Nanoose Place Community Centre will host an artistic double feature this weekend.
In the gymnasium, the Nanoose Bay Studio Tour group will host their annual Showcase event while artists Nancy Day, Carmen Mongeau and Barbara Ann Scott will host the Fine Art Open Studio Show and Sale in the adjoining activity room.
“It just happened they had their sale the same day as our showcase,” said Debra Kasprick, co-chair of the studio tour’s advertising committee.
While the shows are technically not connected, both have embraced the double booking by helping promote each other.
“We’re more or less sponsoring each other,” said Day. “I think we have the same clientele.”
On the Nanoose Studio Tour side of things, Kasprick said most of the 14 galleries currently on the list — who produce everything from sculpture to jewelery to paintings — will attend the showcase. They will also feature seven or eight guest artists from around the mid-Island, which Kasprick said helps to keep the show varied year to year. Mirella Trozzo of Biscotti di Notte will run the concession.
While guests are invited to go directly to the artists’ personal studios throughout the year, the annual showcase offers visitors the opportunity to see everyone’s work in one easily accessible venue. It’s also helpful from the artist’s point of view, especially for those studios that are located well off the beaten track and might not receive as many visitors, said Kasprick.
Last year, around 400-500 people attended the popular event.
In the adjoining activity room, artists Day, Mongeau and Scott will sell their own paintings.
“(There’s) lots of light,” said Scott. “We actually set it up like a gallery.”
Day said she will bring impressionistic landscapes, florals and waterscapes, while Mongeau is selling a collection of large abstract paintings and Scott will feature various mixed media works.
A big aspect to their side of the show, however, is the prices.
“We’re showcasing our work at studio pricing,” said Mongeau, explaining that this means they won’t include the mark up they usually factor into the sale price when they sell their work in galleries.
To get to the activity room, you can go into the Nanoose Bay Studio Tour showcase and go through the open interior doors located in the back corner of the gymnasium. There is also a separate exterior entrance to the activity room around the left side of building and Mongeau said the path to this door will be marked.
While there is no admission fee to the fine arts show in the activity room, entrance to the gymnasium showcase is by donation of a non-perishable food items for the Nanoose Bay Community Cupboard food bank. Cash donations are also accepted.
Both the showcase and the art sale will take place on May 2-3 at 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Nanoose Place Community Centre, which is located at 2925 Northwest Bay Rd.