Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gallery

Gallery Closed - Small Works Install
2025-11-11 - 2025-11-15

Clay Drop-In
2025-11-06 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-18 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-04 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-07 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-31 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax)

Guided Gallery Tour - David Hunter
2025-10-30 18:30 - 19:30 | Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery, 8 McCain Street, Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick, E7L 3H6, Canada
We are pleased to invite you to a special guided tour of our current exhibition, led by exhibiting artist, David Hunter.

Thursday, October 30 from 6:30pm-7:30pm
The Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery, 8 McCain St, Florenceville-Bristol

This tour offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into the artist’s creative process, inspiration, and the stories behind the works on display.

Admission is always free, and all are welcome to attend. We encourage visitors to arrive a few minutes early to ensure a prompt start.

Children's Professional Learning Day Art Class
2025-10-24 07:45 - 17:30 | River Art Centre, 8746 Main St., Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick

Totality - Opening Event
2025-10-18 14:00 - 16:00

Totality: David Hunter and James Wilson
2025-10-04 - 2025-11-08
The show is open from October 4, to November 7. The opening is on Saturday, October 18 from 2pm-4pm

<s/p>

We are pleased to invite you to a special guided tour of our current exhibition, led by exhibiting artist, David Hunter.

Thursday, October 23 from 6:30pm-7:30pm
The Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery, 8 McCain St, Florenceville-Bristol

This tour offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into the artist’s creative process, inspiration, and the stories behind the works on display.

Admission is always free, and all are welcome to attend.

James Wilson
James Wilson is a fine art photographer living and working from his home based studio in Hampton, New Brunswick. His art works are in many public, corporate, and private collections throughout North America and Europe. He specializes in large format rural landscapes, still-life, and natural-light black and white studio portraits which he calls “Social Studies”. He has been teaching photography and mentoring people on the art of the medium internationally for 19 years, with annual workshops in Mexico, Italy, and Japan.
“…My approach to making these photographs was not as a scientist, but as an artist. So I experimented slightly to explore different effects mostly through exposure changes and zooming in and out.
Properly exposing the image of the corona of the sun around the moon would stay white like one would naturally expect as shown in this first image. (Leftmost)
Underexposing the image the corona would take on a much warmer look which some might find more appealing as shown in the image. (#2)
There was a point when the corona expanded and as I remembered it seemed to have a slight cyan colour. (#3)
This is a classic shot that eclipse photographers try to always get when the sun is slightly exiting its hidden stat behind the moon with a bright flare. It’s called the ‘Diamond Ring Shot’. (#4)
This image I took just after putting my solar eclipse filter back on the camera lens. It exaggerated the flaring of the sun coming out from behind the moon and added more drama to the event. (Rightmost)” -James Wilson
“Total solar eclipses are very rare occurrences for any given spot on Earth…Prior to 8th April, 2024, the last total solar eclipse in central New Brunswick happened in 932! Therefore, since the last total solar eclipse in Central NB has been more than 1000 years ago, and that the path of 2024 totality went through Central Carleton County, a special effort was mounted to bring this to the attention of the community and nation. However, there was a potential problem: there was a 70% probability that it would be cloudy on the day of the eclipse. Therefore, a project was started to send a stratospheric balloon above any clouds to observe the eclipse.” -David Hunter
Science Engineering Team for the Total Solar Eclipse Balloon Project
David Hunter, BSc, MSc
In his professional life he was involved in the development of high resolution X-ray digital mammography systems based on the material amorphous selenium. This work was conducted at the University of Toronto and the affiliated Sunnybrook Research Institute. He has had a long standing interest in physics, astronomy, meteorology, and electronics, which all contributed to the development of the Total Solar Eclipse Balloon Project.
Lewis Cobb, MSc
An Electrical Engineer from the University of New Brunswick, his career is in industrial microcontroller system design and he was involved in contributions pertaining to 3D modeling, 3D printing, and CNC routing.
Stephen Downward, BCS
A graduate of the University of New Brunswick, he worked in communications, programming, and electronics.
Dr. Don Plewes, Phd
Professor Emeritus from the Department of Medical Biophysics of the University of Toronto, his contributions related to the engineering design of the project testing, analysis and mathematics, and general advice.
Tom Sisk, MSc
A retired Electrical Engineer who worked at NB Power, Irving, and Coleson Cove, contributed to the engineering design of the project and payload, as well as general advice.
Ken Strauss, MSc
A retired Electrical Engineer who worked with Comshare and Ontario Hydro made contributions related to the mechanical design and testing of the Balloon Solar Eclipse Project.

University of New Brunswick Student Engineering Team

UNB Liaison and Faculty
Troy Lavigne, Project Officer, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UNB
Andy Simoneau, Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UNB

UNB Engineering Student Project Group 1
Roshan Peri
Savishta Rattun
Jacob Snider
Benjamin Thomson

UNB Engineering Student Project Group 2
Ethan Albert Garnier
Spencer Frederick Gowlett
Alex Thomas Johnson
Zachary Michael Titus

UNB Engineering Student Project Group 3
Olivia DeMerchant
Zachary Demerson
Matthew Snell
Zoe Devries
To learn more about the Total Solar Eclipse Balloon Project, click the button below.
Learn more!

Buttermilk Creek Fall Fair
2025-09-20 09:00 - 14:00

Flora - Opening
2025-09-04 17:30 - 19:30

Creating with Nature Summer Camp - Ages 10-14
2025-08-21 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-20 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-19 13:00 - 16:00

2 Hour Intro to Wheel With Jenna Ross
2025-08-18 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-18 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-11 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-11 14:00 - 16:00

Flora
2025-08-16 - 2025-09-27 | Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery, 8 McCain Street, Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick, E7L 3H6, Canada
Join us on Thursday, September 4th at 5:30 pm for the opening – which will also be the pARTicipate Arts & Nature Festival kickoff event! Meet many of the artists, some of whom will be teaching workshops at pARTicipate.
“I like to make clothing, and I like it when it has an interesting shape or texture. I draft all my own patterns and the pieces are often historical, but sometimes not.
I enjoy the design challenges of working with secondhand and reclaimed materials, and combining inspiration from different historical eras, as well as the natural world. It’s always exciting to try a new material or learn a new technique, and sometimes I make videos of my projects so I can share all the construction information in as much detail as possible”. Vincent Briggs
“I have been a collector of seedpods for many years, each with incredibly beautiful, intricate forms and textures. These tiny seed vessels have been rich potential for creative exploration and have become the catalyst for my recent body of work. These smoke-fired vessels have been given over to the fire to breathe life into each piece, the smoke and flame creating a quiet beauty, richly marked with visual texture and colour.
It is my intention that these vessels evoke a sense of hope and renewal, a feeling of stillness and tranquility, reminding the viewer of the beauty of nature”. Judy Blake
“As a seamstress by trade and a passionate textile arts educator, I have nurtured a lifelong love for all
things fiber-related. Over the last few years, my daily art practice has increasingly zeroed in on bobbin
lace making. This historic craft is on the verge of dying out in New Brunswick and it is my long-term goal
to reintroduce it to the region and build a community of lace makers.
I am currently studying bobbin lace traditions from all over the world, learning multiple techniques
through online classes and creating original lace artwork. Designing a lace piece begins with loosely
sketching out ideas, experimenting with composition, and considering color. Then comes the precise
mathematical planning needed to design a lace pattern, like a puzzle that must be solved to ensure the
threads hold together and the picture takes shape as intended.
The process of bobbin lace making requires a profound level of concentration and attention to detail, as
each pair of threads is twisted and crossed in an exact order to keep the design intact and the colors in
place. Traditionally, lace designers and lace makers were separate entities, but I cherish the ability to bring
both roles together in my work. The whole process fascinates me, from the initial spark of inspiration to
the final moment when I remove the last pins and hold up the completed piece, an artwork made entirely
of threads, with more holes than solid mass yet still perfectly holding its form.
Through my work, I aim to honor and preserve the rich tradition of bobbin lace, while also bringing my
own unique vision to life, one thread at a time”. Cat Candow
Caoife Garvey is an Irish textile artist and designer currently living in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She specialises in weaving and felting techniques and works primarily with natural fibres such as linen, paper, wool and natural dyes. She uses thoughtfully chosen materials to create woven art pieces and fine craft accessories. Caoife is a graduate of the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design and currently works there as an instructor in the Foundation Visual Arts and Textile Design programmes. Her work has been shown in group exhibitions around New Brunswick and she has been the recipient of an Arts NB Creation Grant and the Charlotte Glencross Scholarship offered to an artist who is progressing in their professional development.
“My recent artistic practice blends traditional craftsmanship and contemporary exploration, using weaving and felting techniques to create works that are inspired by forms and textures observed in nature. I work with natural materials to create abstract, geometric patterns through the strategic manipulation of distinct weave structures. Most notably, I have been using yarn made from paper, a ubiquitous material made from the cellulose of trees and plants, to create weavings rich in texture and dimensionality. Building on this work, I am expanding my practice by integrating more elements of the plants themselves. Milkweed seeds and fibres provide soft stuffing, flax bast fibres are woven into fabric, and petals and bark are used for natural dyeing. I am particularly drawn to how the textures and colours found in local flora can enhance the qualities of specific weave structure, creating works that speak to both materiality and place”. Caife Garvey
Website: caoife@gmail.com Instagram: @Caoife.Garvey
Alexa began blacksmithing in Florida in 1980. Banging on metal proved to be the perfect counterpoint to her career as a librarian. She has been moving her scrap pile northward ever since. Initially she produced small abstract sculptures for interiors. When she established Ladysmith Forge in Connecticut in 1991, she learned to make hardware suitable for 18th and 19th century buildings. In 2006, she immigrated to Canada. Today, she and her wife live on a 125 acre farm in Mt. Hanley, Nova Scotia. Alexa forges garden sculpture and private commissions under the watchful eyes of a small flock of sheep. Her work can be seen at the Tangled Garden in Grand Pré and occasionally at the Annapolis Royal Historical Garden and, virtually, on her website: AlexaJaffurs.com
“My coloured glass flowers, each a faithful replica of one of our Atlantic provinces floral emblems, embody the range of habitats and regional identities of the Maritimes. They represent our character as well as being beautiful symbols of strength, adaptation, and unity. But even more important, at a time where biodiversity is increasingly understood as central to our very survival, these flowers and their distinct ecosystems remind us of a greater purpose: caring for our precious planet. Created on a specialized propane and oxygen torch to melt borosilicate glass. Solid rods and tubes are melted and shaped to create each piece of flora”. Heather McCaig
Adam McNamara (he/him) is a wood artist known for his unique approach to wood carving, drawing inspiration from the natural world and modern design elements. Employing power carving and fine carving techniques, he achieves realistic detail, resembling intricate paintings in wood. His creative process is deeply rooted in the world outside, particularly local ecosystems and hidden treasures within them. Influenced by anatomical drawings from Darwin’s era and the impressionism movement in painting, he infuses his pieces with themes of appreciating small creatures that hold our ecosystems together. Adam’s accolades include multiple exhibitions both locally and internationally, charity campaigns, and competitions over the years, with recent collaborations include a commission by Timberland Canada for hurricane relief in Nova Scotia. Adam prioritizes sustainability by sourcing wood from forests or purchasing scraps from woodworkers, repurposing all scrap to minimize waste. His self-taught journey pushes boundaries, with each piece serving as a discovery of new techniques and practices, contributing to the evolution of wood art.
“I use natural materials—hand-dyed woolen fabrics and yarn—hooked into linen or burlap backing to create images in the same way that other artists use paint on a canvas. My inspiration often comes from nature, the landscapes, plants, and animals that I see. However, colour and form also have appeal, and I strive to highlight them in my creations”. Caroline Simpson
Nationally acclaimed Canadian plant fibre artist, Ralph Simpson has developed an innovative method of weaving and sculpting plant fibre into pleasing sculptural forms. He was raised in the fields and forests of New Brunswick along the Petitcodiac River and there developed a keen interest in plants. His personal motivation arises from a deep connection with nature and an implicit desire to promote environmental sustainability.

Currently, he resides in Fredericton working full time in his studio there. Ralph chooses to work with locally sourced, sustainable materials and forages his own plant fibres using environmentally sustainable methods. He prefers invasive, introduced, or naturalized plant species and also native plants if they are abundant. Ralph holds an MSc. from UNB in Forest Research Biology, and a Diploma in Fine Craft from NBCCD. Informed by the sciences and his acquired technical expertise his intricately woven pieces reflect the fields and forests around him.
Ralph is an award-winning artist with grants from Arts NB and Canada Council, short-listed for the Salt Springs National Art Prize (2021) and his work has been accessioned into New Brunswick’s permanent art collection (2023). He exhibits his work locally and internationally, attending residencies and giving workshops.
The flora of New Brunswick informs his work and his creative process. His designs arise from his interpretations of nature and have evolved from traditional basketry, to vessels, and botanically themed sculptures. His process results in a contemporary manifestation of his connection with plants in their natural habitat. His work varies in form and style but what resonates in all his work is an underlying investigation into ways that plant materials can be used to spark interest and insight into the natural world.

Creating With Nature Summer Camp - Ages 7-9
2025-08-14 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-08-13 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-08-12 09:30 - 11:30

2 Hour Intro to Wheel With Jenna Ross
2025-08-11
Learn the basics of “throwing” pottery on the wheel in this 2 hour session. Come ready to be messy, have fun, embrace imperfection, and enjoy the challenge of taming a spinning blob of clay! This one-time session is perfect for absolute beginners or those who have tried it in the past and want a refresher.
For participants who would like to keep their creation: this class includes one finished piece per student (which will be fired & receive a clear glaze coat + second firing, for pickup at a later date). Students can choose to keep additional pieces for a cost of $10/piece.
Course Details:

Monday August 11th, 2-4PM & 6-8PM
Monday August 18th, 2-4PM & 6-8PM

Location: River Arts Centre,8746 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol
To Register: 25summerstudents@mccainartgallery.com or 506-392-6769
NO REFUNDS ON CANCELLATIONS WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF WORKSHOP!!!
LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE!!!

Drawing From Life Summer Camp - Ages 10-14
2025-07-31 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-30 13:00 - 16:00

Let's Draw Summer Camp - Ages 7-9
2025-07-31 09:30 - 11:30
