The Art Hive is a supportive space for art but also a place of connection for the unhoused community here in Campbell River. Once a week an artist facilitates an open studio at the Campbell River Art Gallery, focused on art-making workshops for people who have experiences with mental illness and substance use, as well as people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. The Art Hive is a space where people can come together and create.
All supplies are provided for folks that want to come in and create with peers in the space. Participants can work on existing projects or start up new collaborations. In partnership with the Salvation Army Centre of Hope, food is donated each week so that participants are nourished and ready to create. The participants of the Art Hive have opportunities to learn new skills (screen printing, design, beading etc.) from peers and guest artist facilitators while working in collaboration with other artists. Through this program Art Hive artists also have the opportunity to become consignors at the CRAG’s gallery shop.
When: Thursdays at 10:30 am
Where: The studio at the Campbell River Art Gallery
Who: For the unhoused community to create art, with peer staff member Agnes Thomas and facilitated by Artist Nadine Bariteau
With guest facilitators Cory Cliffe and Vanessa Sharkey of 7 Generations Steward Society.
“As we participated in Walk With Me, we quickly realized the impact that it was having on folks, not just the actual walks and the story telling part, but the fact that members of our unhoused community had a place to go that was consistent and where they felt empowered, and valued. We listened to some of the cultural leaders that were part of walk with me and they clearly asked us to keep something going.”
-Sara Lopez Assu, CRAG executive director, in an interview with Marc Kitteringham for the Campbell River Mirror
Artwork exhibited in: Mu’la || Gratitude
John Albert Sharkey (Guy), Chuck Jules, Shawn Decaire, and Jennifer Joseph
Curated by: Nadine Bariteau
January 28 to April 29, 2023 in our Satellite Gallery
Mu’la means Gratitude in Kwakwala. This state of appreciation fosters a sense of our collective responsibility and shared humanity. Each artist’s work is a manifestation of their gratitude. Chuck Jule’s gratitude goes to the people of the Hive, the space where he practices his art. Jennifer Joseph is truly grateful for the teachings passed down from her ancestors, particularly those shared by her mother and grandmother with whom she learned to weave. Guy Sharkey’s gratitude goes toward Beau Dick, his mentor for 30 years, who taught him the traditional way of carving. Finally, Shawn wants to pay tribute to the late Jorge Lewis who taught him 20 years ago to make his very first Manat’si (drum). The artists are participants in our Art Hive.
This exhibition is a reminder that everyday we can be thankful for someone or something that has come across our path, and this makes room for the power and possibility of change.
Programs
The Art Hive does Live Screen printing at many of The CRAG’s events as well as other events in the city, including Indigenous People’s Day and Breakfast with Santa, in 2022.
The group also ventures out of the gallery on occasion for things like harvesting cedar bark and harvesting devil’s club. The materials they collect are then used in their art making.
Buy the art
The work created in the Art Hive will be available for purchase at our gallery shop, with proceeds going back to the artists.
The GALLERY SHOP is Open Thursdays and Fridays 10 am – 5 pm and Saturdays 10 am – 4 pm.
Meet the facilitator: Nadine Bariteau
Born and raised in Montreal (Tiohtià:ke) Nadine Bariteau is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice is rooted in printmaking, sculpture, installation and video/sound. Her works are studies of permanence and ephemerality, and the interplay between human-made and natural environments. Bariteau has exhibited her work extensively, both nationally and internationally in China, Belgium, Argentina, Australia, United States, Russia and Japan. She was also a visiting artist in the Department of Art and Design at the National Taipei University of Education in Taiwan where she exhibited her work. Nadine Bariteau has obtained several grants and awards and her work can be seen in private and public collections including Foreign Affairs Canada, Shengshi Art Centre, Bejing, China, Frans Masereel Center, Belgium and the National Library of Québec. Nadine presently lives on Vancouver Island on the traditional and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.
Inspired by…
Walk With Me is a project developed in response to a crisis that has blindsided municipal governments and communities, large and small, across the country. The crisis has had a heavy impact in BC. Since it was labeled a provincial emergency in 2016, illicit drug toxicity deaths have totaled over 6,500. For governments, communities, front-line workers, families and people with lived and living experience, the crisis can feel insurmountable. This project, developed by research and community teams in Kamloops and the Comox Valley, brings together diverse stakeholders to re-frame the crisis, and imagine new ways forward.
The Campbell River Art Gallery hosted an exhibition of the work created through the Walk with Me project in our Satellite Gallery from November 27, 2021 to February 19, 2022.
Community Supporters
The CRAG is so happy to announce a partnership with Salvation Army – Centre of Hope Campbell River to provide nourishing food for members of Art Hive. This will ensure participants have full bellies, so that they can be present and focused on their developing art practices. We are grateful for The Centre for Hope’s assistance and willingness to partner with us for this program. One of Art Hive’s main objectives is to continually listen and empower members and build systems of care for our peers; this partnership with the Centre of Hope is allowing us to follow through and take action to achieve objectives. Thank you!
