OPENING RECEPTION: May 4, 2:00-5:00pm | ArtSpring is proud to present the work of artist Ian Thomas with a two-part exhibition as a celebration of his 46th year as an active member of Salt Spring Island’s arts community.

Curated by Margaret Day and Stefanie Denz, the “Past” is a retrospective of key moments drawn from a lifetime of art-making on a grand scale through the mediums of painting, sculptural collage, and installations that capture a deep exploration of the human condition.

The “Present” is a new series, Poets and their Poetry, in which Thomas pays tribute to 36 writers close to his heart, including six published poets from Salt Spring. These intimate water colour works combine textual fragments with portraiture. As always, by unflinchingly addressing his own felt experience, he reminds us of our own collective memory and common humanity.

Ian will also be hosting Sunday 2pm walkabouts on May 12th and 19th, providing guests some guidance and commentary to the exhibition, context to individual pieces, and Q&A opportunities.

Selected work by authors in this series will be the driving narrative of an Evening Event of Poetry with award-winning poet Murray Reiss as MC on Wednesday May 15, 7:00pm.

Ian Thomas is much remembered for his teaching at UBC and Camosun College and for his installations such as “Swallows Meadow” which toured BC 1989-95. An always respected juror, he acted along friend Gordon Smith for the BC Arts Council and was the Salt Spring representative on the first SSNAP jury in 2015.

Gallery Hours: Daily 10am-4pm