West Kootenay Regional Arts Council

“Uno” by Raul Pous Facha
2025-04-16 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-17 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-18 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-21 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-22 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-23 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-24 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-25 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) and 13 more dates | VISAC Gallery, 1501 Cedar Avenue, Trail, V1R 2J5
Meet Raul: Architect, Artist, and Digital Fabrication Visionary

“I’m Raul, an architect and artist of Mexican origin, now based in Canada since 2022. My lifelong fascination with materials and manufacturing techniques has deeply influenced my approach to design. While I’ve always appreciated the artistry and individuality of handmade products, I’ve also recognized the challenges they face in achieving precision and consistent quality.

This curiosity led me to digital fabrication, where I discovered the power to translate complex designs into reality with precision and control. Through the fusion of technology and craftsmanship, I am able to create pieces that retain the unique essence of handmade work while elevating their quality and accuracy.”

Exhibition Dates: March 10 – 20, 2025

Opening Reception: Thursday, March 13 from 4:00pm-5:30pm

Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 12pm-4pm

To learn more, visit us at: https://visacgallery.com/exhibitions/#unoraulpousfacha

Young Visions of 2025 Exhibit
2025-04-17 10:00 - 2025-05-31 17:00 (America/Vancouver) | Kootenay Gallery of Art, 120 Heritage Way, Castlegar, BC, V1N 4M5, Canada
After a two month period of time closed for renovations, the Kootenay Gallery is pleased
to announce that it will launch its 2025 exhibition season with one of its most anticipated
annual events. The Young Visions exhibit runs in both the West and East Galleries from
April 17th to May 31st, celebrating the creative skills and talents of young people in
School District 20 from ages 13 to 18.
This year, students from Stanley Humphries Secondary School in Castlegar, and Kootenay
Columbia Learning Centre will participate in the show.
The gallery and exhibit will open with a reception on Thursday, April 17th from 5:00 to
7:00 pm. All are welcome to attend the opening.
Gallery hours are from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information
contact the Gallery at 250.365.3337 or email kootenaygallery@telus.net.

Local Trail, Distant Shores: Water Colour Perspectives
2025-04-17 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-22 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-23 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-24 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | VISAC Gallery, 1501 Cedar Avenue, Trail, V1R 2J5
A series of watercolour paintings by Dan Ashman. The exhibition takes inspiration from the scenery of the West Kootenays.
Exhibition Dates:
March 27 – April 24, 2025
Opening Event:
March 27, 2025
Evening Hours:
April 15, 2025
Gallery Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday
12pm-4pm

Artist Statement:
If I am asked how long it took to paint a picture, I would reply, “Thirty-five years to learn how, and a few hours to put paint on paper”. It is a long process to master the media of watercolour and even after all this time, something can still go wrong. I’m still learning and developing my style.
About Dan Ashman:
Dan Ashman was born in British Columbia in 1956 and started his foray into art in High School by painting in oils. He moved to Trail to work as a Metallurgical Engineer at Teck and took up watercolours in 1987 during a night school course led by fellow engineer and local watercolour artist, Brian O’Hara. Subsequently, he attended workshops with Les Weisbrich, a watercolour artist from the Slocan valley, and Kiff Holland, a watercolour artist from the lower mainland. Otherwise, he is self taught.
Dan joined the Trail Art Club in 1988 and helped to establish the VISAC gallery. He was a member of the “Thursday Night Painters” when it was led by Bob Ross. His work has been shown in Art Club exhibitions, the VISAC invitational show, showings of the Thursday Night Painters both in Trail and Spokane as well as juried art shows. He has sold a number of paintings including one to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.
As an avid outdoorsman, Dan was inspired by the captivating scenery of the West Kootenays and began to capture local scenes in watercolour either painting “en plein air” or in his studio. He is also an amateur photographer and uses photos from his travels as subject matter. Now retired, his recent works include landscapes from the West Kootenays, the Canadian Rockies, Hawaii, and Atlantic Canada.

An Evening with Vera Maloff
2025-04-23 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | 1505 Bay Avenue, 1505 Bay Avenue, Trail, BC
Join Vera Maloff, Doukhobor historian, as she discusses her books, Our Backs Warmed by the Sun and They Called Him a Radical: The Memoirs of Pete Maloff.

Speaker Series with Richard McCrea: Honeybees & Other Pollinators
2025-04-24 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Vancouver) | Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre, 1100 Hwy 3B | Junction of Hwys 3B & 22, Rossland, BC, V0G 1Y0, Canada
Join us for a fascinating journey into the world of Honeybees & Other Pollinators with biologist Richard McCrea at the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre, at 6 pm on Thursday, April 24th. With decades of experience in life sciences—including ecology, entomology, botany, and palynology—Richard brings a deep appreciation and personal passion for the pollinators that play a crucial role in our ecosystems. Though not his primary field of study, Richard and his partner Lisa actively promote pollinator-friendly practices in their everyday lives, and his talk will blend scientific insight with accessible, real-world applications for anyone looking to support these vital species.
🌿 Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a backyard gardener, or just curious about the bees buzzing around your blooms, this talk is for you!
🗓 When: Thursday, April 24th, 2025
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Where: Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre
Admission is by donation. Light refreshments will be available.
Come curious and leave inspired!
For more information or to RSVP, go to rosslandmuseum.ca/news/2025/april-speaker, email info@rosslandmuseum.ca or call 250-362-7722.

When the Sun Goes Down - A Gallery Show by Shea Caughlin
2025-04-24 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton) | 601 1st Ave, Fernie BC
Artist’s Statement
When the sun dips below the mountains, the forest becomes a world of wonder and magic. As the light fades, the air becomes crisp and the sky transforms from golden hues to soft ethereal glows from the moonlight. The creatures of the forest begin to stir; Owls, with their piercing gazes, are echoing through the trees. Foxes, emerge from their dens in search for a snack. Moose and elk, with their majestic antlers and gentle eyes, step into the clearing and roam out from the shadows of the forest.
The Exhibition will be highlighting the beauty of the Elk Valley area from dusk to dawn inspired by her experiences around Elk Valley, BC. Her paintings will be highlighting the serene quiet and mystical forests to the wildlife roaming the area such as elk, moose, foxes and rams in oils on canvas.
Artist Bio
Shea Caughlin, born in 1992, is a self-taught wildlife artist who draws deeply from her personal experiences in nature. Born in Nova Scotia, grew up in Ontario and Alberta, now resides in beautiful British Columbia.
Since moving to Elk Valley over a year ago, Shea has been so incredibly inspired by her surroundings that she picked up her paint brush after 15 years and hasn’t put it down since. Working from her home studio, she draws inspiration by day; walking the trails of ancient forests, discovering hidden lakes, and observing wildlife around her home, to capture every detail by night at her easel. These peaceful surroundings around Elk Valley has helped solidify her love for nature and wildlife and is shaping her future as an artist. Shea’s current medium is oil on canvas.
Insta: @artistsheacaughlin

Live Painting Demo: Verne Busby
2025-05-14 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Edmonton) | Effusion Art Gallery, 1033 7th Ave, Invermere, BC
Effusion Art Gallery in Invermere is thrilled to welcome St. Albert artist Verne Busby on Saturday May 17th this May Long Weekend!
Verne will be transforming a blank canvas into a work of art live on-site and Effusion will be featuring his stunnign new collection of original regional paintings May 17-23.
You definitely want to stop by to view his work and to watch his creative process unfold. Verne really is an acrylic paint master!
