Image Credit: Curtis Goodrum / CFJC Today

By Curtis Goodrum

ART COLLECTIVE

North Shore art collective breaks barriers, provides opportunities to those who need them most

Jun 18, 2025 | 5:05 PM

KAMLOOPS – The Same Sky Art Collective, a non-profit art studio on the North Shore, has been building a community of talented local artists who are given an opportunity to display their art. Lana Fine is the studio’s creative director and has been writing a thesis about the toxic drug crisis.

“Disrupting the notion of what normal art galleries are and who’s included in those spaces and who can display and sell their art. Often, these typical gallery spaces aren’t always welcoming to all people. The studio is about honouring all voices, creativity and art forms. It also allows artists to take 70 per cent of their art’s cost,” said Fine

The profit sharing has allowed “The Most Hated Artist” to turn his passion into his main source of income.

“Most galleries take 45 to 50 per cent. It’s really kind of a half-and-half thing. But here it’s really nice because I can show all my art, and they give me a whole wall and let me take 70 per cent,” said John Smallman, “The Most Hated Artist”.

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Fine has used the studio to work on a thesis, which has now been completed and is proudly displayed throughout the building.

“The studio houses that creative research project, which is focused on the toxic drug crisis from the perspectives of those with lived and living experience, using cultural story mapping, which is based on the Indigenous ways of understanding relationship to space and place,” said Fine.

The thesis, difficult at times, was extremely rewarding to Fine — even if it took longer than expected.

“It’s not people’s biggest priority to come and make story maps for them to participate in research, when you’re just trying to find a meal for the day or find somewhere safe to sit down. I had to take a lot more time to research than I had intended. With that in mind, it’s completely understandable and acceptable. It’s people putting themselves into the vulnerability of being brave enough to share their stories with me,” said Fine.

The collective has turned into a place where those who want to express their creativity can do that and allows them to participate in a strong, supportive community.