CVAC Arts this Month

Friends Met at a Hanging

Softly Falling Light,” by Rory MacDonald, oil on cradled board. 24 x 48 inches

Likely one of the more unusual titles for an art show, Friends Met at a Hanging (November 14-28), promises to be one of the most exciting as well.CVAC’s curatorial group – known as the hanging crew – is well known for making every show in the gallery look its best. But when they aren’t volunteering they are all working on exceptional art of their own. So this month the seven artists move out of the shadows and display together: Rory MacDonald, Pauline Dueck, Diana Batcheler, Cam Russell, Will Banman, Dennis Del Torre, and Bill Hibberd. The show (to be hung by the artists) will include paintings, woodwork, metal sculpture and found object assemblages.

This year, for our holiday LEGO show (November 23 – December 16), we are looking for LEGO creators to think outside the box for the theme What Goes Around. We have three categories: Individual (one age group 16 and under), Family, and Class. Sign up online. Drop-off date is November 21. It is always a popular event to enter and come to see.

Two other art shows are continuing into November: Printmakers Only Group is displaying work in the Annex, and Maple Bay Painters has over 100 works on display in the Gallery. Both run until November 10.

November features four wildly different workshops for adults and children. The Cubism talk and workshop (November 5) is part of the programming leading up to our Driven to Abstraction member show (in January). Given the popularity of pets, Drawing Cats and Dogs (November 9) will be a popular afternoon sketching workshop. Finally as part of our new youth program, CVAC has scheduled an art camp on the professional development day holiday (November 25). Kids (aged 9-13) will make holiday crafts from different cultures around the world.

Last month, our new education co-ordinator Elke Cole started Art Space, a dynamic art program for youth aged 13-19. She and the group will develop ideas each week, exploring how art can make an impact in everything from protest posters to large-scale public art. It happens every Thursday until May at the CVAC studio.

About Us

CVAC operates two community art galleries, hosting up to 30 shows annually at its art space in the Cowichan

Community Centre in Duncan. Founded in 1971, CVAC programs workshops for youth and adults in its studio space. 2687 James Street, Duncan www.cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca 10