Artful : The Gallery

08/25/2026

I came across this little video on Youtube this afternoon 😊

A short video showcasing the art installation "My Name is Margaret"...

08/23/2026

And that’s a wrap! ‘My Name is Margaret: War, Madness & Recovery ended yesterday with a full house for Debbie Marshall’s artist talk, an illuminating and thoughtful conclusion to this provocative, and sometimes challenging, exhibition. Discussions about mental health still struggle to be brought out into the open. Both Debbie and I have experienced the heartfelt conversations that this exhibition has inspired, and have commented on how many people experienced their mothers, grandmothers, and other female family members being hospitalized for extended periods of time as the circumstances of their lives triggered a variety of diagnoses such as hysteria, postpartum psychosis, involutional melancholia, manic-depressive psychosis, and nervous exhaustion. Treatment options for these women included institutionalization, shock therapies using insulin or electricity, lobotomies and tranquilizers. Looking back now, we can understand that the most helpful aspects of their treatment was often the care and attention of the staff, and the ability to rest between being subjected to the torturous ‘treatments’. I have such deep appreciation for Debbie Marshall’s courageous capacity to bring this story to fruition with such gentle compassion for all involved. Margaret stands in for the countless women whose experiences were never documented.

08/21/2026

Last two days! My Name is Margaret ends tomorrow at 5pm. Please join us tomorrow afternoon 2 to 3pm for creator Debbie Marshall's artist talk. It will be a wonderful opportunity to hear the artist talking through the genesis and ex*****on of this impactful exhibition. Gallery hours 12-5pm, Weds thru Sat.

08/21/2026

My Name is Margaret ends on Saturday, August 22, at 5:00pm. Creator Debbie Marshall will be joining us from Nanaimo for an artist talk at 2pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit with Debbie and hear more about the creation of this exhibition. Join us!

08/19/2026

I was inspired to write a blog post about the incredible exhibition by creator Debbie Marshall. This provocative collection has inspired so many thoughtful and touching conversations at Artful. The exhibition ends this Saturday, Aug 22nd. Debbie Marshall is offering a free artist talk on Saturday afternoon at 2pm. Join us to hear the genesis of this imagined life. To learn more, check out my blog post at https://www.artfulthegallery.com/post/margaret-never-existed-what-makes-a-life-real

08/15/2026

I love seeing people settle in for a leisurely visit, taking the time to read the story that artist Debbie Marshall has created for us!

08/14/2026

‘My Name is Margaret: War, Madness & Recovery” continues at Artful thru August 22nd. This unique fictional art installation is the result of creator Debbie Marxhall. Marshall has assembled the evidence of Margaret Chaloner’s existence through a process of creating and collecting artifacts, assembling them to create a coherent vision. This archived life resonates because it is the real historical experience of so many.

Margaret stands in for the countless women whose experiences were never documented. Fiction is not the opposite of truth, it provides access to the truth.

Margaret never existed. The women she represents are very real.

08/08/2026

Don’t let the sunshine distract you! Artist reception with creator Debbie Marshall at Artful this evening, August 8th, 7-9pm.

08/06/2026

We are having a party! Join us in welcoming creator Debbie Marshall to celebrate the opening of her exhibition ‘My Name is Margaret: War, Madness & Recovery. Saturday evening, August 8th, 7 to 9pm.