2024: NELSON

To view the full Culture Tour Google map, click the map image below. To view photos and learn more about the venues in this area, select a name from the list below the map.

37 The Station Gallery & Gifts
38 Nelson International Mural Festival
39 Michael Graham Home Studio
40 Nelson Studio 88
41 Ovo Ceramic Studio
42 The Human Zoo
43 White Monkey Art Museum
44 Ɖlk Jewellery Studio
45 Oxygen Art Centre

46 Lillie & Cohoe
47 Donna Rodman at Kootenay Tamil Kitchen Masala
48 Kimberley Hyatt Studio
49 Sandra Irvine Fine Art Home Studio
50 eARTh studios
51 S.R. Spence: The Headwater Collective
52 Tony Waterfall
53 Martha Stokoe
54 Heather Hutchinson

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37 THE STATION GALLERY & GIFTS

PAINTINGS; POTTERY; JEWELLERY; GIFTS

The Station Gallery & Gifts proudly features over 50 artistsā€™ works. Our gift shop showcases the vibrant creativity of regional artists, featuring an array of exquisite pieces spanning various mediums. Visitors can peruse through handcrafted pottery, each piece infused with the rugged beauty of the surrounding landscapes. Delightful paintings adorn the walls, depicting scenes that evoke the soul-stirring allure of the natural wonders of the Kootenays. Intricately designed jewellery, inspired by the rich cultural heritage of the region, sparkles alongside meticulously crafted woodwork, showcasing the artisanal expertise of our talented community.

Address:
91 Baker St., Nelson

Directions:
Located in Nelson visitor centre.

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Socials/Contact:

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38 NELSON INTERNATIONAL MURAL FESTIVAL

MURALS; LIVE MUSIC; PERFORMANCE; PUBLIC ART

Nelson International Mural Festival is an annual celebration of public art in Nelson, organized by the Nelson & District Arts Council. Join us as local, national and international artists convene to paint the canvas of the cityā€™s walls.

Spanning the summer months and culminating in the festival held August 9 to 11, this event is a testament to the vitality of public art. All events are entirely free of charge, welcoming families and individuals of all ages to experience the magic of art in accessible, public spaces.

Beyond the awe-inspiring murals, the festival boasts a dynamic lineup of activities. From live music and captivating performances to engaging workshops, entertaining kidsā€™ activities and mural tours, thereā€™s something for everyone to enjoy.

The liveliness of this festival doesnā€™t fade when summer ends. The murals enrich Nelsonā€™s landscape year-round, inviting locals and visitors alike to explore and immerse themselves in the vibrant tapestry of imagination that adorns the cityā€™s walls.

Address:
Saturday: 91 Baker St., Nelson
Saturday/Sunday: Various public spaces, Nelson

Directions:
Digital map: streetartcities.com/cities/nelson-ca.

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Socials/Contact:

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39 MICHAEL GRAHAM HOME STUDIO

PAINT; PAPER; FABRIC; STAIN

What inspires me are objects with a sense of nostalgia and time.

Old quilts are a good example.

I think of the person or persons who made it, the conversations had while making it, the fabrics used, the designs and stitching.

In my work you will find vintage fabric, old paper, ash, paint and stain.

My work is an attempt to elevate the discarded and used to avant garde.

I want the viewer to look past the obvious, see beyond, imagine and dream.

Address:
214 Victoria St., Nelson

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Socials/Contact:

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40 NELSON STUDIO 88

MUSIC & ART CLASSES FOR ALL AGES & LEVELS

Nelson Studio 88 is a vibrant space where creativity thrives and connections are made. Here, children, parents, friends and family come together to explore their artistic potential. Let me share some details about this inspiring place.

Offerings:

  • Music education: We provide instruction in piano, guitar, ukulele, voice, songwriting, musical theatre and music production.
  • Art classes: Explore your creativity through art, writing, photography and improv.
  • Community connection: Nelson Studio 88 fosters a sense of belonging, allowing people of all ages to inspire each other and share their passion for the arts.

Whether youā€™re a budding artist or a music enthusiast, or simply seeking inspiration, Nelson Studio 88 welcomes you to slow down, tap into your creativity, and discover something new or nourish whatā€™s already within.

Address:
402 Victoria St., Nelson

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Socials/Contact:

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41 OVO CERAMIC STUDIO

POTTERY; MUGS; BOWLS; PLANTERS

Fabiana de Ƅlmeida is the artist behind Ovo Ceramic Studio. Since 2014, she has been fully dedicated to her creations. Her body of work reflects a line of functional artwork that is intended for daily use in the kitchen and at home. This functional line is primarily wheel-thrown with stoneware clay and glazed with rich, vibrant colours. Fabiana also has been teaching wheel-throwing workshops to beginning, intermediate and advanced students, as well as hand-building workshops.

Address:
Nelson Studio 88, 402 Victoria St., Nelson

Directions:
A block away from Baker St.

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Socials/Contact:

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42 THE HUMAN ZOO

ORGANIC; FOUND OBJECTS; GLASS; CULTURAL AND HISTORIC ARTIFACTS

Welcome to the Human Zoo: the working studio of Jocelyn Banyard. A third culture child, Jocelynā€™s current art experiments involve teaching herself glass work, experimenting in wax and exploring her cultural histories. Visitors can also see an art career that spans film, commercials, cultural art and sustainable development in Zambia. 

Address:
805 Victoria St., Nelson

Directions:
One block up from Kootenay Co-op on Baker St.

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Socials/Contact:

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43 WHITE MONKEY ART MUSEUM

WOOD CARVING; FOUNDRY; 3D PRINTING; MOULD MAKING AND CASTING

White Monkey Art Museum is an imaginarium situated in downtown Nelson. The living gallery will offer a multimedia exhibitionā€”rocket ships and magic wands, wizard staffs and hero artifacts that played in major movies; a little something for young and old. Enter, and you will find wonders of the sci fi, a cabinet of curiosities, artifacts of the natural world and cultural icons.

Host Booth Milton is a graduate of the Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Upon graduating, he had a brief stint, hired by the Taiwanese government, to demonstrate West Coast wood-carving techniques, stemming from his experience of working with Bill Reed and George Rammel. He then travelled extensively through southeast Asia and China. Starting out as an independent sculptor, his studio rapidly developed to be a resource to the larger art community, offering services to many prominent BC artists, including many First Nations sculptors. His studio, often referred to as Vancouverā€™s last ā€˜dirty studioā€™ morphed into White Monkey Designā€”an in-house custom design company that catered to TV, commercials and movies.

Booth relocated to Nelson in 2021, and is currently doing his best to recreate his new dirty studio. Good luck Booth!

Address:
805 Victoria St., Nelson

Directions:
One block up from Kootenay Co-op on Baker St.

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Socials/Contact:

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44 ƉLK JEWELLERY STUDIO

HIGH-END JEWELLERY; NATURAL GEMSTONES; ANCIENT TECHNIQUES

Emilie Leblanc Kromberg graduated as a goldsmith in 2006 and has devoted herself to her company, Ɖlk Jewellery, ever since.

She loves contrasts; she superimposes different metals, works with multiple techniques and uses matte finishes while adding shine with precious stones. Her pieces are very elaborate while maintaining a natural look.

For this tour, she is opening up her studio, which usually happens by appointment only. During the weekend you will be able to see her work, her workshop and jewellery-making demonstrations. It is on the third floor and unfortunately doesnā€™t have an elevator, so this can also be your workout of the day!

Address:
505 Kootenay St., Nelson

Directions:
On 3rd floor; same entrance as Abacus Beads, but then go all the way up the stair.

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Socials/Contact:

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45 OXYGEN ART CENTRE

RESIDENCY; OPEN STUDIO; CONTEMPORARY ART; TEXTILES

Oxygen Art Centre is an artist-run centre located in downtown Nelson. Artist-in-residence Chris Dufour will open their studio to share works in progress exploring plants, natural dyes, textiles and photography concerning the site of the cut block.

Address:
3A 320 Vernon St., Nelson

Directions:
Alleyway entrance behind Hippersonā€™s Hardware (395 Baker St.) along Stanley Ave.

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Socials/Contact:

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46 LILLIE & COHOE

DESIGN; PATTERN-MAKING DEMONSTRATION; STITCHING; HAT-WEARING GUIDANCE

I welcome you to visit the Lillie & Cohoe hat-making studio to experience the fun of wearing hats and the processes involved in making them. Learn the history of millinery while you explore the studio.

In the production room, you will find marker layouts of hat patterns, and cut goods prepared for stitching. In the boutique, have fun trying on hats with your friends, see yourself in a hat and discover what will fulfill the need to protect yourself from the sun or the cold.

To address the technicality of this artful trade, I will grade a hat pattern into three sizes, illustrating how we accommodate head size changes but maintain the proportions. I will talk about three ways to achieve a curved crown shape patterning.

To design, we do not draw ideas, we work with existing shapes to evolve new forms. As we interact with our clients, we find out where we can develop and improve. I will show the evolution of a particular style through the years: Chelsea to Minou to Kate to Kaitlyn.

And if you are a crafter or stitcher, choose an assortment of small remnants of your choice to use in your own way.

Address:
4 320 Vernon St., Nelson

Directions:
Second level of building; enter lane between Baker and Vernon at Stanley; we are in the building with Oxygen and Lanaknits.

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Socials/Contact:

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47 DONNA RODMAN AT KOOTENAY TAMIL KITCHEN MASALA

OIL PAINTING; LIVE DEMONSTRATION; STORIES; TAMIL CULTURE

Welcome to Kootenay Tamil Kitchen Masala. The owners are Tamils by birth; they love cooking and baking, using traditional authentic family Tamil recipes that are heart-healthy. The Tamil culture, one of the oldest cultures in the world, gives to Nelson. Bring an appetite for Southern India cuisine, spices, groceries and the Tamil restaurant. Treat your senses.

Come view the artwork of Donna Rodman. Purchase colourful canvases, limited editions. I started in 2016; Iā€™m self taught, mentored by artist Sheree Jones. Though Canadian, I was born in Rawlpindi, Pakistan. Creative as a landscape architect, sketching in pencil and ink, I am branching into oils and graphic illustration. I am seeking fun, freeing creativity, enhancing family life and my community, and reaching art collectors. I love detailing and am courageous working in colour. I believe that variety in subject matter is the spice of art. I paint for beauty, motion, emotion and story moments. I will be painting live for you. I believe nature is a healing force for wellness and recovery through introspection, stepping into a canvas with mind and heart. I have a sustainability philosophy with an environmental/cultural/heritage message. I hope to bring sunshine onto your walls.

Address:
Kootenay Tamil Kitchen Masala, 510 Hall St., Nelson

Directions:
Where Boomtown Sports was; east side of Baker St. heading north; across from Gerick Cycle & Ski.

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Socials/Contact:

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48 KIMBERLEY HYATT STUDIO

CERAMIC ANIMAL SCULPTURES; WATERCOLOUR DOGS

Step through the charming garden gate into a Beatrix Potteresque world. My artwork is displayed in a flowy white tent surrounded by an English garden of lavender, clematis, sage, daisies and pink geraniums. Birds sing and the squirrels spring from one hazelnut to the other. Nature is front and centre both in my art and how I display it.

My hanging ceramic dog and hare faces, pastoral vistas on hand-built mugs and dishes, and goofy dog scenes in mixed media on wood boards all are explorations of the natural world, animals and patterns. The multimedia artwork is coloured by clay slips and underglazes, pencil crayons, watercolours and always a dash of humour or nostalgia.

Since graduating from a three-year ceramics program at Kootenay School of the Arts, Iā€™ve focused on my love of bold design and pattern in carving through underglazes, a technique called sgraffito, to reveal the white clay beneath on my porcelain dishes and mugs. More subtle use of colour influences my dog watercolours and I mix both aesthetics in my mixed-media drawings.

While my work is for sale, I delight in creating an escapist experience for my visitors. I hope to see you soon.

Address:
914 Gore St., Nelson

Directions:
Drive uphill on Latimer; turn right onto Cedar St., keeping south; Nelson School on your right; then left onto Gore; Iā€™m just below Park St., set back in, turquoise- and grey-sided house; come in through gate.

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Socials/Contact:

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49 SANDRA IRVINE FINE ART HOME STUDIO

WATERCOLOUR; OIL PAINTINGS; ART CARDS

I paint landscapes and wildlife in watercolour and oils. I am inspired by spending time outside hiking, kayaking and skiing. Slowing down in nature allows me to listen to the melody in my life, tuning into those things that create emotion in me.

I am influenced by the Impressionists, such as Monet and Degas, who use broken colour applications that convey feelings of energy, light and warmth to me.

I enjoy both watercolour and oil painting and am constantly evolving in my understanding of colour composition and value to create emotion and impact in my artwork. When painting in watercolour, I like to pour my paint on wet paper and allow the colours to mix on their own. I guide this process by turning the paper or spraying it with water. It is an exhilarating and unpredictable process.

My philosophy is paint what moves you and trust your intuition. I hope you can join me at my home studio on Mountain Station Rd., which has a panoramic view of Nelson and Kootenay Lake.

Address:
1430 Mountain Station Rd., Nelson

Directions:
From downtown Nelson, proceed up Stanley St.; turn left on Latimer; turn right on Cherry; at Mountain Station parking lot take Mountain Station Rd.; follow road; go left on switchback, then proceed to 1430 Mountain Station Rd. (number is on old red truck at base of driveway).

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Socials/Contact:

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50 EARTH STUDIOS

POTTERY DEMONSTRATIONS; FUNCTIONAL CERAMICS; PHOTOGRAPHY

D.E. Walters has been a potter for 44 years. In addition to creating pottery, she teaches ceramics in the studio in her own backyard. She also hosts ā€œart-cationsā€ in her Gallery Suite, where one can buy local art off the walls. Diane is dedicated to making the magic of art and creation accessible to everyone. Her six production lines are in an outdoor gallery.

Fellow potter Deidre Lynch will be on site with her own line of pottery, as well as demonstrating the pottersā€™ craft on the wheel.

Address:
1116 Latimer St., Nelson

Directions:
At top of Latimer St., swing wide to park in drive or down the street.

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Socials/Contact:

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51 S.R. SPENCE: THE HEADWATER COLLECTIVE

PHOTOGRAPHY; CUSTOM FRAMING; RECLAIMED WOOD; COMPOSITION

The HeadWater Collective was born out of an idea that a tiny drop of inspiration could fuel greater things. Born in Nelson, I grew up in the mountains where I learned photography from a young age from my mother. Woodworking was learned from spending time with my grandfather. After a career as a first responder came to a halt from many trauma-based experiences, I combined the two disciplines to fill my time away from work. I started using reclaimed wood to create things for friends and family but had always wanted to be able to frame my own photos. Eventually, I recognized that using reclaimed wood was representative of my own experience. Turning something that had been thrown away into something purposeful and beautiful could be said about me. From this, I decided to only use reclaimed wood for my projects. I began photographing with purpose, to create images that were from my own life experiences or those that represented others. I wanted to create photographs that resonated with others, that made lifeā€™s experiences beautiful, even if the experience itself wasnā€™t. It has become my mission to use my images and woodwork to create conversation about difficult subjects in life and remove the stigma around mental health and lifeā€™s challenges, or to highlight the things in life that bring us enjoyment.

Address:
eARTh Studios, 1116 Latimer St., Nelson

Directions:
At top of Latimer St., swing wide to park in drive or down the street.

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Socials/Contact:

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52 TONY WATERFALL

METAL SCULPTURE

Welcome to my sculpture studio in beautiful Nelson. I have been a career metalworker for over 30 years, creating custom work all around the Kootenays and beyond. These days I have shifted my focus to work on small sculptures inspired by my travel and adventure experiences. I use techniques from blacksmithing, hollow-form construction and welding to achieve something unique and one-of-a-kind.

Address:
60 View St., Nelson

Directions:
A few blocks past the hospital.

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Socials/Contact:

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53 MARTHA STOKOE

WHIMSICAL INK & WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS

Please come along and see me in my studio for the Columbia Basin Culture Tour!

The whimsy continues with 31 new pen-and-ink works.

Some personal health challenges this year have taken me on a journey of painting 25 new small lighthouse watercolours. The lighthouses are symbolic of me looking for direction and answers and finding hope in adversity.

There will also be a mix of older acrylic paintings, from small to large, on display.

Hope to see you there!

Address:
515 Sixth St., Nelson

Directions:
Access via alley.

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Socials/Contact:

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54 HEATHER HUTCHINSON

ABSTRACT ACRYLIC LANDSCAPE

My studio is located in my living room as it has the best light in my apartment. I have a lot of paintings scattered throughout, and may also place them out in the backyard.

Music accompanies me in my painting process. Often while playing away with colours, movement and texture, I find that my brushes are moving in time with the rhythms. Itā€™s fun and less inhibiting.

I enjoy meeting other people and talking about where they are or have been in their creative process.

Address:
620 Second St., Nelson

Directions:
Enter through alley on Elwyn between Second and Hwy.

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Socials/Contact:

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