According to recent estimates, Squamish has the second-highest number of citizens who are artists by profession in all of Canada. As such, this scenic Howe Sound municipality makes an excellent base for viewing and shopping for original artwork and artisan gifts.
Squamish Artists
Squamish artists specialize in a wide variety of disciplines, including painting, drawing, woodworking, pottery, stained glass, jewelry, sculpture, photography, blown glass and fibre art. Many have private studios where their creations are displayed. Two notable local artists include Martin Thorne, who has operated a custom woodworking studio in Squamish for more than 30 years and uses materials from nearby beaches and rivers, and Fran Solar, who has won awards for her innovative, handwoven metal quilts and baskets.
Visit the Squamish Adventure Centre (38551 Loggers Lane) to flip through a Biography Binder that offers background information on many local artists.
Art Galleries
Don't miss Squamish's fine public and private art galleries. The Foyer Gallery at the Squamish Public Library (37907 2nd Ave.) regularly features the work of local artists. Right next door, the Artisan Gallery (1336 Main St.), which opened in December 2008, is a beautiful public space for viewing exhibits like a recent collection of photos from the Sea-to-Sky corridor. The Squamish Native Art Store (37991B Cleveland Ave.) showcases aboriginal pride with its selection of Pacific Northwest carvings, jewelry, and masks. The Brackendale Art Gallery (41950 Government Rd.) is a uniquely colourful local institution, offering local art exhibits, food service, concerts and theatre. It also serves as an information resource for bird watching: it's adjacent to the best riverside viewing spot for the famous bald eagles that flock to Brackendale each winter.
The Squamish Arts Council and VISUALS, and the Squamish Valley Artists Society have more information on galleries and other venues.
Art Festivals and Events
Since 2004, the annual Wild at Art Festival has showcased local talent in music, visual arts, film, dance, theatre, culinary arts, and other disciplines each spring. Many events are free or geared to families. Leading up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler, Wild at Art is part of the Cultural Olympiad program. Go to the Wild at Art Festival web site for full details.
Each September, VISUALS, The Squamish Valley Artists Society, stages an ArtWalk in Squamish, enabling visitors to meet with artists in their studios and admire their work up close.
In downtown Squamish during the summer, the Art at the Market program features a rotating slate of local artists who show their creations at the Squamish Arts Council Building in the park on Cleveland Avenue, next to the Farmers Market.