Over 2,500 folks meandered through the shaded banks of Oak Bay's Bowker Creek for the 25th Brush Up art show on Sunday, Aug. 10.
This year, a record number of 60 local artisans, from painters to jewellers, crafts persons to wood carvers, all showcased their work to the public.
Organized by the Oak Bay Community Artists Society, this free and family-friendly art show was first started to promote the local talent of Greater Victoria, said Flo-Elle Watson, artist and president of the organization.
“This is actually an art show,” she said. “It's a place for artists to exhibit and demonstrate their art and sell their art without a commission.
“We used to hang our art in coffee shops, and they wanted 10 to 20 per cent, so this is why we started this.”
Acting as a way to encourage local artisans and connect them with potential buyers, Watson noted that this year’s event welcomed a growing number of young artists, adding hope for the region’s future art scene.
Among this year’s artists was Jo Vipond, sitting at her table, carefully weaving a kelp basket.
Having sharpened her skills for this unique art over the past decades, she decided to start selling her craft five years ago.
Taking up to three days to make a single basket, Vipond said she mostly sources her kelp from Victoria’s Clover Point. Simple in appearance, the artist noted that the secret of her creation lies in their remarkable resilience.
“I've got one that's 40 years old,” she said. “I mean, they last a long time. And nothing is going to happen to them. Even if you get them wet, they will last forever.”
For more information about the Bowker Creek Brush Up, visit oakbayartists.com.
