The weather outside didn’t paint a pretty picture for a winter solstice art exhibit at the St. Joseph’s Artist Studios Gallery in Chemainus.
The warmth of offerings in the Landscape Is Forever show by Skye Skagfeld and Dennis Brown was featured inside, but bundling up to battle the elements was required for people to get there.
It all began with heavy rain on the afternoon of the first day, but the artists had the pathway at the former St. Joseph’s Catholic School neatly lit toward the entrance. Conditions were mixed the next two days with intermittent sunshine but with steady rain at times and it all fell apart with heavy snow on the final day of the show on the solstice, Dec. 21.
“Dennis and I just decided let’s cancel it,” said Skagfeld.
So the intended four-day show got reduced to three days.
It was already tough enough to go ahead with such a show due to COVID, but all the safety protocols were put in place. The weather just kept some people at home when it got rather nasty at times.
“The whole range of seasons of weather,” summed up Skagfeld. “Everything worked against us, the worst weather. Despite all that, it was fantastic.”
She was pleased her drama teacher from high school even stopped by to check it out. There was a lot of drama surrounding the show so that was only appropriate.
Skagfeld and Brown had lots of great paintings on display that featured landscapes with vibrant colours. The exhibit is still set up and Skagfeld said anyone who’d still like to check it out can do so by appointment by contacting her at 250-668-6880 or at skyeskagfeld@hotmail.com.
This is the third time Skagfeld has revolved a show around the solstice or equinox and the trend will be continuing during the spring equinox when the weather might be a little bit better – certainly brighter – to bring out a few more people.
