Bus Shelter Art Project Continues to Flourish in Sooke

Susan Percival, Bus Shelter Art Project coordinator, shows this year’s artwork. The Sooke Arts Council will continue to curate and oversee the artistic showcases. (Contributed photo)

Where community and creativity converge

For more than 15 years, the Bus Shelter Art Project in downtown Sooke has been a beacon of creativity and resilience, bringing vibrancy to the heart of the city and warding off vandalism.

What began as a youth-driven initiative to address a perceived problem has blossomed into an extraordinary success story.

Managed by the student art department of Edward Milne Community School, the project recently bid farewell to its dedicated coordinator, Susan Percival. However, her legacy lives on as the torch has been passed to the Sooke Arts Council, who will continue to curate and oversee these artistic showcases.

Nestled within the core of Sooke, these bus shelters, owned by the District of Sooke, have become integral to the city’s aesthetics.

The art displayed on these shelters is not only visually appealing but also practical, thanks to high-quality vinyl prints that endure the elements, making them a functional and captivating addition to the cityscape.

These shelters feature reproductions of plein-air originals, available for purchase through auctions at the Sooke Arts Council Gallery, located at 2043 Church Rd. What’s more, the proceeds from these sales will go on to benefit the Sooke Gathering Place.

The Bus Shelter Art Project has a commitment to keeping things fresh, with a new art installment planned for the coming year. This ensures that residents and visitors can continually be inspired by the ever-changing canvas of Sooke.

In the spirit of community involvement, the Sooke Arts Council extends an invitation to other art groups to participate and promote their events and offerings through promotional posters on the bus shelters. Music, performance, literary, youth, and cultural arts are all welcome to contribute to transforming Sooke’s bus shelters into a hub for information about the city’s arts community.

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By Susan Percival • 11 Mar, 2024

Dear Fellow Artists, Being the curious sort, I responded to a FB post about an Artist in Residence opportunity at the Sooke Campground. At first, I did not understand how an Artist in Residence could work in a campground. I had a great conversation yesterday with Stella, the campground keeper. Stella has a family background in the arts, has lived in a wide variety of places and brings an enthusiasm for promoting local artists with her. As we stood in the reception shack, looking out through the pouring rain, Stella had many ideas of how to incorporate art, both interior and exterior, as a way to promote and beautify the area. Murals, sculptures, wall art, workshops and interactions with campers were all possibilities. Stella’s enthusiasm was contagious and the potential for including art seemed endless. If any artists are interested in displaying small works in the reception shack the renovations that are underway are intended to provide space for wall display. There is already a selection of laser cut steel silhouette images waiting to be hung. Anyone interested in setting up to produce outdoor sculptures like chain saw carving, cement works, cedar bark weaving or other outdoor friendly products could chat with her about the possibilities. The ”in residence” concept is for those artists who would like to set up camp and share their expertise with other campers on a casual basis in exchange for camping fees. I might just take my little camper down for a few days and set up for some plein air painting. Painting rocks with the kids or sharing skills with adult campers would be a pleasant way to spend some time this summer. (The last time I painted at the flats I got a commission, much to my surprise!) Thank you to Stella for wanting to promote our local art scene in such a unique way. See you at the Flats! ~Susan Percival, SAC Secretary and Artist at Large

New Bus Shelter Installation

By Sherry Robb • 28 Feb, 2024

The Sooke Arts Council is pleased to be continuing the Bus Shelter Art Project which was originally hosted by EMCS. The project was initiated by Susan Percival, longtime employee of SD62, as a solution to the ongoing vandalism of the bus shelters. This project has resulted in 15 years of beautification, showcasing local talent and maintaining functional shelters. The Bus Shelter Art Project has hosted art from many different sources within the Sooke Region during the years. EMCS art students, primary school students and local adult day programs have proudly displayed their work. This tradition will be carried forward but will also include art and word from a wide range of artists, writers and performers in the Sooke Region. This is in the spirit of support for the wide range of art genres that co-exist and are represented under the Sooke Arts Council umbrella. Sooke Arts Council invites any and all interested artists, artist groups and arts based organizations to participate by contacting Susan at susanpercival@shaw.ca .