Tofino festival: Art in the Gardens

in the Tofino Botanical Gardens, Tofino

Art in the Gardens is back! On September 9th & 10th, "Art in the Gardens" celebrates its third year with a two day festival of visual and performing arts at the Tofino Botanical Gardens. The festival was launched in 2004 by Ucluelet artist Marla Thirsk to encourage local artists to come together and 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). This year, the festival expands to feature both local and visiting artists and artisans from Vancouver Island.

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.

The 3rd Annual "Art in the Gardens" festival focuses on both local and visiting artists, and features arts and fine craft in many different mediums, from fibre to oils, poetry to photography. Join us to visit and meet with your favourite local artists, many of whom have been featured in past issues of Tofino Time, and meet new artists too!

Visit http://www.tbgf.org for more info!
All artists from the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve Region are encouraged to participate. Please call Marla Thirsk at 726-7755
or email artist@island.net for more information.