Local artist Mike Hepher
working on All Kinds of Beauty.
ARTS & CULTURAL HUB
THE ARTS STATION
A vibrant and engaging space for the creative community in Fernie featuring all
disciplines of the arts for visitors and locals alike. The Arts Station has a varied
program of entertainment and activities throughout the year including live concerts,
film screenings, pottery workshops, community theatre, gallery shows, and creative
classes for all ages.
Living History in a
Heritage Building
From 1898 to 1964, the Canadian
Pacific Railway (CPR) station was
the economic and social hub of the
community. The current station building
was completed in the spring of 1909
after an earlier incarnation burned down
in the Great Fire of 1908. The CPR
donated the disused building to the City
of Fernie and in 1987 the Fernie Arts
Council began the four-year process
of moving the building onto a new
foundation and completely renovating
the dilapidated structure. The former
waiting room became the foyer gallery
and every other space found new life
as studios, event space, and even a
restaurant. The Arts Station opened in
1990 as an indispensable base for artists
in the Elk Valley.
is intended to reflect the impact the fire
had on Fernie’s architecture and the
City ordinance that followed, directing
all future construction to be of fireproof
material. This artwork is a testament to
the tenacity of the people of Fernie and
a reflection of the town that fell but was
not fallen.
Newly installed on the sidewall of
Beanpod at the corner of 2nd Avenue
PUBLIC ART UPCOMING EVENTS
The Arts Station has been a hub for local
artists to gather and share all forms of
artistic expression for 30 years. Through
exhibits and workshops, community
artists have been able to share their work
with the wider community and visitors.
A dozen years ago, the banner project
brought local art to the streets of Fernie
and more recently, the dumpster project
gave artists a new unique canvas, and
brought colour and light to dark and
ugly places. Building on these efforts,
new large scale works of public art have
been commissioned to add to Fernie’s
Historic Downtown Artscape. The Arts Station is a cultural hub for
Fernie and features a lively program of
entertainment and events throughout the
year. Tickets can be found on Eventbrite.
ca; contact the Arts Station for more
information.
On the grounds of The Arts Station,
A Hardy Town is a sculpture
commemorating the 1908 Great
Fire. A collaborative effort by local
artist Michael Hepher and Kootenay
metalwork artist Paul Reimer, the piece
& 7th Street, All Kinds of Beauty is a
bright and welcoming new mural, also
by Michael Hepher. The piece was
designed to reflect the hopes, dreams,
and aspirations of the community. The
piece highlights many of the aspects of
Fernie life, from industry and activity to
our treasured Elk River and surrounding
mountains. Share your selfies with
#ferniemuralproject.
Children aged 6-11 are invited to
participate in the Shine Theatre camp
on December 27-29th hosted by Sadie
Rosgen and Rachel Behan. Learn creativity
and self-expression, gain confidence and build relationships through drama activities.
The Audielles – an all-female local acapella group – will perform a lively concert on
February 13th. On March 20th, Montreal-based singer-songwriter Cecile Doo-
Kingue will return to Fernie with her mesmerizing blues, afro-roots and soul sound.
cdkmusik.com.
The foyer gallery features a series of temporary exhibitions by local artists, with
free opening receptions held on the last Thursday of every month. Shows remain
on display for approximately four weeks. In January, the gallery will feature an
exhibition on the history of The Arts Station.
601 1st Ave | 250-423-4842
theartsstation.com
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