By Christann Kennedy, Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery
The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery is special. For more than 20 years it has served as a place for artists and art enthusiasts to gather, share new work, and build bonds of community around the desire to make, think, and talk about art. The 2026 Members Show, currently on exhibit at the Gallery, is a beautiful example of this art community in action.
Continue reading Last Weekend of the 2026 Members Show
The final exhibition of the 2024 season at the Old Schoolhouse Gallery invites us to Paths of Beauty. These works by six artists: Lisa Gibbons, Karen McDiarmid, Donna Naven, Jane Newman, Amy Robertson and Brigid Weiler invited me to think about “what is beauty in art?”
Continue reading Ways to Walk Paths of Beauty
The next Conversation Cafe asks ‘what does quality and accessible education look like and how do we support it? Colin Funk, President of the Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA), will be the facilitator of this public meeting in the Pioneer Room of Mansons Hall from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, November 16.
Continue reading What Does Quality Education Look Like On Cortes Island?
“I think that artists have a finger on the pulse of what’s going on. We need a place to show work, and we need to gather and see what’s going on.” – Janet Turpin.
“For me personally, it gives me a sense of connection to the deeper understanding of what’s behind art and it’s a mirror of what’s going on in the community. It’s a mirror of what’s going on in the world. That’s what I think artists tap into.” – Lynne Barker
“Art reflects life and then life reflects art again. Personally, it helped me grow as an artist. If I look back in 1997 and I look back now, I grew in this gallery. As artists, we come together. We talk about the shows. We talk about art, I have learned so much.” – Meinsje Vlaming.
They were responding to the question, ‘why is the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery important?’
The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery just celebrated its 26th anniversary. Some of its early posters and reproductions of artwork were put up on the walls for the society’s recent AGM. During conversation with some of the earlier members, Cortes Currents learned the gallery was in operation prior to the beginning of written records in 1997.
Continue reading Birthing of the Old Schoolhouse Art GalleryAfter more than a decade of service, the Oyster Bay schoolhouse was barged over to Whaletown in 1950. There it opened its doors to the children of a new community.
Brigid Weiler started attending the Whaletown School in 1959.
Her earliest memories are in that area.
Continue reading Memories of the old Whaletown Schoolhouse
