Welcome to Oceanside Arts Magazine – March 2026 | Issue 03

Welcome to our March issue — a celebration of creative voices rooted in place, participation, and community connection.

This month, we begin with an in-depth conversation with Qualicum Beach artist Elfrida Schragen, whose expressive landscapes and portraits reflect a lifelong return to painting shaped by rural life, teaching, and personal rediscovery. From there, we travel east to Newfoundland and Labrador, where Brandy Saturley introduces us to the province’s dynamic arts scene and to painter and sculptor Kyle J. Bennett, whose powerful coastal works capture the light and elemental force of the Atlantic shoreline.

Community engagement is a strong thread throughout this issue. Nazanin Shoja shares insights from her 15-year journey with BC Culture Days, reminding us of the transformative power of participation in the arts. Closer to home, Diane Moran discusses Mindfulness in May, a youth exhibition that brings together creativity, empathy, and mental health awareness in School District 69.

Our travel feature takes us to Petra, Jordan — a breathtaking intersection of art, architecture, and ancient civilization — while our Art Picks highlight Canadian artists rethinking space and society. We also explore the fascinating Forbes Pigment Collection at the Harvard Art Museums, uncovering the stories behind some of history’s most compelling colours.

At the McMillan Arts Centre (the MAC), we preview upcoming exhibitions including Shelf Memories: The Invitation, The Final Chapter from the Arrowsmith Chapter, and featured artists Lynn Samuel Hood and Joane Moran.

As always, we celebrate the artists, writers, and cultural leaders who continue to strengthen and inspire our creative community.

Thank you for reading — and for being part of the conversation.

Brian Sutton
Editor, Oceanside Arts Magazine