Barbara Brown Conrod’s ‘Simple Joys’ Exhibit Opens at Artsplace Gallery

Annapolis Royal, NS – An exhibition showcasing the personal and connective value of handwritten messages, “Simple Joys” by Port Williams resident Barbara Brown Conrod, opens at Artsplace Gallery on Saturday, February 21, 2026 and runs through March 21, 2026. A reception will be held on February 21st from 12-2 PM, alongside openings for two other shows at the gallery.

The ‘Simple Joys’ Project

In the fall of 2023, Conrod created and mailed 84 original hand-drawn and painted cards over three months. Each week, she sent a daily card for seven consecutive days to a friend or family member, with recipients aware the cards might be borrowed for exhibition SaltWire.

Balancing Grief and Joy

Conrod, who works in a variety of mediums including acrylic, oil, watercolour, and encaustic, developed the “Simple Joys” project alongside a separate body of paintings focused on grief, created in response to the loss of her mother valleyevents.ca. The daily card-making practice, centering on everyday objects, interiors, and landscapes, served as a source of joy and emotional balance to the heavier themes in her grief paintings SaltWire.

Exhibition Details

The exhibition at Artsplace Gallery will feature a selection of the original cards, along with portions of the accompanying text valleyevents.ca. The opening reception on February 21st will also include openings for “Invitation to Our Journey” by Carolle Le Blanc, Jacquie Savoie, and Corinne Drapeau, and for the work of Julie Rosvalls Facebook.