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Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this coming weekend – Sat. Mar. 22 until Mon. 24

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We are trying something new at Shavasana Gallery & Café!

Nancy Wells, who has been baking most of the delicious goodies!😋, found at Shavasana for the past year is coming on board to open up the Gallery Café, during my slower season, when I am typically only over one weekend per month. As things tend to evolve organically at Shavasana, this is an experiment for both Nancy and I, to bring this warm, cozy & inviting space to Mayne Islanders on a more regular, or semi-regular basis, between October and May, before I begin my regular weekly schedule. Nancy is very creative with her selection of baked goodies so come on down and see what’s on offer!

From the photos: Date Squares, Butter Tarts, Orange Coffee Cake, Sesame Bagels, Chocolate and Walnut Dunkers, Cranberry Orange Squares (and other items not pictured: Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pear Cake, Cupcakes, and Oatmeal & Raisin Cookies) are but a few of the delicious goodies coming out of Nancy’s kitchen😋

Nancy will be there this coming weekend – Sat. March 22, Sun. 23, and Mon.24, with our usual hours of 9am – 4pm (except Sunday 10:15 – 4).

Please drop in to say hi to Nancy!

Cheers!

George

The Accidental Curator – Episode 20 – The Panic Attack

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Here’s episode 20 of The Accidental Curator Podcast – The Panic Attack. Unlike my last two podcast posts, I chose not to use an Ai intro and have laboured intensely using actual thinkin’ power to come up with the compelling and gripping intro which follows:

“Ottawa, 1980’s – a young man, balancing his new wave musician aspirations with his soul-crushing job in the Federal Bureaucracy – has an unexpected epiphany of sorts via a Panic Attack.

Written with fondness for the era, friends, and situations he found himself in – George uses self-deprecatory humour to drive this fun journey through the pubs, bedrooms, and basement jams of his mid 20’s. While showing us some insights into the less heralded work as a Communications Officer at the Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation Centre, in our nations capital during the New Wave era.”

Have a listen here:

https://www.theaccidentalcurator.ca/e/the-accidental-curator-episode-20-the-panic-attack/

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open next weekend – Sat. Mar. 15, Sunday, & Mon. Mar. 17

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Daylight savings is here, lightness has arrived, and our days are getting longer! (and an excessive amount of rain, but what can you do?😆) I think we’ve definitely turned the corner on winter and are on the road to Springtime and all that the blessings that it brings.

My slower season is coming to an end, and I can feel nature and the Gallery Café getting ready to come back to life and bloom throughout the warmer brighter days ahead.🌻🌸

But let’s start with this coming weekend! Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open Sat. Mar. 15, Sun. Mar. 16 and Mon. Mar. 17 – 9am – 4pm (except for Sunday 10:15 – 4)

Typical Monday Afternoon Jam with Stephen Cropper on Vocals and Harmonica, Gail Noonan on Ukulele, Vocals & Bass, Bill Maylone – Vocals & Guitar, David Chase on Djembe, Gary Bradfield on Viola, Liam Bender on Guitar & Vocals, and special guest Ryan Dahle on Bass Acoustic Guitar (and myself, your humble photographer on Guitar & Vocals & Puns)

Come on Down!

George B.

Proprietor, Shavasana Gallery & Café

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this coming weekend – Fri. Feb. 21 – Mon. Feb. 24!

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What a difference a month can make. My last day of biz was January 20th – DT’s inauguration day…😱 I must be slightly naive, as I had some kind of optimism – or disbelief – that it just couldn’t be as bad as it’s turned out to be. I was wrong, it is.

Now comes the fun part. The discontent has been kick-started, now for the community building & organizing, and, as I imagine, once the weather gets better and people feel more mobilized and mobile , we are going to see a “summer of discontent” not unlike the protests of 1968: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_of_1968 …it would be wonderful if global compassionate evolution could preclude revolution, and this would be my fondest wish…but as I said, I think I am naive.

I’m still in my “slow season” and only open one weekend per month, although planning on starting two weekends monthly, in March/April and up to full speed May throughout the summer.

So, here are my hours for next weekend:

Friday Feb. 21 – Monday Feb. 24 9am – 4pm (except Sunday 10:15 – 4)

Hope to see you then!

George

Shavasana Gallery & Café

*the attached photo is of a mask I made several years ago of Archduke Ferdinand, who was assassinated in 1914

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this coming weekend – Fri. Jan. 17 – Mon. Jan. 20… unless we’re invaded on the 20th!

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Barring an invasion from our southern neighbours on Jan. 20, when DT is promising/threatening/”just kidding”/hallucinating that 100 executive orders will be implemented (including the possible invasion of Canada🤔🇨🇦) Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open for business. Who knows? perhaps when the first amphibious landing craft hit the beaches of Miners Bay, and the Marines come charging up the hill shouting “My Country, Right or Wrong!” they’ll be thirsty and tired by the time they reach the Gallery Café and want coffee and a cookie.

Now, of course I’ll be terribly upset by their aggressive behaviour, after they’ve breached my protective wall of Scotch Broom, and will likely greet them on my porch with my arms akimbo, a stern look on my face, and say something like, “Hey, that’s not very nice!”. I’ll be totally conflicted about serving them…but what if they want to buy some local arts or crafts…in American Dollars💵💲💲…for their girlfriends (or boyfriends, assuming they haven’t had time to rescind their DEI programs) back home. What to do my friends? I’ll be in a pickle that’s fer sher.

Perhaps when they arrive, they too will be smitten by the beauty and tranquility of SḴŦAḴ in SENĆOŦEN, and will feel the warmth of community that we share, and will lay down their arms and choose instead to work as Woofers on some of the local hobby farms. I can almost hear one of them ask, “Is it true that you guys have Health Care up here? I twisted my ankle jumping off the landing craft, and it’s kinda swollen.”

All right then! Shavasana Gallery & Café coming soon to an island near you – during these slower months, when I’m only open one weekend per month, I’ve decided to be open 4 days rather than my typical 3 day weekend in the summer, so, Friday Jan 17 through Monday Jan. 20th. Baked Goodies and hot coffee will be available, along with some beautiful examples of local talent gracing the walls and shelves of the Gallery. Hope to see you then!🙏❤️

The Accidental Curator – Episode 19 – “I Could Tell You Wasn’t a Roughneck”

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Another update to my podcast with Episode 19 (this will be the last one for a while)…and I’m cutting & pasting Ai’s descriptive preamble to my show, which again, I preferred over my own. It’s a seductive tech advance, and I have my own misgivings – yet, seemingly, not enough to stop me for using it as my intro!🤣

“A Roughneck’s Journey: Trials and Triumphs” In Episode 19 of the podcast, the host returns after a six-month hiatus, sharing tales from a bustling summer at the Shavasana Gallery and Cafe on Mayne Island. As the busy season winds down, the host revisits past ventures, including a brief stint as a roughneck in the oil fields of northern Alberta in the 1970s.

The story, titled “I Could Tell You Wasn’t a Roughneck,” takes listeners on a journey with two young men chasing the allure of big money in the oil sands. Through humorous and harrowing experiences, the episode highlights the challenges and camaraderie of life on the rigs, culminating in a decision that alters the host’s path.

Listeners are invited to explore these vivid tales, which are also available in the host’s book, “All Roads at Any Time.” As the episode concludes, the host reflects on the current state of the world, offering words of encouragement and hope.”

https://www.theaccidentalcurator.ca/e/the-accidental-curator-episode-19-i-could-tell-you-wasnt-a-roughneck/

The Accidental Curator: Episode 18 – The Fourth Corner

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I’m just in the process of updating my links to my podcast, “The Accidental Curator.” I originally published this podcast in April and a friend contacted me to let me know that it had picked up an irritating “time stamp” – like a metronome ticking away in the background – so I contacted Podbean (the host of all my podcasts) to see what could be done. I was encouraged to use their new Ai feature which quite easily corrected the problem. It also rewrote my – somewhat thin – descriptive preamble, and came up with what follows (definitely more enticing than what I wrote…it speaks more highly of myself than I do – It knows me so well😱)😆. This redo came out in June, so I’ve let it remain In this episode, of The Accidental Curator as follows:

“George Bathgate shares a gripping story titled “The Fourth Corner.” As he prepares to reopen his art gallery, George reflects on three significant car accidents he has witnessed over the years in his Kitsilano neighborhood. Each incident, occurring at different corners, serves as a vivid illustration of life’s unpredictability and the importance of staying vigilant.

From the bustling art gallery to the quaint Bruno’s Corner Cup Café, George’s narrative weaves through time and space, capturing the essence of community life and the ever-present potential for unexpected events. Tune in to hear how these experiences have shaped his outlook and to get a sneak peek into his upcoming book of short stories.

Join George for a compelling episode filled with reflection, humor, and a touch of suspense, reminding us all to approach life’s corners with caution and curiosity.”

Don’t worry, I have not, nor will not, let Ai write my stories nor do my voice. For me at least that would defeat the purpose of exercising creativity – so, here I am, warts & all.

https://www.theaccidentalcurator.ca/e/the-accidental-curator-episode-18-the-fourth-corner/

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this coming weekend – Fri. Dec 13 – Mon. Dec 16

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Yahoo! Looking forward to grabbing a ferry on Thursday to come over to Mayne Island and get ready for my last weekend of biz before I settle in to the annual flurry of Christmas activities here in Vancouver. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been doing this for 11 years which – strangely enough – makes me one of the longest-running owner/operator businesses on Mayne Island! (Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think only the FarmGate store has seniority – and Don McDougall was one of the first islanders I met when I came over on my bike to “look around” in 2013😊) It has been a wonderful journey, and I’d like to share my love & gratitude with all of you who have made this trip so enjoyable, fun, serene, raucous, meditative, healing, synchronistic, serendipitous, interesting & informative etc; (have I missed anything?😆)

So many great art shows (here are but a few photos of artists), so many fabulous jam sessions (again, but a sample), the delicious baked goods of many island bakers, and a constant stream of caffeine ☕️👍👍 for an endless parade of charming and fascinating folk that have enriched my life immeasurably ❤️

Please drop in and say hi! We’ve got expanded hours of operation this weekend from Friday Dec. 13 to Monday Dec. 16, 9 – 4 most days (except Sunday, 10:15 – 4) Cheers!

George

(ps. I’m getting closer to publishing my sequel to “All Roads at Any Time” but am not quite there yet, copies of “All Roads” would make great stocking stuffers and will be available at Shavasana this weekend😊

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open next weekend – with extended hours: Fri. Nov. 29, Sat. 30th, Sun. Dec. 1st, & Mon. the 2nd

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Here we are – the last few weeks of Fall, as we head into winter. It’s chilly, wet, and overcast – a perfect time to come to Shavasana Gallery & Café for a little warmth, art, tunes & hot coffee! I’m coming over from the big bad metropolis for the much needed, soothing balm of the lovely people & chill vibe of Mayne Island.🏝️🙏

As now seems to be my slower season routine, I’m coming over – at least one weekend per month – to open up, turn on the heat & the music, scare away the spiders, and put on a couple of pots of Mayne Island’s finest coffee (if I do say so myself😄) A little Saltspring dark & Ethical “Lush” medium for the java inclined and a great selection of tea, for those able to eschew the over-caffeinated pull of “the bean.”

We still have a great exhibit of art on the walls – with over 8 island artists maintaining their presence at Shavasana Gallery with over 30 works of art on display.

Please come on by – it would be great to see you!

George Bathgate

Curator/Barista/Artist

Shavasana Gallery & Café

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this weekend – with extended hours: Fri. Nov 8th., Sat. 9th, Sun. 10th & Mon. 11th

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The Mayne Island Arts Council is having its bi-annual “Made on Mayne” event this coming Remembrance day long-weekend, which will add on an extra day of operations for the Gallery Café – Friday through Monday, 9 – 4 (except Sunday 10:15 – 4)

Made on Mayne is a great event and celebrates all things “Made on Mayne” (surprise!😆) with a particular focus on arts, crafts, and food & beverages. The Gallery has been participating in this event for the past 10 years since it was an annual gig known as the Fall Arts Crawl…it was fun then and has just expanded and gotten better with over 50 studios, galleries & roadside stands now participating…check it out:

https://www.artsontheislands.org/made-on-mayne-fall-tour.html

I highly recommend this event, and that you drop into Shavasana Gallery on your tour and say hi!

Hope to see you!

George

Curator/Barista/Artist