SUBMITTED BY SALT SPRING ARTS
Salt Spring Arts is once again turning heads with the return of Art on the Hall, its beloved annual public art initiative. From April through September 2025, the south-facing side of historic Mahon Hall becomes an open-air gallery featuring three striking mini-murals, with this year each one offering a unique reflection on our connection to the natural world.
This year’s featured local artists — Lori Waters, Corvi Zeman and Tina Dots — bring distinct perspectives rooted in the Salt Spring Island community. Their works delve into themes of environmental stewardship, interconnection and the quiet power of collaboration.
Waters explores the relationship between native plant species and their pollinators in Resilient Blooms Draw Wild Wings. Using a blend of botanical watercolour and linocut printmaking, Waters creates a textured dialogue between scientific illustration and artistic interpretation. Her piece celebrates the intricacy of ecological relationships while nodding to the timeless beauty of traditional craft.
Zeman, in To Become Home, shifts the focus beneath the surface of the water, imagining life from the viewpoint of a salmon. The mural draws attention to the mysterious, sensory-driven journey of a fish navigating magnetic fields, auroras and ancient instincts. It’s a poetic meditation on return and belonging, inviting viewers to consider life through a new lens.
Dots offers Post Rain Emergence, a mural rooted in her personal reflections on nature and community. The work represents humanity as tiny vessels drifting through vast natural systems — fragile yet full of strength when united. Inspired by Indigenous teachings and her studies at the Ontario College of Art and Design University, Dots’ mural highlights the importance of sustainability and collective care for the planet.
Displayed prominently on Mahon Hall, these murals are visible to all, reinforcing Salt Spring Arts’ commitment to public accessibility and creative engagement. Each mural is available for purchase, offering the opportunity for collectors and supporters to take a piece of the island’s artistic spirit home with them.
To learn more about Art on the Hall, upcoming exhibitions and open artist calls — including the 2026 Showcase Exhibitions and Artist in the Class program — visit saltspringarts.com.