Tatjana Mirkov-Popovicki 

'Coastal Light'

Akemi Emma Ito

'Daydreaming, Horseshoe Bay'

Lil Chrzan

'April Morning, Seaview Trail'

Emma Fish

'Twilight Nights'

Experience the original artwork from the You Are Here 2026 Calendar featuring beautiful scenes & stories of the North Shore by artists: Glenn Bohn, Lil Chrzan, Christine Cowan, Emma Fish, Akemi Emma Ito, Sue Johnson, Sam Kaplan, Shelley McDonald, Shirley McKell, Tatjana Mirkov-Popovicki, Leonid Rozenberg & Marilynn Tebbit.

These remarkable pieces capture a variety of styles from realistic to illustrative to semi-abstract; across a range of media including oil, ink & acrylic.

Theses stunning works of art were used to create a 2026 calendar that is being used as a promotional & fundraising tool for the North Shore Culture Compass. Initiated by  North Van Arts, the Culture Compass is a free online map showcasing the art, heritage & stories of the North Shore. Using the Culture Compass you can discover local arts & culture organizations, public art, festivals & events, destinations of cultural & natural heritage & so much more!

Experience the beauty & wonder of the North Shore through these familiar scenes presented through 12 unique & distinct points of view.

Opening Reception

Thu. Jan. 22, 5 - 7 pm

Join us in celebrating these talented artist! Experience the artwork & meet the creators.

Produced in partnership with

Brandy Mars 

'Lily Pads'

Alli van Gruen

'Reunited And It Feels So Good'

Painters Brandy Mars & Alli van Gruen center the human figure in their expressive & joyful works that search for connection with themselves, community & memory.

Brandy Mars is a Vancouver based oil painter whose work celebrates LGBTQIA+ lives & loves. Mars’s paintings often feature feminine figures showing affection for each other. Whether it’s a comforting embrace or erotic clinch, the characters in her narratives reach & grasp to connect. Having worked in fashion & film, Mars applies an almost dream like sense of storytelling with hints of surreal environments & feathery brushstrokes that blur the edges of the subjects, all crafted in vibrant colour. Hoping that others will feel seen in her works, Mars aims to build bridges through celebrating  queer joy & universally human experience of reaching for connection.

Alli van Gruen is a multimedia painter based in Whistler whose work is rooted in intimacy & nostalgia. Van Gruen employs figures & objects pulled from memory & old family photos to suggest an event or moment that left an impression. Scenes are varied yet common – laughing over a meal, a walk on the beach, a festive family outing – yet all center around connecting with others. Using a variety of materials including acrylics, inks, pastels & watercolour, van Gruen’s expressive brushwork infuses each story with the energy of the moment & rush to capture a memory. Van Gruen hopes to spark viewers’ own memories of joy & togetherness, creating an intimate connection of shared nostalgia.

Meet the Artists

Join us in celebrating these talented artist! Experience the artwork & meet the creators.
Sun. Feb. 15, 2 - 3:30 pm Alli van Gruen

Sun. Feb. 22, 2 - 3:30 pm Brandy Mars

Artist Talk Livestream

Join us for an engaging & enlightening conversation with the artists as they discuss their inspirations, processes & techniques, & answer questions from viewers live.

Sponsored by

Lisa Arthur 

'The Chief'

Shweta Patil

'Solitude in Motion'

Phoebe Tsui

'After the storm passes'

Painters Lisa Arthur, Shweta Patil & Phoebe Tsui explore the emotional resonance & quiet strength found in our coastal landscapes with works ranging in style from representational to abstract.

Terry Aske

'Blossoms Squared'

Doreen Marlor, Robin Reid,
Maureen Tenpest

'Selfies to Celebrate!'

Janet Harper

'Spring Breeze'

Spring is here with the return of Cherry Blossoms: A Textile Translation, the 17th annual exhibition of textile art inspired by the cherry blossom.

Marvel at the beautiful & intricate works of art in a variety of mediums & techniques including quilting, embroidery, dying, felting, sculpture, appliqué, weaving & more.

The talented artists on display explore diverse interpretations & mediations on the cherry blossom's meaning & beauty through contemporary & traditional approaches & styles.

Textile Art Demos

Weekends, 1 - 3 pm

Exhibiting artists demonstrate a variety of textile art forms & techniques in the gallery. Check out the incredible work they're doing while learning about their process. These artists are happy to share tips & information.

Co-produced by The Vancouver Guild of Fibre Arts & FibreEssence.

Sponsored by