Lucas Myers & Krista Lynch, Lance Ledger, and the Nelson Writing Salon return to the Nelson Museum for everyone’s favourite FREE children’s program–Museum Mash! Explore the building, get crafty with puppet-making, sing and dance, and have a blast! There’s lots of room to run and play, and no shushing here!
Art & Culture
Debert Bunker: By Invitation Only film screening
Outside a military base in Debert, Nova Scotia, on a cold day in February 1984, a small but mighty group of women harnessed the power of performance art, protest, and the media—and captured the attention of the entire country.
That same day in February, 329 people were planning on using the bunker for rehearsal of a nuclear attack—nearly all of them white, middle-aged men with government or military leadership roles; only 11 women were on the list.
Months earlier, women from all over the Maritimes began planning for a multi-faceted day of action, dubbed Debunk Debert. The group arranged radio interviews on CBC morning shows, arranged for men to handle the day’s cooking, cleaning, and childcare, and staged a protest at Camp Debert, the location of Atlantic Canada’s only cold war bunker.
The protesters’ message was clear: while these men continue government from inside the bunker, what is happening to the women and children you’ve left behind? How do you continue government, or humanity, without a second generation? Documentary filmmaker Liz MacDougall explores these questions and covers the protest in her 1985 documentary Debert Bunker: By Invitation Only, screening Friday, March 14 in the Cold War Bunker, presented by the Nelson Museum to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The screening of Debert Bunker: By Invitation Only is at 6:30pm on Friday, March 14, followed by an open discussion with Anna Purcell and Tressa Ford. Tickets are $10 for museum members and $15 for the general public and includes a reproduction of the ‘Debunk Debert’ buttons created for the original protest.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Front Desk or online. Space is limited for this one-time only event.
Stephen Fearing & The Sentimentals
Stephen Fearing & The Sentimentals Revered Canadian songwriter Stephen Fearing and the award-winning Scandinavian indie-folk band The Sentimentals share a mutual passion for crafting evocative melodies and refined musical interplay that leave audiences cheering. Combining their shared admiration for classic Tin Pan Alley songwriting and storytelling with richly textured soundscapes, they have forged a singular musical voice that is authentic and refreshingly inventive. Since joining forces in 2018, Stephen Fearing & The Sentimentals have lit up stages across Europe and Canada, delivering performances defined by an unforgettable blend of masterful songwriting and intricate musicianship. This collaboration is beautifully captured on Fearing’s 2022 album Vejpoesi (road poems), where The Sentimentals’ instrumentation deepens the emotional resonance of Fearing’s lyrics and melodies. Recorded in just three days at Maskinhallen, a theater in Frederikshavn, Denmark, these sessions reveal The Sentimentals’ extraordinary ability to reimagine and elevate Fearing’s seasoned material. Together, Stephen Fearing & The Sentimentals have created a rich musical expression focussed on artistic exploration. Their partnership seamlessly weaves traditional roots influences with subtle experimentation, resulting in performances and recordings that are both emotionally stirring and artistically groundbreaking.
Advance Tickets $40
At the Door $45
Dark Chapters opening reception
The Dark Chapters project encompasses the renowned career of Métis artist and educator David Garneau, through the dual lens of exhibition and publication. The book, Dark Chapters: Reading the Still Lives of David Garneau, invites 17 Canadian artists and academics to write a response – poetry, creative writing, critical essay – to one of Garneau’s vast collection of still life paintings. The exhibition features works from the publication as well as additional pieces chosen by Garneau. Dark Chapters offers myriad ways to investigate how the written word can implicate, illuminate, and interpret artworks.
Dark Chapters opens on Friday, March 21 at 7pm featuring an artist talk with Garneau and essay contributor Fred Wah. This event is free and open to the public.
David Garneau (Métis) is a Professor of Visual Arts at the University of Regina. He is a painter, curator, and writer who engages creative and critical expressions of Indigenous contemporary ways of knowing, being, and doing. In 2023, he received the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Art: Outstanding Achievement and was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada.
ELVIS: The Vegas Years
Get ready to be all shook up! “ELVIS: The Vegas Years” is a spectacular musical journey that celebrates the unforgettable Vegas era of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley. Featuring a stunning array of costumes, dazzling choreography, and, of course, the legendary music that made Elvis a household name, this show promises an experience you won’t want to miss.
You will experience:
– Hit Songs Galore: Enjoy live performances of Elvis classics like “Suspicious Minds”, “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, “In The Ghetto”, and many many more!
– Stunning Visuals: Our stage transforms into a vibrant replica of 1970s Las Vegas, complete with state-of-the-art lighting and video technology.
– World-Class Talent: Starring Multi-award-winning Elvis Tribute Artist Jaedyn Pilon, backed by Canada’s Top Elvis Tribute Band, The Flashback Band
– Immersive Experience: The show includes a unique mix of narrative and concert, bringing the excitement of Elvis’s performances and personal anecdotes to life.
“Elvis: The Vegas Years” isn’t just a concert; it’s a journey through the heart of musical innovation and personal evolution.
Lost Buildings with Greg Nesteroff
While Nelson is well known for its many heritage buildings, it has also lost many to fire and demolition. Local historian and author Greg Nesteroff visits the Nelson Museum on Sunday, February 23 at 1pm to present a fascinating slideshow that will look at 40 such structures and their stories, from the opera house to the Strathcona Hotel to the Kerr Apartments.
To celebrate Heritage Week (February 17-23) this presentation is free and open to the public. Admission to the Nelson Museum is also by donation all week.
Artist Trading Cards Maker Space
Artist trading cards are miniature works of art specifically made to be freely traded. Created on 2.5 x 3.5-inch card stock using any medium, ATCs encourage artistic experimentation, creativity, and community building rather than consumption.
Drop in to the Nelson Museum to create and trade your own miniature works of art. Blank cards, art making materials and collage supplies will be available but feel free to bring your own. No registration required. All ages.
Write Off the Bat! Awards Night!
Come hear the winners of Write Off he Bat! an on-site, theme-based writing marathon and juried writing competition that happened February 22 and 23 at Taghum Hall. This free event on March 16 at 7pm will reveal the winners, with juror comments, author readings, and refreshments in a friendly community celebration of creativity under duress!
Art & Ecology Book Study
We are excited to offer a 5 week Art & Ecology course that will provide an opportunity for discussion, reflective writing, and art-making to critically examine the present and inspire the process of imagining and eventually realizing better futures. What we can create begins with what we can imagine.Co-facilitated by NMAG and the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute, the course will run on Thursday evenings from 6-8 pm, April 3 to May 1, 2025, at NMAG. There will be required readings each week from the collection of essays, An Ecotopian Lexicon.Registration fee includes a copy of the book, An Ecotopian Lexicon, a collaborative volume of engaging essays that offer new terms and concepts to inspire responses and alternatives to our current social and ecological trajectory.The content and readings are suited for adult learners. Maximum registration of 10 participants. Register here. Course cost is $40+GST for members, and $50+GST for non-members. Sign up for a Museum membership online or in person at the Front Desk.
Art & Ecology Book Study
We are excited to offer a 5 week Art & Ecology course that will provide an opportunity for discussion, reflective writing, and art-making to critically examine the present and inspire the process of imagining and eventually realizing better futures. What we can create begins with what we can imagine.Co-facilitated by NMAG and the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute, the course will run on Thursday evenings from 6-8 pm, April 3 to May 1, 2025, at NMAG. There will be required readings each week from the collection of essays, An Ecotopian Lexicon.Registration fee includes a copy of the book, An Ecotopian Lexicon, a collaborative volume of engaging essays that offer new terms and concepts to inspire responses and alternatives to our current social and ecological trajectory.The content and readings are suited for adult learners. Maximum registration of 10 participants. Register here. Course cost is $40+GST for members, and $50+GST for non-members. Sign up for a Museum membership online or in person at the Front Desk.