Beyond Bounds: Blackberry Artists' Society

Beyond Bounds is a juried exhibition featuring members of the Blackberry Artists' Society pushing beyond the boundaries of their creative practices. Through visual and conceptual experimentation, the artists step outside familiar approaches to explore new materials, processes, and ideas across painting, textiles, sculpture, installation, ceramics, and more.

Founded in 1997, the Blackberry Artists’ Society (BAS) is a member-run collective of local artists, operating the Blackberry Gift Shop at PoMoArts, dedicated to supporting and showcasing local artwork. BAS engages the community through events year-round in partnership with PoMoArts, including the annual Blackberry Winter Arts Market.

‍

Featured Artists:

Yolanda Cheung, Dorothy Doherty, Violet Finvers, Joanne Henderson, Del Holbrook, Dilys Huang, Laurie Jones-Canta, Donna Konstantin, Jane Ostenstad, Sepideh Saba, Leah Shapera, Greta Smith, Maartje Vlaar, Elizabeth Wallace, Denise Jeffrey

‍

‍

About the Blackberry Artists' Society

In 1997, the City of Port Moody was looking for a group to provide a gift shop for the newly opened Port Moody Arts Centre. A variety of business models were studied, the artist-run shop was chosen and the Blackberry Artists' Society (BAS) was formed.

The mandate was to provide a place for local artists to show and sell their work, as well as provide volunteers to open the Arts Centre four afternoons a week as the Centre was unstaffed at the time. In 1999, the Port Moody Arts Centre Society took over management of the Centre from the City, removing pressure from BAS and greatly increasing traffic in the building.

The Blackberry Artists' Society has partnered with the Arts Centre in a variety of fundraising and awareness-raising events over the years: The Blackberry Tea, Light Up Port Moody, Light a Candle for Peace, Heritage Holidays, Art 4 U Family Day during the annual Festival of the Arts, Art in the Garden, the annual 6x6 Fundraising Exhibition, Car-Free Day, and a Fundraising Exhibition for the Arts Centre Endowment Fund.

The Society's signature event is the Blackberry Winter Arts Market. Held annually in November and December, the Winter Arts Market is our biggest, brightest, and most anticipated event, offering gifts, collectibles, and artworks for every budget and wish list.

Website: https://www.blackberrygiftshop.ca/