Gutters Are Elastic is a group exhibition that takes an expanded view on what comics and graphic novels can be: amorphous and empowering things that don’t sit still. This project sees the gutter (the space between the frames in a comic) as a generative site of possibilities where readers insert their own perspectives. This elastic gutter centers the margins, while stretching the story off the page and into the physical space of the Gallery. From ceramic busts to handmade quilts, visitors experience artworks that are linked to comics and graphic novels through a wide range of media. The exhibition features artists from diverse backgrounds and perspectives including Sonny Assu, Shary Boyle, Whess Harman, bailey macabre, Cole Pauls, Jillian Tamaki, Momoko Usami & Joshua W. Cotter, and Ronald Wimberly.

The exhibition space includes a comic making station, The Elastic Library reading zone, and a newsstand for local DIY comics and artists’ editions.

Gutters Are Elastic is the sixth exhibition through which Nanaimo Art Gallery asks the question, What stories do we tell?

Register yourself or bring a group (up to 15 people) for a lunchtime tour of our current exhibition Gutters are Elastic.

Led by a Gallery facilitator every Friday at noon during the run of the exhibition, tours are $5 per person or free for members. Following the exhibition tour, you can join us for a different drawing activity each week in the exhibition! We will experiment with different drawing approaches inspired by artworks in the exhibition. From comics and exquisite corpse drawings, to continuous line and speed drawing, we will learn and play together in the gallery space