Tag Archives: Gabriola

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

A Single Element – on now, until June 5

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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.

Western screech owl © John Konovsky

We’re delighted to present a new exhibit by Gabriola Photography Club member, John Konovsky.

The fifteen photographs in John’s exhibit each focus on a single element, many of them birds. Some are simple portraits, some capture a moment. In John’s own words:

In an era of overload and clutter, my intent is to strip away distractions and celebrate the everyday beings around us.  I myself, as an early bird, am drawn to the moody light of pre-dawn thru sunrise as represented in many of these images.

Each image ultimately expresses my sense of the beauty of solitary nature:

  • The Vaquero (Mexican cowboy) alone by the fire hints at introspection (Mexico)
  • The solitary rock chimney in the seascape centers a wondrous daybreak (NL)
  • The sheep grazing alone on a hilltop congers peacefulness (Ireland)
  • The flower and its reflection evokes what the Japanese call “sabi (寂び),” an appreciation of the aging/tarnishing/decaying process (Vancouver)
  • The empty mussel shell on a beach showcases the ebb and flow of living and dying (Mexico)
  • Each of the birds, young or old, is carrying on with life in some way
  • The foggy scene acknowledges the fading nature of our existence (Fraser Estuary)

Together, I hope all the images celebrate the delicate balance between humanity and the earth.

The Palette People – on until April 11

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Our club is taking a breather from exhibiting this month at our gallery space downstairs at the Medical Centre on Church Street. We’ve loaned the space to The Palette People for a painting exhibit, which will run until April 11, when our next photography show will start. You can see The Palette People’s exhibit, Mondays through Fridays during business hours.

Meanwhile, over on North Road, Gabriola Photography Club’s group exhibit continues at Gabriola Chiropractic, where patients have until March 31 to see the 32 prints on display . Participating photographers are Linda Blokhuisen, Sally Bullas, Laurie MacBride, Joan Owen, Sher Falls, Corinne Flaws and Steve Struthers.

Sat. August 24: Great Gear & Gadgets Sale

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This event is open to the public and takes place outdoors, in the Village – an easy walk from the Gabriola ferry terminal for anyone coming from Nanaimo as a foot passenger.

We’ll have a wide variety of lightly-used photographic equipment on offer, in exchange for a donation to Gabriola Photography Club. Hope to see you there!

August 17 Photo Walkabout: Skateboard Park & the Commons Walk

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Our August walk is in the heart of Gabriola’s Village, where we plan to catch some action and practice our photography skills!

Meet at 2 pm on Saturday August 17, outside the skateboard park at Huxley Community Park.

For the first hour we’ll watch the skateboarders in action, while we focus on panning, freezing the movement and finding interesting angles for our compositions.

During the second hour we’ll walk to the Timber Frame at the nearby Gabriola Community Commons, photographing whatever details catch our eyes.

We’ll carry on along the boardwalk in the upper Commons grounds, wander through the Labyrinth and then through the trails, before returning to Huxley Park.

We plan to finish at 4pm with the option of meeting at either Mad Rona’s or the Skol Pub for some social time.

As always, this is a weather-dependent event. You’re welcome to simply show up, but it’s great if you can let us know ahead of time if you plan to attend, in case of any last-minute changes.

A cement skateboard park, with a young boy skateboarding in a lower level area, and an adult man in the hgher foreground area., with one foot on his tipped up skateboard.
Photo © Romeo Rossi