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. 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!🙏❤️

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

SHAVASANA GALLERY & CAFÉ WILL BE OPENING Sat. Apr. 20, TIL MON. APR. 22

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I’m just making arrangements to open Shavasana Gallery Café for what is, ostensibly, the last weekend of my slower Winter/Fall/Early Spring season. If my previous weekend over on Mayne for the “Made on Mayne” event was any indicator (Mar. 29 – Apr.1) it’s going to be a very busy “Summer Season” which, for me, runs May through October.

The current show, 9 of Mayne Islands most talented artists, in no particular order: Bill Maylone, Linda Church, Ranjeet Dhaliwal, Dell Maxwell, Stephen Cropper, Tina Farmilo, Jodie Waldie, Famous Empty Sky, and Robbin Yager (and I’ve thrown in a few of my pieces in an act of unabashed self-promotion🤣)

Shavasana Gallery has become a little cultural hub (if I may say so myself) with art, crafts, hot coffee, spirited conversations, and Monday afternoon jam sessions. A large part of the joy I receive when I open up my shop is visits by friends & off-island visitors who drop in – (kids and dogs – and yes, sometimes cats – are always welcome, and add their own brand of joy to an already happy mix…there are treats!)

Esnie Shum & Joseph Loh hanging out with the Smith grandkids

Hours of Operation:

Sat. April 20. 9am – 4pm

Sunday Apr. 21, 10:15am – 4pm

Monday Apr. 22, 9am – 4pm

Please drop by for a coffee and a chance to view all the beautiful art!

Cheers!

George

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this weekend, Sat., Feb. 10 – Mon. Feb. 12

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After a rather long and unexpected hiatus, Shavasana Gallery & Café will be re-opening this coming weekend from Saturday Feb. 10, to Monday Feb. 12 9am til 4pm (except Sunday 10:15 til 4).

My intentions to open up in January, were thwarted by 2 weekends of snow and cold, and, that second winter wallop with temperatures below -12, wound up bursting some pipes requiring the honest & hardworking plumber, David Rae, to come around and work his magic. Long story short, I was unable to open up on my third weekend attempt in January until Dave got the wet stuff running again.

All is well now, and water – that essential ingredient for a good cup of coffee – will be flowing through the new pipes and taps again.

Please come on by!

Cheers!

George

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this weekend – Fri. Dec 1, Sat Dec. 2, & Sun. Dec 3

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Yes, Christmas is now officially less than a month away😱 I’m not sure how it’s possible that I’ve allowed myself to be busier now – in my “off season” – than I was during my regular May – October “summer season” (which also happened to be my busiest year yet at the Gallery) but here I am at 7pm Monday night, at a Starbucks in Kitsilano…updating my website to let everyone know about my upcoming weekend Hours of Operation.

I’m rambling…probably a little too caffeinated, which goes with the territory when one spends too much time in coffee shops doing online work😆. Anyways, I hope you are all well and that I have a chance to see you when I’m over on Mayne this weekend, and the coffee is hot and the Open sign is up👍

Hours of Operation:

Friday Dec. 1, 9am – 4pm

Saturday Dec 2, 9am – 4pm

Sunday Dec. 3, 10:15 – 2:30ish (leaving early to attend the Noonan/Heshedahl/Jackson concert at the Church)

Cheers!

George

Shavasana Gallery & Café will be open this weekend – Nov. 10 – 13 – for the Fall “Made on Mayne” event

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Just a quick note to let you all know that I am intending to open up this coming weekend to participate in the bi-annual “Made on Mayne” event put on by the Southern Gulf Islands Arts Council – a fun event celebrating all things, “made on Mayne”.

Shavasana Art Gallery & Café hours:

Friday Nov. 10, 9am – 4pm

Saturday Nov. 11, 9am – 4pm

Sunday Nov. 12, 10:15am – 4pm

Monday Nov. 13, 9am – 4pm

Famous Empty Sky will be exhibiting some of her fascinating collage work, Bill Maylone will display some of his beautiful Suiseki rock creations with perhaps a painting or two, and there will be an eclectic mix of other artists and craftspersons – regional and local – showing off their creativity.

Come on by for a delicious coffee or tea and a yummy baked good while you take time to appreciate all the art & creativity that Mayne Island has to offer

Cheers!

George

Shavasana Gallery & Café – Famous Empty Sky Opening Weekend (Easter Weekend Hours)

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Just getting ready to re-open the Gallery Café for the Easter Weekend, which happens to coincide with the “Made on Mayne” (image attached) event sponsored by the Southern Gulf Islands Arts Council. This will be similar to the Fall Studio Tour which ran last November and was a great success, but has now grown to include all things “Made on Mayne”. I am also the lucky recipient of a new show by Famous Empty Sky and her beautiful collage work. We’ll be hanging her new – hitherto unseen – show on Thursday in preparation for our Friday to Monday showings.

I feel quite fortunate to be welcoming back Famous Empty Sky as my first art show after two years of pandemic event precautions. As I’m sure you are all aware “Group Events”, like Art Openings have not only been discouraged, they have been banned. So, getting together with her and her husband Jim to hang the show on April 14th for an Easter Weekend Opening was a real treat. To illustrate how “rusty” I have become during this time, I am only now (May 2) editing my “Current Exhibits” page to reflect this new show that we have – something I would normally do prior to each new opening. And, in fact, we did not put together a big evening soirée as we would normally do, but chose to promote the show over the course of the first 4 days of its run, to avoid big crowds out of respect for attendees lingering precautions – but things are improving.🙏 I think the 8 dozen cupcakes that Famous Empty Sky baked to hand out to guests may have helped people to overcome their anxieties about public places😆

Famous Empty Sky’s , new exhibit is called her “In Isolation Series”, which showcased her beautiful array of new collage-works – this show should be up and running throughout May & possibly longer (except for the pieces we sold! 😆) I’m not sure where she gets her energy but the 8 dozen cupcakes (as shown) which she baked were a big hit with our grateful guests. We were also treated to some lovely jamming by her husband Jim Heshedahl and friends (Rodger Cove (Hrothgar Jackson), Kurt Dahl, & Brendan Brown).

Please drop by during our hours of operation to enjoy these gorgeous collages…(sorry, cupcakes are all gone, I ate the last one!😆)

Hours of Operation:

Friday & Saturday: 9am – 4pm

Sunday: 10:30 – 4pm

Monday: 9am – 4pm

It’s promising to be a fabulous event, please come on by!