The Oceanside Arts Magazine – April 2026 Issue

Over the past several months, I’ve been contributing a series of articles exploring the rise of regional artists across Canada – shifting the spotlight beyond the familiar centres of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, and into the rich creative ecosystems found in smaller communities.

This latest issue of Oceanside Arts Magazine brings together a compelling range of voices and perspectives, each shaped by place, lived experience, and the act of making. We open with a featured conversation with Octavio Ribeiro, whose work – spanning figure, interior, and cityscape – reflects a lifetime of observation, technical exploration, and an intuitive response to his subjects.

Throughout the issue, readers are invited into the personal journeys of artists working across diverse mediums. Zana Ancerl Jefferies offers insight into a multidisciplinary practice rooted in design, intention, and meaning, while profiles of artists such as Emma Paveley and Elissa Anthony reveal how creative paths evolve over time through experience, place, and persistence.

A strong sense of place runs like a current through these pages. Features such as Looking at Nova Scotia and Travelling for Art’s Sake: Egypt explore how landscape, history, and culture shape artistic expression. Meanwhile, A Vibrant Collective of More Than 20 Artists reflects on the energy and connection found within shared creative environments.

Other pieces turn inward, exploring creativity as a form of reflection and storytelling. Cantaloupe and Other Local Legends highlights the role of narrative in artistic practice, while Art Therapy examines the powerful link between creativity, healing, and emotional expression.

The issue also celebrates the broader arts landscape. Echoes of Salt and Story weaves together music and storytelling in an immersive performance grounded in coastal traditions. Closer to home, At the MAC shines a light on the McMillan Arts Centre as a dynamic hub for exhibitions, learning, and creative engagement in the Oceanside region. Together, these stories form a layered portrait of contemporary creative life in Canada and beyond.

April Issue Oceanside Arts

In this issue, I’m pleased to share my interview with Nova Scotia-based artist Dave Barrer. Known for his bold, stylized interpretations of iconic Canadian landscapes, Barrer’s work blends realism with graphic design sensibilities – resulting in large-scale, dramatic compositions of mountains, sky, and coastline. His early experiences guiding canoe trips along the Mattawa and Ottawa River systems continue to inform his deep connection to the Canadian wilderness.

In our conversation, we explore his distinctive outlining technique, which lends his landscapes a striking, pop-infused edge.

Please enjoy this month’s issue.

Read more of my writing about the Arts in Canada on my top Canadian Art Blog, Iconography.