The Pearl Ellis Gallery: Looking Ahead Together
Dear Members and Friends,
The Pearl Ellis Gallery has always been a place of inspiration and connection. As we look to the future, we remain deeply committed to those values. Over the years, the gallery has grown into a vital creative hub, and with that growth comes the opportunity to refresh how we present ourselves to the world.
I’m excited to share that we’ve undertaken a rebrand to reflect who we are today and where we’re headed, all while staying true to the heart of what has made this gallery special for decades. This isn’t about changing who we are—it’s about celebrating our evolution and reaffirming our dedication to art, community, and creativity. With that in mind we undertook the creation of a new website and a new logo!
Our new logo, inspired by the timeless Fibonacci spiral, beautifully symbolizes growth and harmony. It represents the journey we’re on together as artists, art lovers, and community members. Read more about the process here.
Early branding explorations
This design came to life thanks to many discussions with our board of directors and key volunteers. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Jojo Jaeger for initiating the process, and to Karen Segee, Susan Sarada, Jahzel Misner, and Tammi Hall for their teamwork in bringing it to fruition. Their work was done entirely pro bono, and we’re thrilled with this generous donation of time and expertise.
A special thank-you goes to Jahzel Misner for creating the new website. As the founder of Sprite Idea, Jahzel brought her expertise as a web developer to this project, delivering a site with user-friendly technology for quick in-house updates and an intuitive design that makes it easy for visitors to navigate.
We are also deeply grateful to Tammi Hall, who took our logo ideas to the next level. Tammi is the founder and creative director of www.hallographix.com and an active volunteer for both the Pearl Ellis Gallery and the Comox Archives and Museum Society. Her creative vision and dedication played a key role in bringing our rebrand to life.
I also want to acknowledge Jeff Shields, who created our old website more than ten years ago and has maintained it ever since for a modest fee. His dedication, along with the efforts of past board members who developed content and guidelines, played a crucial role in shaping our online presence. A special thanks also goes to Kate Kokotailo, who designed our previous logo, which has represented the gallery beautifully for many years.
Exciting Website Updates
Our new artist directory is much easier to manage. You’ll be able to upload your bio and photo files directly.
To prioritize your privacy, phone numbers will no longer appear in the listings. However, you’re welcome to include links to your professional websites and social media.
Most listings were transferred from the old website, but some could not be due to broken links or small images. Please review and update your bio as needed.
While exploring the new site, don’t forget to share your input! The members’ survey is still open for feedback until January 31st. We’re also accepting submissions for the next members’ show titled Awakening until February 4th.
Volunteers Needed
Show Coordinator and Programming Committee Opportunity
We’re seeking a Show Coordinator to join our Board of Directors and lead the Programming Committee in managing our gallery shows. This essential role includes:
Planning the yearly schedule, including themes and juried spots.
Coordinating show installations, jury processes, and artist communications.
Overseeing intake, artwork display, and takedown for each show.
Many of these responsibilities are shared with other dedicated volunteers, making this a collaborative and fulfilling opportunity. If the full Show Coordinator role feels like too much, we’d still love to hear from you—there are plenty of smaller tasks within this role that you could help with.
If this sounds like a good fit for your skills and interests, or if you’d like to contribute in a smaller way, please contact us.
Thank You for Your Support
Thank you for being an essential part of the Pearl Ellis Gallery community. Your support and enthusiasm inspire us every day, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.
Warm regards,
Teresa Kachanoski
President, Pearl Ellis Gallery
