Tag Archives: John Cooper

Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery: Seeking Submissions to its 2026 Annual Member’s Show

The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery is asking for submissions to its 2026 Annual Member’s Show. Artists may bring up to two pieces. To participate, you must be a member, which costs just $10 a year. The cut-off date for submissions is May 14, and the exhibition will run from May 29 to June 14, 2026.

 ”We would like to make it so nobody feels like, ‘I don’t know if I’m good enough to hang in the gallery.’ If you are picking up paint or clay, that already is a good step. Your next step is to show it. That’s important and that’s why I’ve been volunteering and that’s why we are all volunteering because it is our passion,” explained Meinsje Vlaming, one of the Directors.

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Birthing of the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery

“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. 

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