South Peace Art Society preparing to take a look ‘Through the Looking Glass’ with 2026 art auction

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — The largest annual fundraiser for the South Peace Art Society will take place with inspiration from a cherished childhood fantasy.

The society’s 43rd annual art auction will encompass the theme ‘Through the Looking Glass’ – the title of Lewis Carroll’s second novel starring the titular Alice and her adventures in Wonderland, scheduled for Friday, May 1st.

Proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Dawson Creek Art Gallery’s events and programs.

Attendees for the sold-out event are encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters from the Alice in Wonderland series, but the title has a double meaning, according to society executive director Taylor Mills.

“Through the looking glass is a low-stakes way to get into the dressing-up nature,” Mills told Energeticcity.ca. “It is something we are trying to move forward with.”

“With ‘Through the Looking Glass’, it is just getting dressed up in a fancy dress and mimicking the colours of the characters. It’s full of vibrant colours. It’s about creativity. Not everything is as it seems.  It involves people being curious and allowing them to wonder, and that’s what we like to see in art too.”

Both a live and silent art auction will take place throughout the evening on Friday, May 1st.  Mills told Energeticcity.ca that the majority of the donated pieces for the silent auction are artisan items from local shops.

“We have 40 pieces that are going to be auctioned off throughout the evening,” said Mills. 

As a special treat, local artist Payge Fortier will be on-site, crafting a portrait throughout the evening, which will be the final item auctioned off during the live auction.

The event will also include a dinner and live music as well. The 43rd annual South Peace Art Society Art Auction ‘Through the Looking Glass’ takes place Friday, May 1st at the Co-Op Mercer Hall within the Ovintiv Events Centre, at 300 Highway 2 in Dawson Creek.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner being served at 7 and the live auction beginning at 8 p.m. More details about the Dawson Creek Art Gallery can be found on the group’s Facebook page.