playing slide on an old arch top guitar. Bob Log on being a one man band: “Yeah, who needs a rhythm section? They say drummers are crazy, guitar players are idiots and singers are assholes. And I gotta be all of ‘em.” His endless pursuit for musical mayhem and a downright party has seen his unique talents utilized for children’s birthday parties, obscure beer barns, mammoth music festivals and everything in between.
Bob Log explains: “It’s pretty simple: I take a guitar and turn it into a party. There’s a lot of ways to do that, and I’ve figured out most of ‘em! Having fun with my guitar is the ultimate goal in every song. Then I add some drums to it. With my drumming it’s electronic beats, but not a whole song programmed, so it can change at any time. Then I also play real drums on top of that. I’m trying to sound like two drummers, and one of my drummers is good and the one of my drummers is terrible and they absolutely hate each other! And I finger-pick on top of that and sing into a telephone in my helmet attached to my head. The basic idea is I’m doing this fun thing with my guitar and making it as fun as possible until people spill their drinks and someone loses a shoe. If there’s one shoe on the ground, and it’s totally wet because of the puddles of spilled drinks, then I‘ve done my job right.”
Yet, beyond the crazy show and mesmerizing visuals, lies the true reason for Bob Log’s international cult status and superhero adoration. It is quite simply the guitar playing – finger picked lightning, sliding up and down, stopping when it wants to, then starting again when it feels like it, all in a way that makes people move uncontrollably, smile and reel.
https://www.boblog111.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Log_III
https://www.facebook.com/boblog111/
https://boblogiii.bandcamp.com/track/consuela-did-it
Opening the show will be Caveman & The Banshee, a kozmik atomic punk duo from Nanaimo BC Canada guaranteed to melt your brain.
https://cavemanandthebanshee.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/cavemanandthebanshee/

Bag Making With Lorraine
2025-03-05 18:30 - 20:30 | #4-420 Fitzgerald Ave., Courtenay, BC, Canada
Mar 5 – Mar 19
Join Lorraine for this great bag-making class!
You will use the Traverse Bag by Noodlehead Patterns, with a small modification to make it even more beginner-friendly.
Choose from two sizes!
This class is a great way to keep practicing those straight lines, sewing zippers, and making accurate measurements and cuts. You’ll learn how to use bag patterns, rotary cutters, and hardware.
For your convenience, we have included all the hardware, straps, zippers (with a few colours to choose from) and interfacing, so all you need to buy is your fabric. Use a lovely canvas or even a linen!
The only prerequisite: Basic knowledge of the sewing machine (Foundations, Get to Know your sewing machine class or Fundamentals are a great start.). If you are still beginner, Lorraine can help set up your machine, but there isn’t time to explain how to thread the machine, in order to keep the class focused on bag making!

Awakening: Spring Members Show
2025-03-04 10:00 - 2025-03-29 16:00 | Pearl Ellis Gallery, 1729 Comox Ave, Comox, BC, V9M 3M2, Canada
As the days grow longer and nature stirs to life, the Pearl Ellis Gallery invites you to experience Awakening: Spring Members Show. Running from March 4 to March 29, this dynamic exhibition features work from 49 talented local artists, capturing the essence of renewal and transformation in a variety of styles and mediums.
Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, March 8, from 1-3 PM, where you can meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and immerse yourself in the creative energy of the season.
From seasoned professionals to emerging talents, Awakening showcases a diverse collection of original paintings, photography, sculpture, and more. At The Pearl, all pieces are available for purchase, along with an excellent selection of art cards by local artists – perfect for gift-giving or adding a touch of inspiration to your home.
As a volunteer-run, non-profit gallery, the Pearl Ellis Gallery is dedicated to supporting and celebrating the arts in our community. Located in downtown Comox at 1729 Comox Avenue, the gallery offers free admission and is wheelchair accessible.
For more information, visit www.pearlellisgallery.ca or call 250-339-2822 during gallery hours. Interested in becoming a member? Join for just $30 per year and be part of this vibrant artistic community.
Celebrate the season of renewal with Awakening – a show that promises to inspire!

Artful : The Poets
2025-03-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
Feature Poet Cynthia Woodman starts off the evening with her reading, followed by our Open Mic hosted by Diana Kolpak. Sign up at the door for your 5min spot! For more info about Cynthia visit the events page on our website.

Spoken Word: An Oral Excursion From Page to Performance
2025-03-02 13:00 - 17:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
A workshop led by poet and performer Steven J. Thompson.
Email to reserve your spot: stevenjthompsonpoet@gmail.com
Steven J. Thompson is a writer, spoken word artist and poet. He has written
articles for Monday Magazine and 11th Transmission, and participated in the
2007 CBC Poetry Face-off. Steven’s poetry has appeared in print, in publications
such as Oratoriallis and MuseMedusa.

As a three-time member of the Victoria National Poetry Slam team, Steven has
performed at festivals and events across Canada including The Pacific Festival
of the Book, Vancouver’s Word on the Street Festival, The Canadian Festival of
Spoken Word and The Calgary International Spoken Word Festival. He is a
graduate of the Banff Spoken Word Program where he studied with Sheri-D
Wilson and Juno Award winner Lillian Allen.

Steven is co-founder of the long-running, award-winning Tongues of Fire spoken
word/poetry series in Victoria. As executive director of the Victoria Poetry Project
Society he worked as a liaison with arts organizations across Canada. In 2009
Steven was the festival director of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word.

Guest Artist: Charlie Farrero at the Potter’s Place Gallery
2025-03-01 00:00 - 2025-03-31 23:59 | Potters Place Gallery, 180B 5th Street, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 1J4, Canada
CERAMIC WALL SCULPTURES
We are very excited to welcome Charlie as our guest artist for the month of March. He has long been involved in the Canadian Arts Community and his work has been exhibited across Canada. His work can be found in several public collections including the Saskatchewan Arts Board, MacKenzie Art Gallery (Regina) and New Canadian Ceramics Museum in China.

'Scapes
2025-02-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
…land, sea, garden, urban, rural…
4 Comox Valley artists bring the world to the gallery!
Alora Griffin, Channing Holland, Trisha Milne and Roger Vermeulen interpret their visions of the environment with water and colour. Both framed and unframed works will be for sale.​
Join us for the Artist Reception Saturday, Feb 22nd, 7-9pm

'Scapes
2025-02-19 12:00 - 2025-03-15 17:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
…land, sea, garden, urban, rural…
Four Comox Valley artists bring the world to the gallery.
Alora Griffin, Channing Holland, Trisha Milne and Roger Vermeulen interpret their visions of the environment with water and colour. Both framed and unframed works will be for sale.
Join us for the Artist Reception Saturday, Feb 22nd, 7-9pm
Gallery Hours Weds – Sat 12-5pm

Comox Valley Songwriters Circle
2025-02-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
Each month singer/songwriters gather to share their tunes at Artful : The Gallery. The range of abilities, experience and genres welcomes musicians who appreciate the challenge (and the deadline!) of creating a new song each month.
The circle provides a place to be inspired, seek feedback and to be
able to hear what other creatives are working on. Most musicians bring along their
guitars or ukuleles, although some sing a capella or use the in-house piano for accompaniment.
Host Ashley Sykes’s love of connecting with other artists provides motivation to write
and perform in the supportive group. The circle does not provide instruction; it provides an opportunity to perform your song, and to be impacted by others doing the same.
Attendance is by donation ($10 or pwyc). The group welcomes newcomers, and the
only criteria is that the songs performed are original.

Unsculpted
2025-02-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
This afternoon workshop will connect you with the joy of creating for the sake of exploration, humour, and collaboration. Primarily utilizing modelling and assemblage, we will cultivate a sense of possibility, adventure and imagination.
Creating with unexpected materials can lower our inhibitions, giving us the playful experience of creating with curiosity and openness to the unexpected…just for the pleasure of it!
Unsculpted is not about learning to sculpt with skilled technical expertise; it will expand your creativity though, just not in the ways you might expect!
The activities in Unsculpted are intended to guide you back to your creative heart. The act of (art) creation can get so twisted up in our judgments of what constitutes ‘good’ that we completely lose touch with the joy of creating for the sake of exploration and playfulness.
​This one-session workshop runs from 1 to 4pm with a mid-way break. Feel free to bring drinks and snacks. The $105 workshop fee includes GST and all materials supplied. Email kristinacampbellart@gmail.com to register.

Clive Powsey : Discontemporary Printmaking
2025-02-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Artful the Gallery, 526 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2C7
Like many artists I see images and iconography primarily existing in a continuum that goes back to the dawn of human culture and is sustained by recurring archetypes. The term “contemporary art” attempts to locate pictures here and now in time and space taxonomically, but this feels unnatural for those who take stock of the visual art record in the way visual artists do. Artists might be more inclined to categorize by iconography, medium, or style, for example. I see my completed images as ‘discontemporary,’ immediately uploaded from the fleeting present to an unspeakably vast, oceanic and noisy continuum of art imagery. Each image is dispatched in the hope that someone, somewhere, at some time will discern its signal amongst the noise. Hopefully this one-day-only pop-up exhibition of selected intaglio printmaking will appear briefly in time and space at 10am on the morning of February 8th at Artful Gallery and provide something to delight or offend any visitors before disappearing at 4pm.
