Felicia Santarossa /Monday Magazine contributor
For the 32nd year in a row, Moss Street is being transformed into both an outdoor art studio and gallery.
The TD Art Gallery Paint-In, happening July 20, features over 100 artists demonstrating their creative process and selling their work, in a fundraiser staged by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
For artists like Marina Fierz, the event B次元官网网址渄efinitelyB次元官网网址� builds community.
B次元官网网址淎s you walk around, youB次元官网网址檒l notice some of the booths are really accessible to the general public,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great way for people who know nothing about art to come and at least learn the basics, or find some of their favourite artists and get inspiration from them.B次元官网网址�
| Artist Marina Fierz, who works with alcohol-based inks, is pictured in her studio. She is one of hundreds of artists participating in the 32nd annual TD Art Gallery Paint-In on Moss Street and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Photo by Felicia Santarossa |
With exposure to 10,000 people in one day, the event can create plenty of connections B次元官网网址� not to mention sales B次元官网网址� for artists in Victoria and surrounding areas.
B次元官网网址淏asically the Paint-In is my main source of inspiration and projects and commissions for the year,B次元官网网址� says Fierz, B次元官网网址渟o itB次元官网网址檚 like the beginning of my artist year. Kind of like my artist new year that way.B次元官网网址�
Given the huge number of attendees and participants, adds acrylic painter Laura Bonnie, the event is a B次元官网网址渞eally viable wayB次元官网网址� to gain feedback on her work. B次元官网网址淭he past couple of years itB次元官网网址檚 been really nice to see othersB次元官网网址� reactions to my paintings,B次元官网网址� she says.
Between artists and Paint-In volunteers, thereB次元官网网址檚 a wide age range of people involved, from teenagers to people in their 70s and 80s. Event spokesperson Julia Pauselius says that shows just how encompassing this event is.
Plein air artist Kathleen Trayner estimates she volunteered for B次元官网网址渁t least halfB次元官网网址� of the Paint-Ins before setting up her booth as an artist. SheB次元官网网址檚 coming back for a third year this time around.
B次元官网网址淧eople are always curious,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚 love the kids, the kids are so curious. I think kids these days are told B次元官网网址榙onB次元官网网址檛 touch that, donB次元官网网址檛 look at that, donB次元官网网址檛 get too close,B次元官网网址� [but this] is a way to get them closer to art.B次元官网网址�
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The free all-day event began in 1987, when everyone from art fanatics to casual appreciators of the craft witnessed local artists working in real-time. While that still holds true, the event has expanded over the years to include many more mediums.
Visitors can expect not just painters, but crafters of artisan jewelry, wood carvings and more. Other features include imagination stations where you can exercise your creativity, a live music stage and even a beer garden.
With the Paint-In growing dramatically over the last couple years, the Gallery has had to figure out its role in engaging with the public, Pauselius says. Especially this year, she adds, they are trying to home in on the idea of bringing the community together.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just a sales event, but really inviting people to be playful, to engage, to be curious and ask questions, and then come to the Gallery to have a drink and some food.B次元官网网址�
The Paint-In street art runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the gallery open from 10 to 6. Moss Street will be closed to traffic before and after. As well, side streets ending at Moss will only be open to local traffic. For more information, visit or call the gallery at 250-384-4171.
