The May 2-4 weekend is coming! It is actually May 19-22nd, but Canadians call it May 2-4. Which brings the first camping/cabin trip of the year, 4x4ing, 2-4 cases of beer/soda, marshmallows, sunburns, and probably a mosquito or two. It is the first long weekend of summer, not actually summer, as we know June can be dark and grey. The spirit is there! We love getting outdoors and sleeping under the stars.

The May long weekend is also when the Gabriola Arts Council launches the Studio Tour brochure. This year is the 27th anniversary. But Studio Tour isn’t until October, you say. Too true friends, too true. The reason for the early launch is visitors start to come to the island in May, on you guessed it, on the long weekend. We see people from all over come to Gabriola from May – September and we want them to know about Studio Tour. So many times we have met people on the Tour and they tell us they were at Page’s Resort or came over on their boat, saw a Tour brochure at Mad Rona’s or Pier Gallery, and had to come back. Launching this early also sees the brochures travel far and wide with artists participating in markets or taking a box down to their favourite cafe in the city.

The 4×4 May Long Art Show is a super fun way to launch the brochure. Tiny pieces of art available for sale and a chance for artists to experiment with different ideas or mediums before they move to a larger piece for Tour. It is also just a whole lotta fun to make mini art. You’d think it was easier because it is small, but sometimes quite the opposite. Planning a small canvas or a teeny sculpture can be mind bending!

Mark your calendars, come and check out 90, yes we said 90, pieces of art that are 4×4 or 4x4x4 and pick up your copy of the Studio Tour brochure. Pick up three and mail them to your friends and family you want to visit you this Thanksgiving long weekend.