Many homes in Campbell River are adorned with ‘hobbitats’ – unique west coast villages made from pieces of driftwood and other materials collected from the shoreline.
Meet hobbitat creator Mary Teer at the Campbell River Art Gallery Christmas Market Saturday, Dec. 15 from 1 - 3 p.m. to see how she creates art from driftwood.
Teer came up with the term ‘hobbitat’ in honour of her lifelong hobby in driftwood art, as well as JRR Tolkien’s famous book ‘The Hobbit’.
She started making the tiny villages as wedding gifts and before she knew it, she was shipping hobbitats to countries around the world.
Teer has been teaching hobbitat and driftwood art classes since 1998, and the trend has caught on around the Island.
“The timing was perfect,” she said.
The Driftwood Club of Campbell River was formed in 2001 after Teer’s classes grew more and more popular.
Today, the club is called the ‘Driftwood Divas of Campbell River’.
They create not only driftwood art, but fine arts and crafts, and enjoy giving art for the purpose of fundraising.
Teer was born and raised in Nanaimo, but has lived in Campbell River since 1965.
She said the area’s natural beauty is her inspiration.
“There is no place more beautiful and conducive to art than Campbell River,” she said.
The Campbell River Art Gallery’s Christmas Arts and Crafts Market, sponsored by Chan, Nowosad and Boates, Chartered Accountants, is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Christmas Eve.
The Market will also be open Sunday, Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Market features the work of dozens of artisans from Campbell River, Quadra Island, Cortes Island and other communities in the region.
For more information, stop by the Gallery from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., call 250-287-2261 or e-mail contact@crartgallery.ca