May Newsletter
Beyond the Horizon at Pearl Ellis, Art Gallery in Comox B.C.
Shows
As Beyond the Horizon wraps up this weekend, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the four featured artists—Sharon Lalonde, Silvina Lanusse, Susan Purney Mark, and Maggie Ziegler—two of whom are exhibiting with us for the first time. Their mixed-media work has transformed our gallery space, offering viewers layered perspectives on landscape, memory, and the passage of time. Through the use of textiles, paint, collage, and digital design, each artist invited us to see beyond the surface of everyday moments and into realms shaped by imagination and emotion. As Edgar Degas said, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” This exhibition truly embodied that spirit.
Coming up next is a fresh and uplifting members’ show titled Flourish—an appropriate theme for this vibrant time of year. As gardens awaken and the days grow longer, this show celebrates the flourishing of both nature and creativity. With a wide range of media and styles, the works on display will highlight the diversity and talent of our member artists.
After Flourish, we’re excited to present our next juried concept exhibition: Duality. This thought-provoking theme invites exploration of contrast and contradiction—light and shadow, inner and outer, calm and chaos. Many of you submitted work for this show, and we can’t wait to see the creative interpretations and conversations that will unfold on our gallery walls.
AGM Update
We held our Annual General Meeting at the end of April and were proud to share a look back at a year of growth, creativity, and meaningful community engagement. If you weren’t able to attend, you can view the full reports on our website [here], but we’re excited to share a few highlights.
The biggest news is that our financial outlook has improved significantly. At the start of the year, we set ourselves a modest but important goal—to simply break even. We’re happy to report that not only did we meet this goal, we exceeded it. Through a combination of thoughtful cost-cutting measures, a stronger presence on social media, and successful community-focused events, we closed the year with a surplus of nearly $4,000. Even more meaningfully, we were able to return over $34,000 in sales back to our artist members.
This financial progress is a direct reflection of the dedication of our volunteers, the enthusiasm of our members, and the support of our broader community. Together, we are building a vibrant and sustainable arts organization.
Looking ahead, our focus will be on continuing to improve the gallery’s functionality and atmosphere—enhancing both visitor experience and volunteer ease. We’re also working on developing more opportunities for members to engage with the gallery, whether through exhibitions, workshops, or outreach events. Our vision for the year ahead is clear: to keep building momentum, strengthening connections, and creating space for art to thrive.
Call for Volunteers: Comox Summer Fest – Saturday, June 28
We are excited to announce that once again we are participating in Comox Summer Fest, taking place on Saturday, June 28, from 10 am to 5 pm. This vibrant event brings summer fun to downtown Comox, featuring over 50 vendors, live entertainment, special offers from local businesses, and family-friendly activities. We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to represent The Pearl!
This fun, community-focused event is a great way to introduce people to the gallery! This year, we’ll be showcasing printmaking at our booth—inviting the public to watch and try out linocut printing, jelly plate printing, and etching. Small prints will be available by donation to support the gallery.
We need volunteers to cover two shifts:
Morning shift: 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Afternoon shift: 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
If you have experience with printmaking and are willing to help with live demos, or if you can contribute materials or tools, we’d love to hear from you!
Email Susan Sarada at susan@pearlellisgallery.ca.
Let’s make art and connect with the community!
Closing
As we step into a season of growth and renewal, we’re grateful for the steady support of our members, volunteers, and artists who help the gallery flourish. Whether you're creating, visiting, or volunteering, your contributions help our community bloom with creativity and connection. We hope to see you at the gallery or out in the community this spring—let’s continue to grow together.
Warmly,
The Pearl Ellis Gallery Team
