April Highlights: Flourish, Duality & Celebrating Pearl Ellis
Current show, Ebb & Flow
Our last show, Awakening, proved that our members are wide awake and making art! We hung a record-breaking 62 pieces, and it was wonderful to see everyone’s latest creations.
For the past year, our policy for Members’ Shows has been to accept all submissions received during the five-week submission window. There is no jury. We welcome and encourage all forms of art and fine craft, whether 2D, 3D, or multi-dimensional. As long as it’s family-friendly, bring it on!
Upcoming Calls for Submissions
We also have spots available to exhibit your work at our Satellite Gallery at the Comox Community Centre. You can sign up to secure one of seven large display cases
located in a high-traffic hallway. They consistently draw lots of attention—and frequent sales!
If you’re interested in booking one of the available 8-week time slots, check out the details and request a spot.
Submissions are now open for our next Members’ Show, Flourish, and the deadline to submit is May 5th. Let’s keep the momentum going—show us what you’ve been creating!
👉 Flourish Submission Info
We are also accepting submissions now for our next concept show, Duality, which runs from June 24 to July 19. The deadline to apply is May 13.
Our concept shows are juried so we can showcase the most imaginative and thought-provoking work that responds to the theme. Even if your piece isn’t selected this time, it’s a great way to stretch your creativity and see how others interpret the idea in fresh and inspiring ways.
👉 Duality Submission Guidelines
Now Showing
Currently in the gallery is the concept show Ebb and Flow. We’ve been delighted to welcome many new visitors participating in the Waterways Gallery Hop, organized by our very own Susan Sarada. Make sure to visit all the participating galleries and get your punch card stamped for a chance to win some exciting prizes.
Matt tidying up, sketch by Laurie Martz
Celebrating Pearl Ellis
On Saturday, April 12, we held a heartwarming “high tea” birthday party complete with cucumber sandwiches and cake in honour of what would have been Pearl Ellis’s 100th birthday. In partnership with the Comox Museum and Archives, we created an informational panel about Pearl’s life and legacy and hosted a reception in the gallery. Pearl’s three children—Henry, Steve, and Diane—joined us, along with other family and friends. It was a real treat to learn more about the woman whose name we carry and to celebrate her many contributions to the community. For example, did you know she met Queen Elizabeth in person? And that she christened the new Little River to Powell River Ferry?
The museum display will be up for the next few months, so be sure to check it out the next time you visit. Complete a fun short questionnaire based on the info in the display, and you will be entered in the draw to win an art print generously donated by Island Affair Giftware in Comox.
AGM
April has been a busy month, and we have one more important event coming up:
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, April 26 at 2:00 PM in the Lion’s Den.
Please come and join us! Enjoy a social time with fellow artists and art supporters. Share your creative ideas on how we can continue to improve and grow. All ideas and feedback are welcome.
The Pearl Ellis Gallery of Fine Arts Society exists because of you—our members—and we’re here to support and celebrate your artistic journeys, wherever they may lead.
Upcoming Exhibition
And finally, we’re excited to present the upcoming exhibition:
BEYOND THE HORIZON: Exploring New Dimensions April 29- May 24
Featuring the work of four accomplished artists—Sharon Lalonde, Silvina Lanusse, Susan Purney Mark, and Maggie Ziegler—this exhibition offers fresh perspectives on our everyday surroundings. Through textiles, stitching, collage, digital manipulation, and layered textures, the artists explore themes of memory, place, and imagination. Their expressive interpretations—rich with material depth and digital innovation—invite viewers on a journey that shifts perception, evokes emotion, and reveals new ways of seeing the world around us.
We hope to see you at the gallery soon—whether you're browsing for the perfect art card, taking in our latest exhibit, or just popping in to say hello, our welcoming volunteer hosts will be here to brighten your day!
