A pilot project in Parksville is testing out the city’s artistic appetite at Christmas time with a new seasonal art gallery.
It’s called Oceanside Village Artists’ Gallery, led by artist and tireless arts promoter, Dee Aguilar.
“If it is supported by the community and does well then we’ll try to the project again next year,” said Aguilar, who organizes The Original Christmas Art Faire in Qualicum Beach, The Winter Art Walk, The Friday Night Artisan Market in the summertime and has run a number of other local arts events.
The Oceanside Village Artists’ Gallery will be located in the boutique space at the Oceanside Village Resort on Resort Drive in Parksville. It will run from December 1 December 24 and feature about 30 well-known artists from around the area.
“We’ve got some big names in there,” said Aguilar, adding that the work will be evolving and changing throughout the 24 days so every day will offer new treasures.
Aguilar said it’s not easy surviving as an artist in today’s economy and locally artists are coming together for this project.
“If we all work together then we can build together and that’s basically what this is about,” she said.
Some of the artists at the gallery include Aguilar and her husband Larry Aguilar, Tsimshian Native Jewellery Artist Leanne Helin, Debra Kasprick of Affinity Stone Jewelry, painters Dan Gray, Patt Scrivener and Micheal Schutte, photographer Randy Hall and metal artists Jay Holbrook and Dave Kasprick (Red Cod Forge), among many other talented artists.
The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning December 1.