Comox Archives & Museum Society

I've always loved art and have visited many galleries on my travels. I live nearby, so obviously I paid a visit - on an opening night! Sadly, very little short of a large whiskey could have settled my nerves for what I was about to witness. Simply put, there was nothing even remotely artistic about the pieces I viewed. Nothing. After a quick survey it was clear to all that these were amateurish and artless efforts. Regardless, I did the tour and by the time I got to the forth bloody painting of a Canada Goose (in oil. It was so badly painted the poor thing looked like it had been run over by a tractor) ,I laughed so hard I actually spat complimentary cake all over it. No, really. I kept thinking the entire exhibition was the product of some therapeutic painting club designed to reduce anxiety for living amongst the walking dead of Comox. But no, they were the work of an alleged artist and they were for sale. Lord give me strength. I've seen children's finger paintings with more style and depth. I went back again a month later and there were different paintings but of the same appalling standard. Clearly these 'works' are not vetted. The staff told me that was indeed the case. You put your name on a list , wait a few weeks and then you're given free reign to unleash your finest water colours and oils of salmon, Totem poles , Douglas Firs and Canada geese upon the poor unsuspecting dullards of Comox. Bizarrely, dare to mention this to the locals (even in jest) and you'll get a look that could stun cattle. This is sacred territory and to criticise it is second only to shooting and burning the animals down the local Petting Zoo in front of the kids during a particularly nasty outbreak of Foot and Mouth ( whilst rather foolishly forgetting to tell the Zoo first..). It's not the done thing. In fairness, the place always raises a smile when I visit . The management must surely cringe at some of the beauties they get to hang up. It's a bit like those awful waxwork museums you get where the works are so poor you're left guessing who in Gods name the subject is. Good for all the wrong reasons.

This is a nicely curated history of Comox. Not too big so a short stop-in will be well worth your effort if you are interested in the establishment and history of this seaside community.

Very low standard for an Archives/ Museum. The opening hours are decieving (not updated), staff are rude and the collection is apparently concealed from the public. If you have expectations of finding a normal Community Archives, then you should look elsewhere.

This is a small museum but it is bright and the staff are friendly. They have so much in there, you could visit several times. It is by donation.

#neat place to check out