HOMAGE at Salt Spring Island, BC
Friday, May 8, 2026, 1000 - 1600
Homage is a powerful exhibition of 40 tailor-made and exquisite necklaces designed and created for 40 of Canada’s most iconic women. Through design and choice of material, each piece celebrates the achievements, talents, perseverance and character of their dedicated icon, and is accompanied by a biography and a drawing of each woman.
Donald A. Stuart is an internationally celebrated goldsmith, silversmith and designer, and perhaps the only person with the skills and vision to create these 40 wonderful necklaces for 40 wonderful women. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2002 for his skill as a master craftsman, jeweller, designer and educator.
To capture each woman's essence in necklace form, he used a wide range of colours, textures, and materials. For example, Kwanlin Dun elder and former Yukon commissioner Judy Gingell's necklace incorporates gold nuggets, moose hair, mastodon ivory, glass beads, and caribou antler to evoke the mountainous Yukon landscape against an aurora-streaked sky. For jazz legend Diana Krall, he crafted a bold collar from antique piano keys and walnut with 14K gold inlay.
“I have always been fascinated with history and historical figures," says Stuart. "I wanted to celebrate women’s contribution to Canada and my readings inspired me to develop this theme. Further research enabled me to develop a potential list of women. I also wanted to share the stories of many whom I do not believe have had the recognition that I think they should.”
Salt Spring's own Susan Benson is the curator of Homage and drew the portraits that accompany each necklace. She is an internationally respected theatre set and costume designer and visual artist. She was awarded the Order of Canada in 2019 and has been selected for a 2026 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
“We had a difficult time with the choice of who should be included and acknowledged," says Benson. "We have included inventors, politicians, businesswomen, engineers, artists, and mothers, spanning the eleventh century to the present... Each necklace can be considered a small sculptural piece. Although craft is often disassociated from the word “art,” I hope that, through this exhibition, craft and art can be viewed as one and the same.”
Homage has toured Canada’s Eastern Provinces to rave reviews. Salt Spring is its first, and only planned, showing in the West.
EVENTS
All events to be held in the ArtSpring Galleries. Entrance by donation.
OPENING RECEPTION: May 8th, 5:00-7:00pm
Enjoy a glass of wine and meet the team that made this exhibition possible.
CURATOR’S TALK: May 10th, 1:00-2:30pm
The stories behind the exhibition. With Donald Stuart and Susan Benson.
ICONS PANEL DISCUSSION: May 14th, 1:00-2:30pm
4 Iconic Canadian women discuss the challenges and rewards of being a successful woman. Panelists: Dr. Shazhan Amed, Clinical Researcher and Paediatric Endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital; Brenna Corner, Artistic Director of Pacific Opera; and Natalie Telewiak, Principal Architect at MG Architecture. Moderated by Elizabeth May.
AMAZING ISLAND WOMEN PANEL DISCUSSION: May 21st, 1:00pm
Shared stories of the women who make Salt Spring Island tick. Panelists: Aletha Humphreys, Former Executive Director Greenwoods Eldercare; Alicia Herbert, Executive Director IWAV; Sue Newman, dramatist, dancer, and teacher; and Gail Sjuberg, editor of the Gulf Islands Driftwood. Moderated by photographer and journalist Connie Kuhns.
To join in the celebration, we invite everyone attending the exhibition or any of the events to dress up and wear their most dramatic jewelry!
Category: Arts | Visual Arts | Galleries / Art
Artists: Donald A. Stuart, Susan Benson
Donald A. Stuart is an internationally celebrated goldsmith, silversmith and designer, and perhaps the only person with the skills and vision to create these 40 wonderful necklaces for 40 wonderful women. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2002 for his skill as a master craftsman, jeweller, designer and educator.
To capture each woman's essence in necklace form, he used a wide range of colours, textures, and materials. For example, Kwanlin Dun elder and former Yukon commissioner Judy Gingell's necklace incorporates gold nuggets, moose hair, mastodon ivory, glass beads, and caribou antler to evoke the mountainous Yukon landscape against an aurora-streaked sky. For jazz legend Diana Krall, he crafted a bold collar from antique piano keys and walnut with 14K gold inlay.
“I have always been fascinated with history and historical figures," says Stuart. "I wanted to celebrate women’s contribution to Canada and my readings inspired me to develop this theme. Further research enabled me to develop a potential list of women. I also wanted to share the stories of many whom I do not believe have had the recognition that I think they should.”
Salt Spring's own Susan Benson is the curator of Homage and drew the portraits that accompany each necklace. She is an internationally respected theatre set and costume designer and visual artist. She was awarded the Order of Canada in 2019 and has been selected for a 2026 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
“We had a difficult time with the choice of who should be included and acknowledged," says Benson. "We have included inventors, politicians, businesswomen, engineers, artists, and mothers, spanning the eleventh century to the present... Each necklace can be considered a small sculptural piece. Although craft is often disassociated from the word “art,” I hope that, through this exhibition, craft and art can be viewed as one and the same.”
Homage has toured Canada’s Eastern Provinces to rave reviews. Salt Spring is its first, and only planned, showing in the West.
EVENTS
All events to be held in the ArtSpring Galleries. Entrance by donation.
OPENING RECEPTION: May 8th, 5:00-7:00pm
Enjoy a glass of wine and meet the team that made this exhibition possible.
CURATOR’S TALK: May 10th, 1:00-2:30pm
The stories behind the exhibition. With Donald Stuart and Susan Benson.
ICONS PANEL DISCUSSION: May 14th, 1:00-2:30pm
4 Iconic Canadian women discuss the challenges and rewards of being a successful woman. Panelists: Dr. Shazhan Amed, Clinical Researcher and Paediatric Endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital; Brenna Corner, Artistic Director of Pacific Opera; and Natalie Telewiak, Principal Architect at MG Architecture. Moderated by Elizabeth May.
AMAZING ISLAND WOMEN PANEL DISCUSSION: May 21st, 1:00pm
Shared stories of the women who make Salt Spring Island tick. Panelists: Aletha Humphreys, Former Executive Director Greenwoods Eldercare; Alicia Herbert, Executive Director IWAV; Sue Newman, dramatist, dancer, and teacher; and Gail Sjuberg, editor of the Gulf Islands Driftwood. Moderated by photographer and journalist Connie Kuhns.
To join in the celebration, we invite everyone attending the exhibition or any of the events to dress up and wear their most dramatic jewelry!
Category: Arts | Visual Arts | Galleries / Art
Artists: Donald A. Stuart, Susan Benson
Starting Price Per Person
Free
Other Information
Where
ArtSpring
100 Jackson Avenue
Salt Spring Island British Columbia V8K 2V8
Canada
( Multi-Purpose Events Venue )
100 Jackson Avenue
Salt Spring Island British Columbia V8K 2V8
Canada
( Multi-Purpose Events Venue )
Event Organizer Contact:
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Event ID: 269683
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