Oak Bay Marine Group’s annual celebration of art, Painters at Painter’s, will celebrate 21 years and is expected to draw hundreds of art lovers to Campbell River, May 29-31.
Each year, people make the pilgrimage to Painter’s Lodge to meet and talk with well-known artists like Robert Amos, Alan Wylie, Keith Hiscock, and Grant Leier, as they take in one of the most impressive collections of artistic talent to be found under one roof anywhere in Canada.
More than 20 B.C. “artists in residence” will be participating this year, and a special tribute to Dorothy Oxborough, Ted Harrison, and Robert Genn will take place, honouring three of the original artists in residence who recently passed away.
“It is difficult to comprehend that it was over twenty years ago when the idea for Painters at Painter’s was born,” says Susan Barcham, spokesperson for Painter’s Lodge. “As we gather once again to celebrate British Columbia’s finest artistic talent, we know that for two decades now this event has created delightful, unexpected, and unforgettable moments.”
Artists give demonstrations, display work in the galleries, participate in panel discussions, and create beautiful works in the resort’s gardens, giving the public a rare opportunity to watch and learn from the masters.
Two-night accommodation packages, which include brunch, admission to artist presentations and panel discussions, wine and cheese reception and souvenir catalogue, are $319 per person.
A day pass for Saturday, the busiest day, is $59.95 and includes brunch, the wine and cheese reception, and admission to all presentations and panel discussions, with the souvenir catalogue. Sunday’s day pass is $39.95 and provides access to artist presentations, panel discussions, brunch and the souvenir catalogue.
For those who want to simply see the artists at work, a walk-in pass is $15 per day.
More information may be found at http://www.painterslodge.com/event-calendar/painters-at-painter-s.htm and by calling 1-800-663-7090.
In addition to the pros, a select group of grade 10 and 12 students from Campbell River’s Carihi Secondary School have special invitations to attend the event and create their own works on site, as they learn techniques and have their work critiqued by the artists in residence.
These talented young people have a passion for painting and creating, and will work with several different styles and mediums.
“The students have free reign over their subject matter so that this experience is personal and beneficial for each of them, without the constraint of fitting their paintings into a conceptually themed unit of study,” says teacher Leanne Longeway.