Art in the Gardens 2005

September 10th & 11th

On September 10th and 11th, “Art in the Gardens” celebrates its second year with a two day festival of visual and performing arts at the Tofino Botanical Gardens. The brainchild of Ucluelet artist Marla Thirsk, the annual festival was launched last year to encourage local artists to come together, meet each other and renew friendships, and to show off their enormous talents to local residents and visitors alike (not to mention giving artists a chance to sell their works).

Marla’s idea to develop a West Coast arts festival was sparked by her realization that although she’s lived in the area for over 25 years and knew the names of many local artists, she didn’t know all their faces, nor had she ever had a chance to meet some of them and learn about their work. The fact is that for many artists, their passion to create and express themselves is a time consuming activity that doesn’t pay as well as a job at the bank or a local restaurant, but can’t be ignored. And so, “Art in the Gardens” was born as a way for local artists to convene, meet, learn about each other’s work.

Hosting the festival at Tofino Botanical Gardens is a natural fit. One of the major reasons that the gardens were created by founder George Patterson was to display sculpture and other visual arts. George is a strong believer that being in touch with art – being able to approach it, watch it, and touch it enhances our appreciation of it. Tofino Botanical Gardens feature an impressive collection of sculpture, displayed throughout the gardens, and rotating exhibitions of painting and photography hang on the walls of the Gallery at the Gardens (a.k.a. the Visitor’s Centre/Sobo Restaurant).

The 2nd Annual “Art in the Gardens” festival focuses on our local artists, those living in the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve Region and creating works such as painting, sculpture, carving, dance, music and more. This year’s festival will also feature a small number of Vancouver Island artists who do not live full time in the region, but who use materials from the region or who draw inspiration from the area and wish to contribute to the festival by participating and meeting local artists.

Join us on Saturday Sept. 10th and Sunday Sept. 11th (noon to 4:30 pm each day) at the Tofino Botanical Gardens! Performances run from 1 pm to 4 pm each day. Cost is $10 for adults, $6 for students, and free for children 12 and under. Half price for Tofino Botanical Gardens members.

All artists from the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve Region are encouraged to participate.

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Visit www.tofinobotanicalgardens.com for more information! Please call Marla Thirsk at (250) 726-7755 or email artist@island.net for details.