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Talk: The Changing Narrative of Art in the Public Sphere – with Tony Bloom
July 31, 2023 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
This award was created in 2015 by the family of Vern Moore, to recognize youth who volunteer and contribute to making their community a better place. Vern Moore was a fixture at the Sooke Fine Arts Show, and a strong believer the importance of fostering connection and community in youth.
Each year, an actively involved student from our region is selected to receive this $500 award.
The Jan Johnson Memorial Award is in honour of long-time Sooke Fine Arts Show exhibitor and volunteer, known for his metal sculptures that used powerful symbols and mythical figures to expose injustice and reveal the frailties of human nature.
Born in Wyoming on a cattle ranch, Jan turned to art after serving in the Vietnam war. Jan’s voracious reading of religion, philosophy, poetry and economics underpinned the often-complex themes of his work, and his ever-present sense of humour would in turn soften the harshness of his commentary, or lend it a searing irony. He created pieces that were poignant, painful, satirical and whimsical.
Prior to his passing in November 2011, Jan and wife Mary Alice conceived of an award to encourage artists to explore the use of social commentary in their work. The prize of $500 is awarded annually to Sooke Fine Arts Show artists whose work makes a statement about human society and the thorns of our shared existence.
The Geri Pudwell Memorial Award for Fearless Creativity recognizes artworks that embody creativity, vibrancy, and originality.
The award was set up in 2025 by Geri’s family, to honour her legacy.
About Geri Pudwell
Geri’s passion for art was deeply personal and unstructured—she loved to experiment with different materials, textures, and colors, never limiting herself to one medium. Art, for Geri was about expression, creativity, and connection rather than following rules. Geri believed that art should be felt as much as seen, and she admired artists who took risks and poured themselves into their work. This $500 award will be granted to an artwork that celebrates joy, vibrancy, and originality, much like Geri did in her own creative journey.
The 2020 Virtual Sooke Fine Show includes 373 pieces of unique island art for purchase online, along with a youth art gallery, live events, links to artist demonstrations & live talks, music links, activity pages for kids, an online auction – i.e; most of the usual elements of the physical Sooke Fine Arts Show, in a virtual format. The live events, auction, and People’s Choice voting system close when the show closes August 3, 2020. However, the art will be available for sale on the website until September 30 to provide added exposure for the artists in this difficult year. All other static elements – the recorded demonstrations & talks, music, the youth art gallery, kids pages will also remain online until we begin preparations for next year’s show – our 35th anniversary – when we mount an entirely new, exciting display of world-class island art.
Purchasers with special access can browse the site from 7pm onward on July 23. Access to the site continues until the show opens to the public at 9:00am on July 24th, but the office closes at 10pm on Thursday, so representatives will no longer be available to assist after that time. Access pass holders can continue to browse and purchase items after hours. If an item is purchased, a representative will get back to the purchaser in the following days. Please Note: Holds are not permitted during the Purchasers’ Preview event.
When you purchase an item and complete the checkout process, you will receive notification that the order is being processed. As soon as you receive this notification, the artwork is yours – congratulations! At that point the item will be marked online as Sold. An SFAS representative will get back to you to coordinate delivery of the item. Please do not be concerned if you do not hear from a representative right away – they are likely dealing with other purchases, and will get to yours in due course. Thank you for your patience.
Holds are accepted during the show period (except during Purchasers’ Preview) but are limited to one hold per person at a time for a length of four hours during show times. Credit card information will be required as a guarantee to hold the art piece. To put an item on hold, please contact the office office via the chat icon below or phone 250-642-7256. Wait lists will be established for pieces designated as on hold.
Shipping will be handled after each sale, on a case-by-case basis. A number of shipping and delivery options will be discussed, depending on the addresses of both the purchaser and artist, and the availability of the artist to deliver or receive visitors at their studio/home. Once a sale has been processed, a representative will contact you to manage the arrangements.
Click here to view our Sales Policy.
Most of the images of the artwork on this site are have reduced resolution in order to provide image security for the artist’s work. If an image appears less crisp, it should not be taken as a true representation of the artwork. Please feel free to contact us if more information is required.
There are several ways to reach us if you have a question:
Chat – click on the chat icon bottom, right corner of any of our webpages
Email – sfas@sookefinearts.com
Phone – 250-642-7256
Sooke Fine Arts office representatives will be available to assist during the following hours:
July 23 (Purchasers’ Preview event): 7-10pm
During the Show (July 24 – August 3): 10am – 5pm (Mon-Sun)
After the Show (August 4 – Sept 30): 10am – 5pm (Mon-Fri)
Any sales or queries outside those hours will be dealt with the next business day.
The show was a spectacular success, and under the admirable coordination of Elida Peers, the sponsorship of the Sooke Region Museum, the Sooke Region Historical Society, and teams of hard-working volunteers, it flourished and grew each year. In 2006, coordination of the show moved from the hands of the Sooke Region Museum and into the newly-formed Sooke Fine Arts Society.
That first show displayed 200 pieces from 49 artists in SEAPARC’s ice arena and eventually grew to fill the entire 16,000 square foot space, transforming it into the world-class exhibition that you see today. Today, the show features on average 375 pieces from approximately 260 artists from all over Vancouver Island and BC’s coastal islands, with prizes totaling over $12,000. It is now so much more than a gallery, housing a stage with live music and youth performances, artist demonstrations, a large gift shop, and a separate youth art gallery, expanding the exhibition beyond the main arena.
The Sooke Fine Arts Society is grateful for the efforts of all the previous organizers, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and friends that have made the show the success that it is today.
