Can We Talk?

Mycelium Forest, acrylic on canvas, 32”x 32 “, Susan Karrow

From emojis on text messages to urban murals on warehouse walls, visual images are a way to strengthen our messages. Visual artists know that the impact goes beyond speaking or writing, like the proverbial picture equalling 1000 words.

Communication appears to be the theme of all the art shows at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council this month. And not just human communication. In our smaller Annex gallery, the first show is called Mycelium Forests, devoted to the beautiful patterns of mushrooms and fungi (depicted by local and Haida Gwaii artists). Turns out, according to researchers, their roots form a mycelial network that is the wi-fi of the forest world, allowing trees to communicate with one another.

And we think we’re the best communicators of the natural world! In fact, many humans seem deaf and blind to the strong messages the environment is sending us. To help those messages get through, the major show in the CVAC Gallery all month is Watershed: Through the Lens of Art. The show features fine art by painters and photographer as well as work by groups such as the Cowichan Green Community and the Cowichan Lake and River Stewardship Society.

The other two shows in the Annex gallery deal with the same theme. I Wish I’d Said That features the fabric art, clay and painting from Lesley Comassar, Janet Magdanz and Pauline Dueck. The whimsical show title refers to some famous quotations that the group used for inspiration. The final Annex show is Reflections, featuring paintings and drawings that dwell on powerful memories by Astrid Notte and Doreen Green.

If you want to express yourself artistically, in addition to the ballot box or the coffee shop rant, consider coming to the used art supply sale at CVAC, on Saturday, September 11. Get a great deal on supplies (paints, brushes, vintage picture frames, and more) while supporting the programs offered by CVAC.

Susan Down is managing director of the Cowichan Valley Arts Council.