May 2024 Newsletter

Having moved to the Comox Valley less than two years ago from a different province, I continue to be amazed at the lushness of our surroundings and the abundance and variety of flowering plants and trees. Spring is a spectacular time to drive into Comox and be surrounded by blooms, smiling faces, and sunshine on the water, with snow-capped mountains in the distance. This really is a special place.

The Pearl Ellis Gallery is also a special place, a hidden gem, or “Pearl,” nestled in a friendly and beautiful town, and run by creative and welcoming volunteer members. The current Spring Members’ show is on display until June 1st and features many pieces that reflect the beauty of our surroundings.

With Covid restrictions behind us, the gallery and the museum have decided that it’s time to return to pre-pandemic hours. Starting on June 1st, we will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. This return to normal hours will be welcome news for our visitors and patrons, but it also means we need to recruit more volunteer hosts. The longer day will be split into two shifts: 10 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm. Please contact our scheduling volunteer, Elaine, at elaine@pearlellisgallery.ca if you’d like to spend a morning or afternoon in a very pleasant environment. You can of course also volunteer for the whole shift.

We held our AGM at the end of April and had a great turnout. We reported on gallery activities for 2023 and welcomed our new board of directors. You can read more about our team here: [https://pearlellisgallery.com/bios/]. We also held the second round of jurying for 2024 and have determined all the remaining shows for the year. Here’s the list of upcoming shows: [https://pearlellisgallery.com/shows/upcoming].

As we gear up for a busy summer season, we are thrilled to announce that The Pearl will be participating in the Comox Summer Fest on June 22nd! This popular street fair features over 40 vendors, including artisans and merchants, along with live entertainment and family-friendly activities.  We'll be setting up tables in front of the gallery and offering live mini-paintings by donation. An email with more details and a call for volunteers will be sent in the next few weeks.

We are also planning to revive the Painting En Plein Air program, where members can set up in front of the gallery to paint. This year, they will be able to sell their work directly to customers, through the gallery's cash register. It will be a win-win situation, attracting visitors to the gallery and providing another opportunity for our members to showcase their talents and potentially make a sale. Please contact elaine@pearlellisgallery.ca if you are interested in being our featured artist of the day!

The next opportunity to submit work will be for the Summer Members’ Show, and applications will be open for submissions on the website on July 16th.

It’s not too early to think about the Christmas season, as we will be hosting a one-week “Giftables” show in November, where we encourage you to submit multiple small items in a Craft Sale format. In October we will also be organizing art donations for Home Instead's [https://www.homeinstead.ca/]  “Be a Santa to a Senior” program.

As we embrace the beauty and vibrancy of the coming seasons, we invite you to join us in celebrating the arts and the wonderful community we share. Whether you’re visiting the gallery, volunteering your time, or participating in our exciting events, your support helps keep the Pearl Ellis Gallery a thriving cultural hub in the Comox Valley. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Warm regards,

Teresa Kachanoski
Pearl Ellis Gallery President