Whether its oil painting, watercolours, woodworking, pottery, carvings, every medium was represented at this year’s 72nd Saanich Peninsula Arts and Crafts Society (SPAC) spring arts show.
The event, which drew thousands of visitors to Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, boasted its largest roster to date.
With over 450 members participating, more than 4,000 individual pieces of art were showcased to the public across three different showrooms, said event coordinator Steve Chisholm.
Recognized across Vancouver Island, the show featured a wide range of original works, including paintings, sculptures, clay, glass, fiber and textile arts, jewelry, metal, and wood pieces.
With more than seven decades of history, Chisholm explained that the three-day event was designed not only to showcase the local talent of the South Island but also to connect art enthusiasts with artists.
“This art show is a vital event for SPAC,” Chisholm said. “Every piece here is for sale, and we’re lucky to sell a significant amount of art because this show is also the major fundraiser for the society each year. The profits from this show fund all the workshops and other programs that the society does to foster the growth of art in the region.”
Among the artists at this year’s event was multi-disciplinary artist and former art instructor at Saanich’s Claremont Secondary School, Rodger Garbutt.
Having participated in the event for over 20 years, Garbutt said the art show provides a one-of-a-kind platform for artists to mingle and exchange ideas.
"One of the nicest things about this [event] is that it's a very special stage," said Garbutt. "[Normally], watercolor artists do watercolors, oil painters do oil paintings, someone else does acrylics, and others do pottery—and never the twain shall meet. But here, we do. I get to look at work from all venues and media, and for me, that's very inspirational."
For more information about SPAC, visit spacsociety.com.
