The Arts Pacific Gallery is celebrating an impressive 25 years since we opened our doors in Artisan Square in June 1998. Please join us on Saturday and Sunday, June 17-18, from 11 am to 4 pm for refreshments and a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to spend at the gallery.
The gallery was born out of the determined initiative of Jeanette Zwanenburg and other local artists including Pierre Beaudry, Bill Hoopes, and Jane Dunfield to create a space to support each other and sell their work. The original mandate was, and still is, to feature only Bowen Island artists in a co-operative business.
With help from the community along with support from Artisan Square developer Doug Berry and a grant from the Bowen Island Arts Council, the gallery opened June 1, 1998. As for choice of name, according to a submission to the Undercurrent in June of that year, David Cameron wrote “What do you call an artists’ run co-operative gallery that offers for sale a range of work as diverse as the 14 people who created them?”
Well, to solve the problem like that “committee style” took five meetings and at least a few pints of hemp ale at Doc Morgan’s (or possibly a nearby field, the history is hazy on this one) before a consensus was reached with “Bowen Island Arts Pacific Guild”. And have you ever wondered about the intriguing mosaic on the wall between the gallery and the Montessori preschool? This work of art was designed and crafted by some of the original members, including Bob Bates, using the Kokopelli figure as a symbol of creativity for their logo.
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We are transitioning to a more contemporary logo using our name on a turquoise blue background. And we will be keeping our storefront sign in a place of honor somewhere in the gallery. Since the beginning, we have welcomed over 80 local Bowen artists to share their unique creations such as paintings, jewelry, fiber arts, pottery, and much more. We are grateful to all these artists and the local community that have supported us year-round and even through Covid. We’d also like to thank our landlords, Alain and Caroline, for their consideration in keeping our rent reasonable so we can continue to thrive.
The gallery is currently comprised of 12 full members and four guest artists. We are open to submissions from established or emerging artists to share their work and help with hosting and running of the gallery. We are open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm (with occasional pop-up Mondays).
Please drop by on June 17 or 18 to help us celebrate with refreshments and draw to win a $50 gift certificate - and here’s to at least another 25 years of bringing you local Bowen artists.
