To view photos and learn about the venues in this area, select a name from the list below.
46. D.E. Walters eARTh Studios
47. Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce
48. Barbara Brown @ Gallery 444
50. Booth Milton: The Space Monkey Studio
51. Jocelyn Banyard: Living Studio
53. M.A.M.A.S. (Miniature Art Museum & Supplies) Cupboard
Click here to return to the main Culture Tour page and view all areas.
41. Songbird Pottery & Studio
Pottery studio; functional; decorative
My restored 125-year-old log barn is home to my ceramic studio, and although I thoroughly love the peace and solitude of my studio, I am excited to share my work and space with you during the Columbia Basin Culture Tour. I draw a great deal of inspiration from the songbirds that bathe in the small creek that runs under the barn; the established gardens; the mountains surrounding us; the larch, fir and pine forest; and the maple, willow and fruit trees. An assortment of my pottery, garden sculptures and luminaries will be available for purchase. Adult guests will have an opportunity to try out my kick pottery wheel. Although pieces created will not be fired, the experience will be fun for would-be potters.
Address:
2811 Blewett Rd., Nelson
Directions:
1/2 km past Blewett School.
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-551-5461
42. Chris Rookwood Pottery
Functional & sculptural ceramics
I am delighted to be opening my pottery studio for the Columbia Basin Culture Tour weekend and look forward to sharing my studio with you.
I throw and hand-build, making functional and sculptural pieces. Working with clay grounds me through a connection with the landscape of our beautiful region. I am influenced by the Kootenay landscapes—sky and water, mountains and rocks, plants and wildlife. I am fascinated with glazes and how they fit to the pot, how their colours and textures show up on different clay bodies. How do they capture the light, darkness, shadows, lines and blurred traces of the nature that surrounds us?
Each piece is handcrafted to extend that connectivity from land to maker to user. I hope that the experience of enjoying handmade ceramics brings pleasure and meaningful contact with a wider sense of community and ecology.
Address:
1331 Kai Rd., Nelson
Directions:
From Hwy. 3A: turn left (from Nelson) and right (from Castlegar) onto Insight Dr.; take 1st left onto Kai Rd.; four switchbacks; studio is on right with grey-and-red number sign; park at top of drive; follow signs to studio.
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Website: www.chrisrookwoodpottery.ca
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cvrookie
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 647-833-5363
43. Abby Wilson
Acrylic painting; landscape painting
Abby Wilson is an artist, author and adventurer. She lives in the West Kootenay mountains of British Columbia on the traditional territories of the Sinixt, the Syilx and the Ktunaxa peoples. Abby’s paintings capture her love of the mountains with bright, bold, acrylic landscapes. Her work explores how geometry aligns with natural geology, pushing on shape and line to stylize the world.
Address:
509 McHardy St., Nelson
Directions:
Walk down driveway to back of house.
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Website: www.abbywilson.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/abbywilsonart
Instagram: www.instagram.com/abby.wilson.art
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-551-2509
44. Chrystyna Bykowa Art
Acrylic painting; whimsical; garden
Join the garden party! Chrystyna Bykowa is a self-taught acrylic painter who creates whimsical worlds and botanical abstracts. Her art is colourful, detailed and full of magic. Each work beams happiness. Come by for a snack and get ready to smile. Original art works, prints, postcards, caps, souvenirs, Nelson-themed creations available.
Address:
1917 Perrier Rd., Nelson
Directions:
Leaving Nelson, go toward Whitewater; right after carpool parking (before the Toyota dealership), turn right; cross bridge onto Perrier Rd.; 4th house on left.
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Website: www.bykowa.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BykowaArt
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bykowa.art
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 778-962-0233
45. Lainey Benson
Acrylic town/landscapes; Canadian; colourful
Lainey Benson is a local artist who divides her time between Nelson and Montreal. This year she will be showing colourful paintings that include local scenes and scenes from her cross-Canada travels. The year 2025 is a year to celebrate and showcase Canada, and she aims to do so through her art.
Address:
418 Gore St., Nelson
Directions:
Uphill Nelson, between Ward and Stanley streets.
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Website: www.laineybenson.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/laineybensonart
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-505-3052
46. D.E. Walters eARTh Studios
Pottery demos; contests; throw down among potters; self-guided tours
eARTh Studios hosts several potters who will sell and demonstrate their ware, from making it to finishing it. Bilingual signage (French/English) in a self-guided educational tour. Seconds sale!
Diane, owner/operator, has been a potter for 44 years. In her words “I am more comfortable now with the unfinished, with the ever-changing story I try to create and represent through my functional pottery. The play of opposites and centring into a certain stillpoint is infused into every piece I make. I find deep satisfaction in knowing that they bring a silent speaking to the dinner table.”
Address:
1116 Latimer St., Nelson
Directions:
Top of Latimer, park so others can depart and arrive.
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Website: www.earthstudiosonline.com
Website: www.artescaperetreat.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/earthstudios
Instagram: www.instagram.com/earthstudios.nelson
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-354-1228
47. Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce
Art; gallery; bright; heritage
The Station Gallery and Gifts is located in the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce Visitor Centre. Our bright, unique space features a diverse gallery of stunning local art and a true heritage feel. We are proud to feature over 80 local artists in our gallery and gift shop.
Address:
91 Baker St., Nelson
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Socials/Contact:
Website: www.discovernelson.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/discovernelsonBC
Instagram: www.instagram.com/discoverNelson
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-352-3433
48. Barbara Brown @ Gallery 444
Forest scenes; oil painting; poetry; earth-themed gallery exhibit
Come find me this year in Nelson! I am so pleased to be at Gallery 444, upstairs at 444 Baker St. I’m excited to show you new forest-painting miniatures I have available for purchase, as well as my SYLVAN REFLECTIONS: Wanderings, Paintings & Ponderings from the Forest books and art cards. Or we can order prints for you of any of my full-sized forest paintings.
With my work, I share the beauty, the wonder and the wisdom to be found in the forest. I paint in oil on canvas, with each of my forest paintings incorporating an “otherworldly” bit of mysticism or symbolism, sometimes hidden, always spell-binding, expressing the magic of the wildwoods. My writing is poetic, meditative and philosophical, bringing you into connection with nature.
Gallery 444 (SOMA Sound & Events) is running an earth-themed art exhibit from July 1 to August 31 this summer, with nature-based paintings by five artists. I am honoured to be one of them.
So do come! View the whole show: Sam Stratchan, mixed media; Christopher Mcholm, acrylic; Chrystyna Bykowa, acrylic; Arturo Arcos, oil/mixed media; and myself, oil. All on display for you to see throughout the Culture Tour weekend.
Address:
Gallery 444, 444 Baker St., Nelson
Directions:
Upstairs at Gallery 444, downtown Nelson.
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Website: www.barbarabrownart.com, https://linktr.ee/gallery444
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BarbaraBrownArtist
Instagram: www.instagram.com/barbarabrownartist, www.instagram.com/gal.lery444/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: Barbara: 250-505-6205, Gallery: 250-777-3420
49. Jennifer McCaw
Celestial terrestrial talisman jewellery
I am over the moon to invite you to come explore my otherworldly jewellery during the Columbia Basin Culture Tour 2025. I will be hosting my show in beautiful downtown Nelson at 532 Ward St., the Love of Shiva 2 location.
I am a jeweller obsessed with outer space and rare gemstones and I create jewellery that connects you to the cosmos. My wearable art pieces feature star constellations, moon textures, beautiful gems representing celestial bodies, kinetic components and vibrant colours reminiscent of those found in space.
My inspirations are telescopic views of outer space, images from the Webb and Hubble, the starry night sky and the stunning gemstones of Earth, as well as gems that land here from outer space….
For this two-day event, I will have a wide variety of my work available for purchase, in all price points, so there is something for everyone, and I will be able to accept payment by card or cash. So if you see something you love, it can be yours!
I look forward to meeting you and chatting about my collection, and I invite you to come try on some of my magical, celestial terrestrial talismans.
Address:
532 Ward St., Nelson
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennifer.mccaw.35
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennifermccaw_art
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-226-7767
50. Booth Milton: The Space Monkey Studio
Woodcarving; foundry; 3D printing; mould-making & casting
Welcome to the Space Monkey Studio, a living workshop of flying saucers, spaceships and jet packs—everything you need to explore the Great Beyond.
Milton’s works will spark the imaginations of both young and old. His sculptures playfully mix old traditions such as mould-making, casting and carving with new art media like 3D printing and upcycled materials. Along with modes of space travel, you will find salvaged and converted debris transformed into plants from alien planets and artifacts collected from space journeys of the imagination. Guess the component parts in each sculpture!
Sculptor Booth Milton finds inspiration in space, science fiction, pop culture and the natural world. Milton founded White Monkey Design in Vancouver and built props for the film and TV industry for over 30 years. In 2021, he relocated to the Kootenays, where he is currently building a new studio at 805 Victoria St.
Join artist Booth Milton for a fun visual feast. All monkeys welcome!
Address:
805 Victoria St., Nelson
Directions:
1 block above Kootenay Co-op.
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitemonkeyvancouver
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 604-518-0324
51. Jocelyn Banyard: Living Studio
Textiles; photography; glass; text
Can’t afford to travel? No problem! Come on over to Jocelyn Banyard’s home-based studio, where you can take a trip to Zambia of the past, present and future. The works in this collection by sisters Jocelyn and Antonia are inspired by their family’s long history in Zambia, their experience of immigrating to Canada, and their ongoing relationship with Zambians. Works include textile-inspired pieces by Jocelyn, including velvet devoré, story appliqués by the Malambo women of Zambia and Marylee Banyard, Word Art compiled and transformed by Antonia, and more.
Open the door of 805 Victoria St. and listen to a dialogue across continents and through the ages—many voices amidst changing times.
Address:
805 Victoria St., Nelson
Directions:
1 block above Kootenay Co-op.
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Website: https://www.whitemonkeydesign.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitemonkeyvancouver/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/white_monkey_design/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-551-4540
52. Hi! ✋🏼Gallery
Painting; drawing; textiles; murals
Hi! ✋🏼Gallery is home to artists Amber and Sergio Santos. This space serves as our art studio and movement studio, as well as a residence for visiting artists and dancers. We are dancers, percussionists, painters, builders, art teachers and carnavalescos. We will be exhibiting and selling paintings, carnaval masks, drawings and art cards, as well as used art books.
Amber: In my art practice, I explore themes of identity, land and belonging. I draw on my experience as a third-generation German immigrant and Anishanaabe/Métis/Cree person. My ongoing study of belonging, family and identity has been explored through drawing, painting and stitching on paper and canvas, as well as drawing and painting on wood and mural creation. I use mapping as a starting place to unpack, unravel and understand family stories, make connections and envision futures.
Sergio: My work is informed by growing up in my father’s home in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. He is an antique collector, especially of baroque sacred art, in Brazil. In my art I deconstruct the baroque forms on reclaimed wood by reorganizing them and creating new contexts through painting.
Address:
75A High St., Nelson
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ambersantosart
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-551-2470
53. M.A.M.A.S. (Miniature Art Museum & Supplies) Cupboard
Miniature art-making
Welcome to M.A.M.A.S.! Nelson’s first Miniature Art Museum and Supply Cupboard. Similar to tiny libraries, M.A.M.A.S. is open 24/7 for you to leave art, take art, leave supplies, take supplies. Come and visit us and create mini art at our art-making table to either leave in the museum or take home. You might even find a new piece of art from another artist to take home, too!
Address:
100-block Pine St., Nelson
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Socials/Contact:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/m.a.m.a.s.Nelson.bc
Instagram: www.instagram.com/m.a.m.a.s_Nelson_
54.PB Woodworks
Carving; fine woodworking; craftsman
Peter Bockner is a longtime resident of the Kootenays, with over 50 years of woodworking and furniture-design experience. He specializes in carving and teaching classes in his Nelson shop. His gallery will feature both large and small pieces, including boxes, meditation stools, benches and cabinets.
Address:
623 Behnsen St., Nelson
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Socials/Contact:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-352-1308