Sackville’s art scene is vivid. Despite the town’s small population, there is a gallery sitting on every major street. The Owens Art Gallery is located right across from the Wallace McCain Student Centre on York Street and is Canada’s oldest university art gallery, having first opened to the public in 1895. Fog Forest Gallery is located right around the corner from the Owens, on Bridge Street and was founded by Janet Crawford in 1985. The last stop on my suggested Sackville art crawl is Struts Gallery on Lorne Street, an artist-run centre established in 1980 focused on displaying contemporary art through screenings, exhibitions, workshops, performances, and talks. Sackville is rich with art with a gallery at every corner, so the next time you go for a stroll around town, consider popping by these galleries on the way.
The Owens Art Gallery has multiple exhibitions and workshops scheduled every month. The Tools of the Maker exhibition made its debut on June 22 and ends October 20, showcasing Indigenous contemporary art and features traditional beading techniques. The Estuaries Exhibition opened this month on October 5 and will be closing on December 15. Estuaries explores Black experiences in relation to bodies of water and Atlantic Canada’s shipbuilding history. The gallery hosted an Introductory Mi’kmaq Basket Making Workshop on October 10. The Owens Art Gallery also announced they will be cleaning out their vast collection of posters, magazines, and catalogues to host the annual Great Catalogue Giveaway, with hundreds of pieces available on a first come, first serve basis from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 29. With such a diverse lineup of events and engaging workshops, the Owens continues to offer creative cultural experiences for the local community throughout the fall season.
Fog Forest Gallery was founded locally in Tantramar by Janet Crawford in 1985 with a mission to spread and display premium Canadian art. The gallery is currently featuring an anniversary exhibition by the name of 40 Years in the Forest from September 6 to October 11. This exhibition is meant to celebrate artists and art lovers who have made the gallery’s success possible over the past four decades. As the gallery reflects on its rich history and the vibrant community that has supported it, the 40 Years in the Forest exhibition serves as a fitting tribute to its enduring impact on authentic and local Canadian art.
Struts Gallery first opened in 1980 with a goal to promote media art to the public through the use of both contemporary and historical art. Struts recently debuted an exhibition on September 27 called One Hand Washes the Other which focuses on a philanthropic question: why is money accepted by cultural institutions? It examines and challenges relationships between resource extraction, wealth, and art in Canada, described on their website as “a colonial nation built on the plunder of conquered land, and represented by wilderness landscapes.” The artist behind this thought-provoking exhibition is Josh Schwebel. One Hand Washes the Other is officially scheduled to close on November 30. Through this powerful exhibition with Schwebel, Struts reaffirms the role of art in shaping our understanding of Canadian history and culture.
Sackville’s vibrant art scene is a testament to the town’s cultural richness despite its small population. The diversity offered at each of the galleries ensures that Sackville remains a hub for contemporary and historical art with each one featuring unique exhibitions and interactive programs. These art galleries present to locals an opportunity to immerse themselves in the beautiful world of art while simultaneously encouraging art’s importance as a means of reflection and dialogue within the Sackville community. Whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious newcomer, taking the time to explore these galleries can enrich your understanding of the cultural narratives that shape our world. So, the next time you take a stroll through Sackville, be sure to step into these artistic havens and discover the stories they have to tell.
