The Cowichan Public Art Gallery (CPAG) is providing a great opportunity to share your work with a larger audience, running alongside the Duncan Farmers Market all summer long. Art in the Alley places artists’ work in the heart of one of the Cowichan Valley’s thriving community gatherings — same morning, same energy, same celebration of things made by hand and made with care.
The market brings the crowd, and artists bring the art. Every Saturday at the Duncan Farmers Market, 1,500 to 3,000 curious, community-minded people show up ready to discover something local. The energy, the buzz of a Saturday morning, the live music, happy dogs, and children walking hand in hand with their parents create exactly the kind of crowd that artists want to connect with. People don’t just buy art, they buy the person behind it, and a Saturday morning at the market gives artists time to talk, share their story, and connect with buyers. Over the course of a summer, those conversations become connections, and those connections become loyal collectors.
Art in the Alley runs adjacent to the farmers market every Saturday from now through September 26th, 9am to 2pm, in the alley next to CPAG’s heritage Green Door property. Local artist Carol Borrett, whose work is held in private and corporate collections across Canada, is a regular participant who says the location facilitates conversations that create sales and allow her to build relationships. CPAG will also be hosting workshops for children to paint birdhouses in the garden.
Artists interested in participating are invited to contact Bruce Halliday at bruce.allan.halliday@gmail.com. The cost is $35 per Saturday, or $30 per Saturday when booking the entire summer. Please include “Art in the Alley” in the subject line of your email.
By Piper Deggan, Media & Editorial Specialist for CPAG