The Arrowsmith Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists has always been an active chapter – and never more so than in the beginning! By the end of 1995, after being officially declared a chapter of the FCA in September, Disa Marie Hale and her merry band of Creatives were hard at work lining up future workshops, demos and shows for the amazing group of Arrowsmith artists. Meetings were held in President Disa’s living room, which was full to capacity.
Some of the meetings were even held in inspiring places like the Good Earth Farm, where there were flowers everywhere. It was a Creative’s paradise!
Early workshops and demonstrations featured a variety of artists with differing styles and media.
The Arrowsmith Chapter’s first show in June of 1996 was a well attended juried show, held at Rogue’s Gallery.
In spring of 1996, there was also a mid-Island Chapter’s Traveling Exhibition! Janice Robertson made the trip from the Mainland (Fort Langley) to live jury the submitted art work. The exhibition showed at Rogue’s Gallery, Broadmead Gallery, Wilson Gallery and Tidemark Gallery, traveling from Victoria to Qualicum Beach, to Campbell River, and ending in Courtenay/Comox. Fourteen of the Arrowsmith members each took 3 hour shifts at the Rogue’s Gallery showing, and other members formed a pack-up crew to ensure all the paintings were securely transported from destination to destination. Expenses for this travelling show did, however, “crash the kitty”, so the membership voted to assess a $10.00 fee per member so that there would be funds in the Arrowsmith account. As the sum collected was $500, we know there were 50 members at this time. 🙂
Stay tuned for the next instalment in The Journey Continues, where an interview with one of the original members reveals some surprising details about the next few years of Arrowsmith Chapter’s development!
Arrowsmith FCA 