Art by the…read moreocean A lot of arts and crafts, clothing, trinkets and doo dads are sold in touristy places like Peggy's Cove. A lot of it is crap, some of it is interesting or funny and on occasion you might find something really special. Neil Depew is definitely in the special category. Neil has lived in Peggy's Cove since he was six and is intimate with the wild, foggy, windy and haunting scenes that typify the area. He developed an interest in art from his artistic mother but forged his own distinctive and unique style. He has been selling paintings from an old fishing shack since 1993. Of course his work all centers on the environment around Peggy's Cove. Lots of crashing ocean, ethereal fog, sea birds and of course the Peggy Cove's Lighthouse. He enjoys bold colors and seems to effortlessly combine dramatic scenes with very soft and smoothing strokes. His prices are amazing low and when we were there he was signing the prints and chatting and discussing his work. Very friendly and personable, it is obvious that he loves the pristine and special environment in which he lives and works. His work is definitely something special and for a price of a crummy t-shirt you can bring home a unique piece of art from a very special place.

Beautiful art prints right at the inspirational site. Neil Depew is often there to sign your print…read moreand tell the story behind it. Many more choices than on his website. I could have purchased more when I was there and I wish I had!

I can't resist walking by stores like this…read more I admit, I'm a sucker for local made knick-knacks, smelling handmade soaps and admiring all the talented artists work. Made in the Maritimes has a lovely collection of local goods all in one adorable little shop. Today we were greeted by a sweet smiling young woman who chatted with us while we browsed. Even though I didn't have the money to buy anything I still enjoyed browsing all the wonders Maritimers have to offer. We need more stores like this.

From the owner: Made in the Maritimes Artisan Boutique brings the best of the Maritimes under one roof. Unique,…read morehigh-quality gifts and souvenirs made by local artisan producers. Our contemporary product range includes pottery, fine art, prints, textiles, post cards, woodwork, jewellery, photography, housewares, soft furnishings, glass art and gourmet edibles.

When I think of the perfect art gallery, Argyle Fine Art is the first that comes to mind. The space…read moreis bright and open, with fun window displays always enticing you inside. And that's the perfect word to describe this art gallery - fun! Between the window displays, the art that's being showed and the owner herself, I have never left without a smile on my face. And there's something for everyone's budget too - you could go for the giant, expensive landscape, or a quirky pair of earrings or greeting card for a handful of dollars. I never feel pressured to buy when I go into this gallery, rather to just browse away, and have a chat with the owner if I feel like it.

Argyle Fine Art is a great little gallery showcasing all sorts of different local wares: pottery,…read morepaintings, graphic art, sculpture, and i'm sure a host of other sub categories that I don't know enough about to be able to identify. 'Argyle' is situated on upper water street in a beautiful old heritage building that really adds to the allure of the gallery. I definitely recommend going in and giving 'Argyle' a look. Walking through this place made me wish that my budget allowed for art purchases. 'Argyle' is currently showing a range of pieced titled: "Block Party." This exhibit is described as "[presenting] the viewer with all the contents of a fantasy world, separated into seemingly arbitrary categories, and compressed into gigantic cubes." Very visually appealing. There was also a piece called "Moose" which was comprised of textile pieces and wood- extremely well done I thought. Check out Argyle Fine Art! Especially if you have money for such things.

Love both locations of this store. I love supporting local businesses, and Made in the Maritimes…read moreallows you to support a local business ... by supporting local businesses. Yes, their wares can be pretty expensive, especially some of the beautiful wall art on display, but it reflects the effort, talent, time and money that goes in to producing handmade items on a small scale. And there are some lovely things here: jewellery, yarn, wood crafts, candles, treats, and of course the artwork. They have something for just about everyone on your gift list. Staff are friendly and helpful at both locations, and I don't think I've ever left empty-handed.

From the owner: At Made in the Maritimes, we support over 200 local makers. There has never been a better time to…read moresupport local business in the Maritimes and across Canada.

Such a lovely art gallery! I have been wanting to see Maude's house for awhile now and it did not…read moredisappoint. The building was a lot bigger than I thought and there was such a large amount of art to be seen. It was really an adventure and it was exciting getting to see all of the work. The asian lady who works at the front desk was amazing. She was very nice and super helpful when I asked her questions about the gallery. Only downside is we had some trouble with the security guys following us around and hovering. We were the only ethnic couple at the gallery at the time and they only followed us and told us not to get too close to the art work. They were very rude and had no trouble glaring at my partner and I and clearly following us around when we had done nothing to garner concern.

Small art gallery in Halifax - although the largest in Nova Scotia! The star of the show is Maud…read moreLewis - especially her house. The largest collection of her art anywhere in the world! They have rotating exhibits - mostly Canadian focused. There' are some nice Alex Colville paintings in the permanent collection. There was talk of a new art gallery with amazing architecture on the waterfront but this was shelved for financial reasons. This art gallery is quaint! Pro tip - Thursday evenings are free entry!

Eye Level is super sweet and great. Located on Gottingen Street, it provides a low key environment…read morefeaturing local artists' fresh, inspired and sometimes zany works. I've been here for a few openings as well as for the Nocturne festival. The space is simple: a single white long rectangular room, with a reception area in the back. Nestled into one of the back most corners, you will find a rich selection of zines - small publications consisting of writings, pictures, etc. You can buy them or peruse (I recommend buying - they don't cost much and you'll be supporting the artist). You should indeed check out this little gallery. It's a simple space, filling a very necessary position as a purveyor of local (and sometimes visiting) artists' creations! GO!

Eyelevel is a gallery that brings a fresh element into Halifax's art scene. Its a small and quaint…read morelittle setting run by a sweet bunch of people who like to keep things interesting. The gallery provides some great local work and prefers to play on a more conceptualized art experience. A few months ago I attended a free cinema night that featured a 1979 Bowie documentary called 'Cracked Actor', and 2 other short films covering contrasting sub cultures of times past. Definitely a worthy venture, as I wouldn't have sought these films out on my own. Popcorn and beer were served as well. The gallery holds spoken word shows, most recently "Dear Diary", in which submissions were pooled together for people to read private thoughts, or written piece to portray such a manner. Very cool as a collective entity. I'd consider this one of the freshest contributors to art in the city and a place to keep tabs on for interesting and provocative shows.

As soon as we walked into the Dart Gallery, I knew I was in for a treat. Art is covering very…read morenearly every inch of open space - including tables - and there is so much beauty in one place. And it's not just paintings, either! Ceramics, photography, textiles and pottery were just some of what we saw during our quick perusal. I think they're all local artists too - it's at least a good majority of local artists! I love looking at local art - I go to Argyle Fine Art on the Halifax side of the harbour all the time just for that - and one day I dream of covering my walls with it. One day. *wistful sigh* If you're looking for small gifts this is a good spot to check out too - they have smaller more inexpensive things like coasters, magnets and cards. And there is a little cafe/restaurant attached to it, though I haven't been there yet.

The Dart Gallery is one of my favourite art galleries! It's a welcoming space that promotes various…read moreforms of art (ceramics, painting, photography, textiles, sculpture and more) by mostly (if not all) local creators. Installations seem to last about two weeks, so there's always something new to see and the staff are really friendly and knowledgeable. The Dart Gallery is a go-to spot when I'm shopping for gifts as there seems to be something for everyone, from pop culture-inspired works to more abstract art. There are also lots of cards, magnets and practical items like mugs if you're looking to inject a little more art into your everyday life. Picnic at Dart is a great looking little restaurant that's attached to it, but I haven't had the pleasure of trying their food yet.

Situated amongst the cobblestone cosiness of the Granville / Duke Street courtyard, Anna Leonowens…read moreis longstanding Halifax gallery exhibiting the work of NSCAD's finest. Its space runs deep with various rooms that offer the opportunity for fresh and innovative layouts. Exhibitions generally feature student work, however faculty and visiting artists have been known to hold shows here too. Its an exciting spot to check out and very community oriented. If you have an interest in the arts and looking for a more free flowing vibe, this gallery is a good one to drop into. With all the students in and about, there is always someone to talk to and ways to get involved. (or not!) Anna Leonowens is a fabulous showcasing of young talent and a pooling of creations. Contemporary studio and media art, craft and design, and otherwise... its all quite fresh.

This gallery is a fantastic place to mull and peruse the art of young, inspired individuals testing…read morewaters and pushing boundaries. The space consists of multiple rooms, as well as floors, ablaze with natural light, creating a warm, inviting feel. I have been to a few openings here, as well as the NSCAD end of year showcase, which was so much fun. the energy was electric and there was such a vast array of mediums represented, you couldn't help but be enthralled. You can chat with whoever is curating or shuffle about thoughtfully, as you take in all that is offered. This is a great place to venture with a date, as it provides thought provoking conversation pieces as well as the old world charm of Granville Street. C'est magnifique! Head down and indulge your senses in the arts. You'll feel cultured and inspired after taking in NSCAD's finest.

Came to Al Whittle Theatre last month while on my first ever trip to Nova Scotia…read more The Al Whittle Theatre was hosting films for the Devour Fest in Wolfville and what a treat it was. The venue was comfy, large enough for the festival yet intimate. The sound was great and the stage perfect for a cast discussion afterwards. The coffee shop attached, Just Us Cafe, is lovely and quite inviting with large glass/roll up bay doors that must be heavenly in the warmer summer months. A true gem in Wolfville! Loved it!

Great theatre space with 160 pretty comfy seats, a movable lighting grid and good sound space with…read morebaffle control. CBC has recorded concerts here. It is used frequently as a movie theatre utilizing their digital projector with cinema server. Some presenters have put satellite into the theatre and are receiving live broadcasts from elsewhere on the planet (dance, theatre, music, etc). The Fundy Film Society is one of the main presenters and brings in cinema that you rarely see in the larger cities, let alone in a small burg like Wolfville. The fall Slow Food Film Festival, DEVOUR, is also presented here. And it is a venue for the Deep Roots Music Festival. And Summer Valley Theatre. And Night Kitchens plus various CD release events. Just Us Cafe is the front of the building and acts as the concession for the various events, although they do close early so there's no hanging around after the show for coffee-fuelled discussions; it's next door to Paddy's Pub for that. The theatre lobby does provide an intimate after-screening venue when needed, or a wine & cheese gathering, as it always has art displayed on its walls, doubling as Jack's Gallery. The space is fully decked out for the 21st century and is bringing "the world to Wolfville". The Acadia Cinema Coop is the building co-owner, with Just Us Cafe as another co-owner, plus hundreds of locals who have bought shares in the operation. They are the facilitators but do not present productions themselves, other than the occasional freebie or fundraiser (of which there are many here). A good venue for entertainment or town hall type meetings.