A tribute to the upcoming Brandt Wildlife Festival, photographs of regional wildlife and the landscape and equestrian paintings of a late-blooming artist will be among the features when the McMillan Arts Centre opens its next set of monthly exhibits March 1 in Parksville.
Brandt Festival
The annual Brant Wildlife Festival takes place March 19 – April 17. The McMillan Arts Centre is delighted to participate in the Brant Wildlife Festival by hosting two art exhibitions featuring birds. Member artists will submit artwork in the medium and interpretation of their choosing that explores and expresses the theme of “birds.”
Jolene Aarbo
Aarbo has been an artist and painter her entire life but began pursuing it professionally in 2012.
After graduating with a degree in design from the Alberta College of Art in Calgary in 2002, she worked as a production manager and art director. She went on to create her own design and marketing company and, in 2009, founded a new Vancouver Island-wide magazine that has developed into the parent company of Island Times Media Corporation.
In 2012 Aarbo was inspired by a few artist friends to make the time to paint again. Since then she has been creating works inspired by the stunning Vancouver Island landscapes. Growing up with horses her entire life and a family full of horse-obsessed people inspires her equine artwork and her own love of horses and the horse world.
John Critchley
Critchley’s photography exhibit features local wildlife that is accessible without traveling far from home. His bear photos were taken in Bute Inlet, which is within a day’s travel there and back from Campbell River. His bird photos are all from walking around the French Creek area and the Nanaimo River Estuary.
All of these exhibition photos have been taken within the last two years and most on Vancouver Island, some literally in his backyard.
An opening reception and sale will be held on Saturday, March 5, from 1-3 p.m. The public is invited for complimentary refreshments and the opportunity to meet the artists at McMillan Arts Centre, 133 McMillan Street, Parksville.
— Submitted by The MAC