Local artists still have time to submit to SSNAP!

May is looking to be a busy month for submissions to the Salt Spring National Art Prize as artists across Canada finesse their submissions ahead of the May 31 deadline.

“We see a huge influx of submissions in May,” says SSNAP Society’s Operations Manager Zoe Zafiris. “Artists wisely take advantage of the time they have available to create the strongest submission they can.”

The SSNAP Society encourages local artists to not be intimidated by entering a Canada-wide art prize. Zafiris notes that Southern Gulf Islands artists are consistently represented in the approximately 50 finalists chosen for SSNAP. “Our islands are blessed with so many world-class artists,” she says.

Southern Gulf Islands artists who enter SSNAP have extra opportunities. They are automatically entered into The Parallel Art Show, known commonly as PAS. PAS is a separate exhibition dedicated to Southern Gulf Islands artists. Like SSNAP, approximately 50 finalists are chosen, with four prizes awarded. Parallel Art Show Finalists will be exhibited at ArtSpring on Salt Spring Island in September and October. Jurors for the 2023 Parallel Art Show include artist Sophia Burke, curator Richard Steel and Helen Mears, owner of Pod contemporary gallery in Ganges.

In 2021, Salt Spring Island artist Liljana Mead Martin won the Parallel Art Show’s top award with her work “The Listener” (pictured). “Through magical realism, ‘The Listener’ speculates on our current environmental conditions and the potential for learned exchanges with other forms of life,” says the artist.

Submissions close May 31 at midnight. More information: saltspringartprize.ca

The 13th annual Campbell Bay Music Festival is happening June 23 – 25th, 2023!

We are a family-friendly festival set on a waterfront farm on SḴŦAḴ / Mayne Island. Join us in the field by the sea for a weekend of incredible music, workshops, and kids’ events, with art installations tucked into the trees and local food & drink vendors nearby.

W̱SÁNEĆ elder J’SINTEN / Dr John Elliott will open the festival with knowledge sharing and song. Come hear Toronto’s Juno nominated Tara Kannangara, Cree roots powerhouse Fontine, Dene fiddler Wesley Hardisty, americana bluegrass duo Golden Shoals, Tsimshian artist Saltwater Hank, Montreal art-rock from Corey Gulkin, and many others - we always aim to have music you’ve never heard before, and that you’ll fall in love with.

Workshops include a lichen identification walk, cedar rose making and more. To top it off, two Welcome poles carved by W̱SÁNEĆ artists TEMOSENG / Chas Elliott and Mathew Parlby Elliott will be unveiled on Saturday! Check campbellbaymusicfest. com or find us on FB and Instagram for tickets (or volunteer – the perks are amazing!), camping, and updates on artists and workshops. Don’t swim here - take the ferry or take Aqualink! See you on SḴŦAḴ!

artspring.ca

liljana mead martin - “the listener” credit: the parallel art show the matt steffich jurors' choice award winner 2021