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Parksville Qualicum Beach artists prepare new studio tour

Tour runs Aug. 6 and Aug. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Valerie Giles, Arrowsmith Fine Arts president, left, and Vikki Vettese, chairperson, right, are excited for the inaugural Oceanside Studio Tour. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

Parksville Qualicum Beach artists are preparing to launch a brand-new studio tour.

The Oceanside Studio Tour, which runs Aug. 6 and Aug. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be a chance to meet the artists and see how they create their work.

The tour is presented by the Arrowsmith Fine Arts (AFA) non-profit organization, affiliated with the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA), according to Valerie Giles, AFA president and Vikki Vettese, chairperson.

The tour will showcase the work of 32 artists at 21 studios, including the Sue Clark Community Space at The Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH) in Qualicum Beach, where booklets with a map can be picked up. The booklets are also available at the McMillan Arts Centre (MAC) in Parksville and Qualicum Art Supply & Gallery.

The studios are located mainly in Parksville and Qualicum Beach, with one found in Qualicum Bay. Location and artist background information can be found at oceansidestudiotour.com and in the booklets.

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Visitors will find a range of artwork, including watercolours, abstracts, mixed mediums and acrylics. The artists will also be selling art cards, cloth bags and prints. Door prizes from local businesses will be drawn at the end of the tour.

Vettese will be the host in the information centre in the Sue Clark Community Space in TOSH from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer questions about the tour. Giles will be at Studio 15.

Qualicum Art Supply & Gallery will host pre-show dates on July 29 and Aug. 2 to Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The AFA was created in 2019 by group of artists living in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area. Its purpose is to promote artists in various local shows and studio tours.

— NEWS Staff

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