PRISM Art Gallery on Saturna Island

Saturna Island is a very special place in this world, as free as possible from the intrusive and often-troubling distractions of the world at large. It's an island filled with gorgeous natural spots and much abiding inspiration. No wonder Saturna is home to many local artists and artisans. You can see a fine sample of work of local talent displayed on the walls of the Saturna Café until June 9.

I'm one of Saturna's local artists, with my Saturna Island studio being the place where the magic I can capture gets conveyed to canvas. My studio (up the hill from my home at Saturna) is in rather an out-of-the-way spot, even for this out-of-the-way island. Relatively few people come to visit me there, and I suppose that's just as well. It's busy with all the work I'm doing for current and upcoming shows in Vancouver and elsewhere, and there's hardly a place to "show" the work well. All the in-progress material impedes anyone but me from getting around. I try to tidy it up occasionally, but not when I'm busy on a project, which has been often these days. But, you know, it's nice to have people see and comment on your work. And I do miss that. So....

original painting, 2019, by Janet Strayer: www.janetstrayer.com

What I've done is open the PRISM, a small gallery for the summer months at lovely spot near the ferry. I don't know how long I can keep it running, but it's been a pleasure to invite people to see the art, to direct them to other people's studios, as well as to local scenic spots on Saturna. I welcome all the new visitors who just casually drop in as they wait for the ferry or have an ice-cream. And I'm happy to see return visitors, like the nature photographers who've come by boat for several seasons, eager to show and share work with me. Or like the couple from France who only had time to visit one Gulf Island and chose Saturna. Or the young bike-riders from Germany, who'd never  been to an "art gallery" before, but enjoyed this one. It's a small island that invites the world.

This summer, I'm hosting the PRISM Art Gallery once more--- OPENS  JUNE 1. The gallery will be open on weekends and holiday Mondays until after Labour Day. New paintings will be displayed  monthly, and there will be some surprises, including a large 3-D collages I've been working on for months. I'm eager to meet the new visitors and to welcome those who've come again to visit.