If you’re looking for unique, hand-crafted gift ideas, check out the 37th annual Comox Valley Art Gallery Christmas Market.
The six-week extravaganza begins Nov. 18 and continues until Dec. 31.
Gallery shop manager Rhonda Burden says the gallery shop and part of the public art gallery will be filled to bursting with seasonal favourites plus some fabulous new items.
“I believe art is essential to the psyche,” she says. “And when people spend money at their public art gallery, they are supporting local artists and helping the local economy.”
On opening day, Nov. 18, all merchandise is discounted 10 per cent with CVAG members receiving an additional 10 per cent off purchases. And the reasonably priced membership means savings and other benefits throughout the year.
New to this year’s Christmas Craft Market are unique pieces of jewelry by artists that haven’t participated in the event before as well as etched water tumblers and wine goblets.
“There is no such thing as too much pottery,” Burden points out. “And we’ll have a good mix of functional and decorative pieces.”
Some people have a tradition of visiting the shop to pick out special Christmas ornaments to exchange as gifts. Imagine the wow factor of a tree covered from top to bottom in handcrafted, one-of-a-kind ornaments created from glass, fabric, wood, yarn and more.
Other favourites include pears and other hand-blown glass figures by Ted Jolda. These can do double duty, hanging on the tree over the festive season and then catching the light in a window the rest of the year.
There’s always an amazing selection of seasonal and year-round art cards, candles, clothing, toys, specialty foods and much, much more. If you don’t have any gift ideas when you walk in the door, don’t worry, you’ll have more than enough — and probably a few purchases — by the time you leave.
And there’s no leaving quality to chance as all merchandise is juried by a committee to ensure everything meets the highest standards when it comes to craftsmanship and originality.
Watch for CVAG’s special window display as part of the Downtown Courtenay’s Walk the Windows Contest and a 9 p.m. closing on Nov. 26 as CVAG takes part in the DCBIA Christmas Magic.
From Nov. 18 to Dec. 31, CVAG is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the first three Sundays of Dec. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
