What do you see when you slow down and really look at the world around you? Where do you find connection and meaning? How do you spend your unpaid time?
The City of Port Coquitlam invites the public to explore these questions through a series of new art exhibitions that showcase the diverse talents of local and regional artists. The new exhibits will be on display at Leigh Square and the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC) until April 8, 2026.
The public is invited to meet the artists at a free opening reception on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Michael Wright Art Gallery, located in the Gathering Place (#200-2253 Leigh Square). The evening will include live music by Port Coquitlam-based jazz ensemble the Tilden Webb Duo, with refreshments sponsored by Patina Brewing.
Featured Exhibitions
- Suspended Ecologies by Cherry Archer at the Michael Wright Art Gallery. This exhibit features ethically foraged botanicals frozen in illuminated ice tiles. The work reflects impermanence, climate urgency, and mindful connection to nature and lived outdoor experiences.
- Clocking In For Unpaid Labour Canada curated by Jennie Johnston and Shamina Senaratne at the Outlet Gallery. Showcasing over 150 hand-crafted time cards that reveal personal experiences of invisible, unpaid labour sustaining families, communities, and creative life across Canada.
- Outdoor Snaps – Enjoying the Moment by Mercury Black at the City Hall Gallery. This captivating exhibition celebrates nature’s subtle beauty, featuring layered photographic works that invite viewers to slow down, notice overlooked details, and connect with the natural world.
- Good Hands by Marcie Rohr Esau at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre Gallery. Featuring layered acrylic and oil paintings exploring transformation, interconnectedness, and the deep relationship between body and land, inviting reflection on time, change, and life’s subtle cycles.
Exhibition Highlights
For more information about the exhibitions, including interviews with the artists and images of their artwork, visit portcoquitlam.ca/exhibitions. To learn more about the artists, visit their personal websites below.
- Cherry Archer: cherryarcher.com
- Jennie Johnston: jenniejohnston.com
- Shamina Senaratne: shamina.info
- Marcie Rohr Esau: marcieroh.com
Upcoming Events
- Art Exhibitions: Opening Reception
Thursday January 22 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Michael Wright, Outlet, City Hall Galleries
Free: all welcome
Meet the artists and enjoy live music by Tilden Webb Duo.
- Clocking In for Unpaid Labour Panel Discussion (Ages 12+)
Thursday February 5 | 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Online (Microsoft Teams)
Free: RSVP required
A panel conversation on unpaid labour featuring curator Shamina Senaratne, SFU professors Kathleen Millar and Mohsen Javdani, and artist Ginger Sedlarova.
- Clocking In: Curators’ Talk & Presentation (Ages 12+)
Thursday March 5 | 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Michael Wright Art Gallery | Activity #: 120460
Free: registration required, visit portcoquitlam.ca/register
Learn about the Clocking In for Unpaid Labour Canada project and engage in discussion with the curators Jennie Johnston and Shamina Senaratne.
- Timecard Making Workshop (Ages 16+)
Friday March 6 | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m
The Outlet | Activity #: 120459
Free: registration required, visit portcoquitlam.ca/register
Create a timecard artwork exploring unpaid labour with artists Jennie Johnston and Shamina Senaratne. All supplies provided.
These free workshops are supported through the Community Cultural Development Grant from the Port Coquitlam Community Foundation.
Visit Our Galleries
The City Hall, Michael Wright, Outlet, and Port Coquitlam Community Centre galleries feature a rotating program of exhibitions by talented local and regional artists. All galleries are free to the public.
For more information, including artist interviews and exhibition images, visit portcoquitlam.ca/exhibitions.
For general inquiries about arts, culture, and heritage programs visit portcoquitlam.ca/arts or call 604-927-8440.
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