The Campbell River Art Gallery invites the entire community to attend the grand opening of the Doris Ritchie Collection and Fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 17 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The Doris Ritchie Estate has made a donation of more than 240 artworks created by Ritchie, a renowned local artist, throughout the decades of her life and work in the area. Ritchie was a founder of the Campbell River Arts Council and the Campbell River Art Gallery, as well as a pillar in the local cultural community. The artworks were given to the Gallery explicitly for the purposes of fundraising.
View hundreds of examples of Ritchie’s work, which will be available for purchase by the public. The sale and salon-style exhibition will continue until Feb. 6 in the Gallery, at 1235 Shoppers Row.
Ritchie died in 2011 leaving a significant and important legacy in Campbell River. As an artist, she created a body of work that includes watercolours, drawings and portraits of the regional landscape, flora and people. Ritchie was known not only for her artwork, but for her skill as an art teacher and for her visionary approach to creating cultural opportunities for the community.
Ritchie moved to Campbell River in 1959 and immediately decided her new home would benefit from live theatre and music as well as opportunities to study art.
She set out to make that happen by forming the Campbell River Concert Association, which presented international performers and musicians, then founding the Campbell River Arts Council. In the 1970s she ran for election to the school board, topping the polls for years. Ritchie was instrumental in the founding of the Tidemark Theatre and the Campbell River Art Gallery.
She was an inspiration to all who knew her and in 2007 was honoured with a City of Campbell River Community Builder Award.
Come to the Campbell River Art Gallery Saturday, Jan. 17 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for light refreshments and to see work created by this stalwart of Campbell River’s artistic community.
