Tag Archives: exhibitions

Music To Your Eyes

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September 11 to October 29, 2026

As an ongoing project, Gabriola Photography Club curates the art display space downstairs at the Gabriola Medical Clinic on Church Street, Gabriola Island. Club members take turns having solo exhibitions or taking part in group exhibitions.

Our current exhibition features the work of Bill Pope, who asked himself a question: “What do you do with a selection of more than 15,000 photos of musicians, found within an image library containing more than 120,000 photos?”

Bill’s answer: “You express your gratitude to those musicians, by having a show!”

A man standing, playing the clarinet in front of an audience who are blurred in the background. The man's head is tilted back and his eyes are closed.

About half of the prints in this show are colour photos, and the rest are black and white photos, each depicting a musician with a musical instrument.  Each photo is printed on high-quality 13”x19” or 17”x22” paper.  Most of the pictures were taken on Gabriola Island, and most were taken over the last twenty years. 

Each picture is an environmental portrait: a depiction of a person showing the person’s character in the context of making music with an instrument.

You are invited to look at these pictures of musicians and their instruments.  More than that, you are also invited to look into the pictures, and feel the emotion and energy of the music and the musicians.

Bill Pope has been taking photographs for a long time.  He takes lots of pictures, and has earned the trust or tolerance of many musicians and other performers on Gabriola Island.  In Bill’s words: “Sometimes the results are pretty good.  This show includes some of those pretty good results.”

Photo © Bill Pope (Cultivate Festival performer, 2026)

John Poirier: A Retrospective & Sale

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Longtime Gabriola Photography Club member and extraordinary photographer John Poirier passed away in May of 2025. An exhibition and sale of his work will be held at the Gabriola Arts & Heritage Centre, on Gabriola Island, August 14-16, 2026. It will provide a welcome opportunity to celebrate John, his work, and his vision of northern Canada and the west coast. 

Details are below. Please help spread the word. Hope to see you there!

Poster with a forest image by John Poirier and details of event, opening Friday 5-9pm, Saturday 10-4pm and Sunday 12-4pm.

Stalking Shadows & Stealing Light

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July 23 to September 10, 2026

As an ongoing project, Gabriola Photography Club curates the art display space downstairs at the Gabriola Medical Clinic on Church Street, Gabriola Island. Club members take turns having solo exhibitions or taking part in group exhibitions.

A collage of photographic prints of headshot portraits of dogs and horses, entitled "Paw and Hoof Prints".
© Sher Falls

Our current exhibition features Sher Falls (AKA “dragonflydreams88”), who is back with another instalment of her wonderful animal portraits and works of “heart”.

Sher focuses her lens on the beauty she finds every day in nature and the outdoors, then experiments with new layers, textures and creative ideas, until she is satisfied with the artistic metamorphosis that her subjects have undergone.

Sher describes her passion for photography:

“Stalking shadows & stealing light at every possible opportunity with my camera, I’ve become keenly aware of the beauty that surrounds me…I love experimenting with different techniques, transforming those captures into a work of ‘heart’. The creative possibilities are endless…my passion, obsession, addiction…I look forward to the possibility of sharing my vision and interpretation of the world through my lens on Gabriola Island again this summer.”

Between Desert & Sea: how it unfolds

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On until July 23

As an ongoing project, Gabriola Photography Club curates the art display space downstairs at the Gabriola Medical Clinic on Church Street, Gabriola Island. Club members take turns having solo exhibitions or taking part in group exhibitions.

We are very pleased to present a fascinating new exhibition by John Konovsky, entitled “Between Desert & Sea: how it unfolds”.

John explains the theme and content of his show as follows:

“After a career working as a conservation biologist alongside Coast Salish peoples, the photography of my retirement has focused primarily on morning light.

Map of the Sonoran Desert of Mexico

“The images in this show come from many trips to the Sonoran Desert of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. It is neither pristine wilderness, nor fully inscribed by human intention. Geology, biology and ocean interact constantly, often altered by human hands.

“Many assume this desert along the Sea of Cortez (= Gulf of California) is desolate. On the contrary, there is a is rich ecological and cultural history that I want to capture.

“Examples:

  • Old growth cardón cacti, Saguaro’s larger elder, form vast, cathedral-like forests
  • The long gone Cochimí peoples left a sacred narrative in their up to 7,500 year old rock art
  • The Spanish invasion forged a missionary and ranchero culture shaped by the demanding landscape

“Dawn is the organizing element of much of this work. In that beautiful, early light, when the desert is briefly cool and the day has yet to unfold, the countryside feels simultaneously fragile and enduring. Illustrating that tension is my intention.”

Pink clouds and morning light over the Baja California shore.
© John Konovsky

Legacy – Honouring the Work of John Poirier

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On until June 5, 2026

John was an inspirational photographer, skilled in film, digital, black & white and colour. His primary subjects ranged from the natural environment and human culture of northern Canada, where he lived and worked for many years, to the energy and beauty of Gabriola’s forests and sandstone shores.

John shared his photographic knowledge with generosity and humility. He took part in most of our shows and club meetings, right up until a week before his death a year ago. More often than not, we learned something valuable from the little gems of wisdom he quietly shared with us. We remember him with great fondness, and this show is our attempt to honour his memory. (Photo by Bill Pope.)

Our thanks to John’s wife MJ and daughter Anne for lending some of John’s wonderful work to this show and for keeping his website accessible. It’s definitely worth a visit.

From some of our Club members who are participating in the show:

John’s eye for subtlety and meaning were gifts which he freely and humbly shared with all of us. His insights were much appreciated.
–Laurence Lee

John saw the world with amazing perception and expressed what he saw in the art of photography. Walking the trails of Gabriola, you could bump into him, his tripod and camera slung over his shoulder, and if you were lucky there would be a brief chat. Under the sometimes gruff exterior he was curious and kind, sharing his knowledge with thought and care. We are better for his discerning eye.
–Sally Bullas

John inspired me with his vast collection of work, and I appreciated how knowledgeable and happy to help he was. I loved to hear his comments, always kind and encouraging.
–Linda Blokhuizen

John shared his knowledge with a gentle, humble approach. I learned a lot from him, both at club meetings and in our personal conversations. He was highly skilled, inspiring and encouraging the rest of us to love and practice photography in whatever way best suited us.
–Laurie MacBride