Creativity Central
ArtCraft brings it all together on Salt Spring
Mahon Hall becomes a gallery every summer
From mid-June to mid-September every summer, historic Mahon Hall is the place to find a daily exhibition of work by diverse island artisans.
Now going into its 42nd year, between 100 and 150 artists from the southern Gulf Islands show their work on the hall's main floor each year, offering attractive options for gifts or one-of-a-kind mementos of your island visit. ArtCraft also hosts five showcase exhibitions on the hall's stage throughout the season, featuring materials like precious metals or basketry, or solo shows by individual artists.
Jewellery artist and ArtCraft committee chair Jan Smith says ArtCraft is an opportunity for visitors and residents alike to see for themselves the incredible wealth of talent that has pooled on the island. She sees the exhibition as a modern practice in the spirit of agricultural fairs that took place at Mahon Hall in its early days - an added interest for visitors who want meaningful experiences.
"Green tourism has been very tied to agriculture in these islands, and I see that continuing," Smith explains. "But I also see green tourism evolving to include arts destinations; it can also be seen to have continuation in the arts marketplace."
ArtCraft is the primary funding source for the Salt Spring Arts Council, which has a mandate to promote and enhance arts in the Gulf Islands community. The organization uses commissions earned through ArtCraft sales to fund projects such as grants for art students in high school and university, professional development grants for working artists and the Artist in the Classroom program. Sales also help maintain the historic hall in which they take place.
This summer the exhibition opens on June 18 with a stage show featuring accomplished folk artists Anna Gustafson and Paul Burke. The opening coincides with Salt Spring's second annual Masterpiece Weekend - featuring masterful solo works by local artists - making for a fun time to make the rounds and see what's new and hot in the visual arts.
ArtCraft is open daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., running this year from June 18 through September 19. Look for the yellow hall across the main road from the harbour.