Nanaimo Information

Gabriola Island Thanksgiving Weekend Studio Tour

by Val Kirton

After this latest Thanksgiving Weekend Studio Tour, there is no question that Gabriola Island is indeed "Isle of the Arts". The event marked their 12th successful year and organizers have done a great job of keeping it fresh. With 96 artists in total, one-third of the participants were new to the tour.

I had never been to Gabriola and looked at the Studio Tour as a way to visit the island and check out some of the funky homes along the way. As always, we were late leaving the house and I forgot my camera, something I would later come to regret.

First rule of thumb on any studio tour - don't go alone. Always have a driver and a navigator, and be prepared for frequent, sudden stops and U turns.

Armed with a handy brochure and with over 60 studios to choose from, we began the daunting task of shortlisting a dozen or so "must try"s. The selection of artisans included clay and metal sculpture, jewelery, clothing, acrylic, batik, oil paintings, photography, stained and fused glass, and mosaic tile work.

The tour brochure was extremely thorough with its illustrated map and listing of all the artisans, contact info and location. It's a great little resource for setting up your own custom tour at a later date.

Our first stop was Artworks in Folklife Village. In addition to picking up a much needed latte for the road, we were treated to a sneak preview of some of the artists featured on the tour. This impressive collage of unique artwork was overwhelming, and we ended up adding a few more selections to our list.

The first place where I regretted not having a camera, was at Illuminati Glassworks, a fused art glass studio. Their extensive display of colourful glass designs was a feast for the eyes, with their funky hanging fish, pasta bowls and platters and large garden signs.

After deciding that "I had to buy something", I settled on a blue frosted bottle with the bottom cut off and a tea light holder inserted. It's perfect for casting a warm glow in front of a window or on the patio. Although Illuminati is open year round, they travel as far as the Granville Market to distribute their product and suggest calling first before visiting.

If you've ever been on this type of a tour, you'll know it's not just about the art, but also about the artist. Part of the charm is chatting with the artisans, learning about their background, and where they work. Suddenly, that painting or piece of pottery has new significance or history associated with it.

A studio tour is not like a gallery stroll; there is a certain energy and excitement as you travel from house to house, never sure of what to expect next. These are true artists and their talent is displayed not only in their work, but in their studios as well.

Driving up to Gabriola's Gingerbread Gallery, we faced a whimsical little cottage that looked like it jumped right out of Mother Goose. We passed through the picket gate and entered a fairy garden of gnomes, light catchers, and the watchful eyes of trees with expressive ceramic faces.

At Tammy Hudgeon Glassworks, we were treated to a community of 4 different artists in a village like setting. Stepping up to the first cedar cottage, we were awestruck by a display of life size, brightly decorated Christmas Trees lining the front porch, and created entirely of fused glass. Walking down the lane to the next cottage, we followed a garden path past pumpkins growing amongst their glass counterparts and floral bouquets perched on wrought-iron stems.

Most of the vendors love the studio tour. Although the hours are long and tiring, it beats paying a hefty price for a 10 x 10 booth at a show, and having to haul a sampling of product back and forth.

The route basically circles the island, following the scenic coastal roads. Lunch was at the halfway point at the Silva Bay Bar and Grill. This much-needed rest stop was just what the doctor ordered with great food and a view overlooking the marina in Silva Bay. What a perfect way to while away a sunny afternoon overlooking the water, watching the float planes landing and taking off.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to all our planned stops before time ran out, but that gave us one more reason to return next year. Looking back, this tour was successful in providing a wonderful sampling of the local art and gave us a good feel for Gabriola Island; we'll definitely be back. Our hats go off to the Gabriola Arts Council for their work in making this a winning event.

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