Gabriola Island is known as "Isle of the Arts" for excellent reason. It's not only home to possibly the highest concentration of artists in Canada, but it's also home to artists in almost every discipline: painting, pottery, jewellery, woodcarving, stained glass and music. Not to mention writers in every genre from mystery and science fiction to children's books and nonfiction. Talk about a creative hive.
Commercial Galleries and Private Studios
Gabriola comes peppered with commercial galleries and private artists' studios. Wherever the visitor wanders, art miraculously appears. Plan a full day for gallery-hopping. Artists post signs on driveways. They welcome visitors. Works of art are often left out in shops and kiosks, unmanned. At Earth, Fire and Tears, peruse fine pottery at bargain prices. If a visitor fancies something, just leave cash or cheque, take the purchase and travel on. How easy can it be?
Jewellery, Ornaments & Stained Glass Art
Book an appointment to peruse handmade silver jewellery at Paprika Design; visitors often commission original, custom-created pieces. Gabriola Artworks is a two-storey treasure trove; view the works of 150 local artists and enjoy cappuccino from the in-house coffee bar. Drop into Studio Glassworks & Anvil Art to marvel at Roger Ferland's objets - towel holders, plant hangers and ornaments - from the blacksmith shop and Jane Ferland's playful, intriguing works in stained-glass.
Literary Talent
Art lovers often overlook writing. On Gabriola, take another look: The island's pool of literary talent astounds. Iain Lawrence won the 2007 Governer General's Award for Children's Literature for his book Gemini Summer. The bookshop at Page's Marina devotes an entire wall to island authors working in genres from children's books to science fiction and crime novels.
Gabriola Authors
Roy Innes, James Hawkins, Sandy Frances Duncan and George Szanto have published enough mysteries to last an entire vacation. Children's books written and illustrated by Dianna Bonder make wondrous family gifts.
Thanksgiving Weekend Studio Tour
For more than a dozen years, Gabriola's seminal event has been the Thanksgiving Weekend Studio Tour produced by the Gabriola Arts Council. It runs through the long weekend and involves about 100 island artists. A map brochure guides visitors to more than 60 studios. Artists display masterworks in clay and metal sculpture, jewellery, acrylics, batiks, oils and water colors, photography and stained glass. The route circles the island, but few manage to complete it. Which is the best excuse for returning next year.
For more information on Gabriola's artists and art galleries, head to the Visitor Centre and pick up the Gabriola Arts Council's free tour brochure.