Main Gallery
Natalie Shumka and Selina Jorgensen
Walking Distance
February 4 to March 1, 206
About the Artwork:
Walking Distance is not only a celebration of nature’s beauty, but a reflection on what is at risk of being lost. In an era of rapid urban development, shrinking green spaces, and increasingly dense housing, this exhibition reaffirms the importance of staying grounded—literally—in the places we inhabit. By focusing on flora and fauna found within walking distance, viewers are reminded of the fragile ecosystems that persist at the edges of our built environments and the quiet richness that survives in overlooked spaces: roadside verges, vacant lots, scrappy park corners. Through complementary mediums and observational practices, we will invite viewers to reconnect with the act of looking closely—at a leaf, a stone…Walking Distance becomes not just a record of what is seen, but a quiet call to protect the places still left to walk.
About the Artists:
Natalie Shumka
Natalie Shumka is a Victoria, BC–based artist whose painting practice begins outdoors, walking familiar paths and shorelines while observing and collecting moments that catch her attention - birds in trees, mushrooms pushing through damp soil, seagulls scattered along the beach. These encounters become source material through gathered natural objects, quick photographs, sketching, and block printing, forming a working archive she brings back into the studio. 
Working primarily in oil, she draws from this material to build paintings that value immediacy alongside reflection, balancing close observation with quiet intuition and a sustained relationship to place. A graduate of Victoria College of Art, long-time educator and active member of the local arts community, she has taught students of all ages and co-founded collaborative spaces like Gage Gallery to support creative exchange.
Selina Jorgensen
Selina Jorgensen creates works on paper, distinctly inspired by the vibrant and iconic coastal landscapes of Vancouver Island, inviting viewers to consider their own connection with nature and the environment. She explores themes of place, belonging, and connection to the natural world through the collection, study, and rendering of nature-based subjects. 
She creates imagery with a loose narrative, examining the relationship between place and self. Themes of gathering, conservation, and personal symbolism guide her creative process. Selina is both a graduate of the Victoria College of Art and the University of Victoria and actively engages with the local arts community through exhibitions, events and volunteer work.
Additional Events/Programming:
Opening Reception: Thursday, February 5, 2026, 5 to 8pm
Public Workshop: Saturday, February 14, 2026, 1-3pm
Family Arts Festival Activity: Monday, February 16, 2026, 11-3pm
Websites:
Learn more about Natalie
Learn more about Selina
Cubes
South Vancouver Island Potters Guild
February 4 to March 1, 2026
The South Vancouver Island Potter’s Guild is a member-funded BC Society that fosters a welcoming community for potters of all skill levels. We aim to support and promote the local pottery community by sharing knowledge, encouraging creativity, providing educational opportunities, and engaging the public through exhibitions and other collaborative projects. Our membership includes local potters from Victoria and surrounding area including Sooke to Sidney to the Cowichan Valley.
Rear Window
Victoria Quilters Guild
February 4 to March 1, 2026
About the Artwork / Artists:
Victoria Quilters’ Guild members, here on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, vary from traditional hand quilters to fabric artists.
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Our mandate is to promote and encourage interest in the art of quilting through dissemination of related information; to work together in harmony with mutual respect; and to continue the education of ourselves and the public in the art of quilting.
Website
Hallway Case 2
Garth Homer Artworks Program
February 4 to March 1, 2026
About the Artwork / Artists:
ArtWorks is an artist development program for emerging and established artists. Participants engage in a supported studio environment where they can refine their artistic skills, experiment with different mediums, and exhibit their work.
Artists spend each day working on their art, experimenting with different mediums, and refining their techniques in a professional supported studio setting. The atmosphere is relaxed yet focused, allowing participants to work at their own pace while receiving hands-on support from staff who are skilled, practicing artists. These mentors provide guidance, demonstrations, and constructive feedback to help artists push their creative boundaries and bring their visions to life. For 2026, the ArtWorks Program will be showcasing a variety of different art in this display case, in partnership with Saanich Community Services and Cedar Hill Recreation Centre.
Website
Accessibility: Accessible washrooms, Wheelchair access, Designated handyDART loading zone and disabled parking stalls.
For inquiries related to exhibitions, please contact Shantael Sleight at shantael.sleight@saanich.ca or call 778-584-3756.