Rainforest Arts is a shop and gallery you’ll want to visit when you’re in Chemainus, filling out your Christmas wish-list. Not only will you find a great selection of paintings, jewellery, sculpture, fabric art, pottery and cards, you’ll also find an affordable range of prices and styles. There’s something for everyone at Rainforest Arts.

Art makes a great gift, and at Rainforest’s annual Christmas show you will be able to choose from hundreds of items, all produced by Chemainus and Vancouver Island artists. Each piece on the RFA’s walls or shelves is unique, and the volunteers who run the gallery will be able to help with your selection, and tell you a bit about the works and artists on display.

Shopping locally is especially important right now, and Rainforest Arts is the venue where local artists share and sell their creations. The gallery and shop is operated and owned by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society, so purchases support local artists and the organizations that foster arts in the Valley.

The gallery also likes to give customers a gift of its own at Christmas time. Two donated works by carver and wood turner Ray Sapergia will be offered as prizes in a New Year’s draw. With each Rainforest purchase, you can enter your name and increase your chances of winning one of these beautiful works.

This year Rainforest will also be helping Cowichan Women Against Violence, which offers safe housing, counselling and programs for women and children affected by abuse. Rainforest will collect essential items, useful for CWAV clients, and will have a donation box at the gallery for cash contributions.

People who donate items or money to CWAV will also be eligible to enter their names in the draw for one of Ray Sapergia’s works. Find out more about Rainforest’s CWAV campaign at RainforestArts.ca/partners.

The Christmas season is about giving, and Rainforest Arts is a place where you can give to your family, friends and community, all at the same time. Christmas is also a season for receiving, so drop in and take in the ambiance at Rainforest Arts, where you can enjoy the imaginative creations of Island artists in every discipline and style.

The gallery, located at 9781 Willow Street in Chemainus, is open 11 AM to 4 PM Wednesday to Sunday. More information at RainforestArts.ca or 250-246-4861. You can also email info@rainforestarts.ca.

CraigSpenceWriter.ca