The exhibit runs from Sept. 16 to Oct. 11
The newest exhibit to come to the Pearl Ellis Gallery is Text: The Art of Language. This exhibition explores the powerful role that text plays in communication, expression and meaning-making within the visual arts. It runs from Sept. 16 to Oct. 11.
Text, in its many forms, serves as a bridge between the visual and the verbal. It can tell stories, convey ideas, or function as a graphic element that adds depth and complexity to an artwork. In this show, artists have taken up the challenge of integrating words and symbols into their creations, inviting viewers to consider how language shapes the way we see and interpret art.
The exhibition features a diverse range of mediums, including painting, photography, collage, glass and mixed media. Each medium offering a unique perspective on how text can be used as both image and message. Some works use language as their central subject, while others allow words to whisper quietly beneath the surface. Together, they demonstrate the versatility of text as a creative tool.
“This theme got me thinking about all the ways we communicate—not just with words, but through gestures, empathy, and symbols. I began collaging with a box of old letters from my mother, reflecting on how much love and kindness she expressed without words,” said Karen Segee of her piece, ‘So many Ways’. “Though the forms, marks, and colours have covered much of the text, their meaning still survives in the history of the painting.”
The opening is on Sept. 20 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. with light refreshments.
The Pearl is a non-profit, volunteer-run gallery, located at 1729 Comox Ave in Comox. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is always free, and everyone is welcome. For more information, please visit www.pearlellisgallery.ca.
