From Blue Forests to green shores, from salmon to eagles to herons — the beauty of the Courtenay River (K’ómoks) estuary has inspired amazing art submissions for the 2012 Keeping it Living estuary awareness campaign.
Thirty artists have submitted 46 artworks including painting, glass art, sculpture, photography and mixed media, to the silent art auction and competition.
The Project Watershed Society co-ordinates the Keeping It Living: Return of Abundance campaign to draw attention to the importance of our estuary.
“As the estuary is integral to the whole watershed, we include Courtenay, Cumberland, and Comox,” says artist Nancy Morrison, who has entered her stained-glass work Blue Forest Ebb and Flow.
“The auction is a great chance to inspire people to own a beautiful work of art, and know they're also supporting the beauty and quality of life in and around the estuary. World-class art ... world-class estuary!”
Several community venues are displaying the Keeping it Living art for the month of July, until the finale Day of the Estuary on July 28. The art can be viewed at the Atlas Café, Avenue Bistro, Best Western Westerly, Carderos, Corre Alice Gallery, Crown Isle, CCCU's Fourth Street branch, Gatehouse Bistro, Holiday Inn Express, Kingfisher Resort, Mudsharks, Rhodos Coffee, Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre, Wandering Moose Café, and Zocalo. Rhodos Coffee is also hosting the Comox Valley Camera Club with estuary-themed images for the month of July.
“Start at the Kingfisher and circulate round to the Avenue — do the whole tour!" suggests Morrison. “It’s easy to bid online in the silent auction for the month of July, until the last day at the one-day exhibit, which brings all the works together at the K’ómoks Band Hall for the final Experience the Estuary event.”
Several other activities are planned for the finale day on July 28, including children’s events, nature walks, a flotilla across the estuary, indoor displays, and draw prizes.
“The Canadian Canoe that paddled on the Thames with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Flotilla is auctioning off signed paddles from the 10 who were paddlers,” says Project Watershed chair Paul Horgen. "We have been given paddle No. 4 to auction off on the 28.”
Visit the Keeping it Living website at www.keepingitliving.ca for more information, to view the art, to find which venues to see each piece, and to bid online for the artworks.
— Comox Valley Project Watershed Society