Ministry of Casual Living

05/09/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening of "Good Grief"! What a wonderful turn-out. In case you missed it or want to take a closer look at this exhibition featuring 54 artists, stop by for gallery hours!

Thursdays: 5-8PM
Saturdays: 1-4PM
Until May 30th.

As of today, we've said goodbyes to our wonderful Library of Death pop-up, and we have installed art in our back foyer from artists , .ayotte, and , alongside work by !

Coming up:
-Sunday, May 24th, 1-4PM: "In the Shadow of our own Dust": A Grief Workshop with , email [email protected] to register

-Wednesday, May 27th, 7-9PM: "The Sky is Everywhere" Open Mic with featured guest speaker, and featured performances from .by.stone. Sign up for open-mic here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yWz2ruOE0VlZ4ImGIPysCBY6y7caq3YLLGC_CwyqfzM/edit?usp=sharing

Featured works in this post:
-Slide 2: "Let it Take as Long as it Takes," video work by Tina Lehnhardt (tina-lehnhardt.com)
-Slide 3: "Gorse I" & "Gorse III", photography work by Harper (Dreaming Magpie)
-Slide 4: "death doula Ames Meeks chose this color to represent their feelings about climate change," video work by Adda Farcus (adamfarcus.com), and "I'll be here," multimedia + video installation by Laurynn Smith

image ID in alt text.

05/05/2026

Join us on May 27th (7-9PM) for “The Sky is Everywhere”: A Good Grief Open Mic event with The Ministry of Casual Living.

Do you have a grief-related story, poem, song, stand-up bit (the list goes on!) to share? Sign up for “The Sky is Everywhere” Open Mic here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yWz2ruOE0VlZ4ImGIPysCBY6y7caq3YLLGC_CwyqfzM/edit?usp=sharing

Words from our featured speaker, Tamara MacIntyre:
“I have never had the privilege of not knowing that death is part of life. My father died when I was twenty-one, and that knowledge has shaped everything — including what I make with my hands. Before willow, I was a potter. I loved form and purpose, but clay leaves a mark on the earth long after it is needed. Willow does not. It smells alive when you work it. It has a rhythm. It asks you to slow down and pay attention — and then, when its purpose is complete, it simply returns. That is the point.
We are all going. The question is what we leave behind, and what we choose to give back.”

About our featured performer, Stone MacBeth:
Stone MacBeth is a local artist and writer. MacBeth’s work explores grief and loss through the lens of trauma, familial ties, and identity.

“The Sky is Everywhere” Info:
When: May 27th, 7-9PM
Doors Open: 6:30PM
Performance: 7-9PM (with brief intermission).
Where: 750 Fairfield Rd., Wheelchair accessible through East Entrance.
Cost: Free/suggested donation of $5-$15.

To Note:
-This event requires in person attendance to perform.
-If you do not have a gmail account and would like to participate, please shoot us an email ([email protected]) including all requested info. As long as there is room, you will be added to the list. Thank you!

The title of this event, “The Sky is Everywhere” is inspired by the novel “The Sky is Everywhere” (2010), written by Jandy Nelson.

The photographs featured in this post were taken by .garraway

04/24/2026

We are delighted to invite you to the opening of “Good Grief” on Thursday, April 30th, 5-8PM!
This multimedia group exhibition features over fifty regional and international artists and offers us the opportunity to witness, hold space for, and connect over our experiences of grief through the language of art. Artists in this exhibition explore grief in many forms; The loss of a pet, the loss of a parent, losing a partner through separation, environmental loss, loss of self through various life stages, and so much more.

Opening: Thursday, April 30th, 5-8PM.
Gallery Hours:
Thursdays: 5-8PM
Saturdays: 1-4PM
Until May 30th.

Address: 750 Fairfield Rd., on lək̓ʷəŋən Territory, or so-called “Victoria, BC.”
Accessible Entrance: East 750 Fairfield Entrance.

Free/By donation Entry.

Keep an eye out for updates surrounding our upcoming “Good Grief” poetry night as well as a workshop led by local multi-disciplinary artist, .

Thank you for all your support thus far, and a special thank you to all “Good Grief” artists and artists who submitted to our open call for your honesty and bravery.
Sincerely,
Ash + Leda
MoCL GG Curators

The artwork featured on the “Good Grief” poster is a still from a WIP film created by Isaac Forsland, titled "Portrait of Linda” (2026). The 16mm film captures several frames from Forsland’s grandma’s ashes under a microscope. Forsland is an emerging experimental filmmaker based on the unceded lands of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. “Portait of Linda” is one of ten films featured in the “Good Grief” Exhibition.

04/07/2026

◇A̳s̳s̳e̳m̳b̳l̳y̳ ̳o̳f̳ ̳C̳a̳s̳u̳a̳l̳ ̳M̳i̳s̳c̳e̳l̳l̳a̳n̳y̳◇ A group exhibition Opening this Thursday, April 9th from 5-8pm, in conjunction with The Library of Death in our Lounge, "Lunar Symphony " new works by Roy Green in our Window Gallery, and in the Vault Gallery is "Call it Karma " by Ron Montreal.

Everyone welcome! Entrance at 750 Fairfield Rd

◇ April 9th-30th
◇ Thursdays 5-8pm
◇ Saturdays 1-4pm

◇ The 780 building Openhouse & Art Crawl is Saturday, April 18th from 2-8pm, entrance is 780 Blanshard St

◇Accessible entrance, corner of Fairfield & Blanshard beside the bike cage, ring the doorbell.

◇The Artists:

Lydia Avsec .art
Sabrina Blanchard
Rowan Doucette
David Gifford
Ash Ohtsijah Hall
Evan Locke
Fern Long
Marlene Mance
Jo Roueche
Cailee Seifried .peach_
Leda Shields .0
Ella Swan
Clare Thomas
Jenn Wilson .wilson.studio

04/07/2026

04/05/2026

A̳s̳s̳e̳m̳b̳l̳y̳ ̳o̳f̳ ̳C̳a̳s̳u̳a̳l̳ ̳M̳i̳s̳c̳e̳l̳l̳a̳n̳y̳ A group exhibition Opening this Thursday, April 9th, 5-8pm, in conjunction with The Library of Death in our Lounge, "Lunar Symphony " new works by Roy Green in our Window Gallery, and in the Vault Gallery is "Call it Karma" by Ron Montreal

Everyone welcome!

◇April 9th-30th
◇Thursdays 5-8pm
◇Saturdays 1-4pm

◇780 Building Openhouse & Art Crawl, Saturday April 18th from 2-8pm

Free/by donation

Accessible entrance corner of Fairfield & Blanshard beside the bike cage,ring the doorbell

The Artists:

Lydia Avsec .art
Sabrina Blanchard
Rowan Doucette
David Gifford .divad
Ash Ohtsijah Hall
Evan Locke
Fern Long
Marlene Mance
Jo Roueche
Cailee Seifried .peach_
Leda Shields
Ella Swan
Jenn Wilson .wilson.studio