DAVID VEGT
BEING CUMBERLAND
Moving to Cumberland has been a transformative experience, one that has grounded me, inspired me, and opened me up in ways I hadn’t expected. Over these first two years, I’ve come to see this place not just as a backdrop but as a living presence, full of character and energy. The rhythm of daily life, the surrounding forests and mountains, and the faces and stories of the people here have all left an imprint on me. Through painting, whether it’s a portrait, a still life, or a glimpse of the landscape, I’ve tried to capture that sense of belonging and discovery that comes from truly being of a place rather than just in it. I am new to Cumberland and even in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve heard stories of how this village has changed. Some think it’s good, some bad, all I can attest to is my own lived experience, and try to add what I can to continue making it a place people want to be.
Cumberland is a place of music and magic. Every telephone pole is layered with scraps of paper, hand-drawn posters, community events, and invitations to gather, all fastened with a constellation of pins and staples. It’s a visual heartbeat of how much is happening here. Those who live in Cumberland already know; boredom doesn’t stand a chance in a place this alive. What makes this community special to me is its warmth and openness, the way people show up for one another, and the constant encouragement to create and share. These nineteen paintings are my way of reflecting that spirit back. Moments of quiet observation, encounters that linger, and the beauty found in the ordinary. Being Cumberland is both a celebration and an offering. It’s a record of how this place has shaped me, and how art can become a conversation with the community I now call home.
-David Vegt
August
Oil on aluminum
11 x 14 in.
(Not for sale)
This painting is of my oldest kid, August, who moved to Cumberland with us. For them, the move was especially meaningful — leaving Chilliwack, where it wasn’t always easy to be themselves, and arriving somewhere that felt open and accepting. In the painting, August sits with a full glass of ice, something of a personal ritual and small comfort. It’s a quiet portrait, but one filled with layers of change, resilience, and transformation. Not long after moving here, they moved to Victoria, but I think their affection for Cumberland was sealed early on — on their 19th birthday, when the Waverly hosted a Shrek-themed drag burlesque show. It felt like the universe was saying, you belong here. This painting holds that spirit of welcome, the feeling of possibility that this community offers so generously.
Myelle
Oil on aluminum, 11 x 14 in.
(Not for sale)
Myelle was meant to move to Cumberland with us, but she stayed with her mom in Chilliwack — one of the harder parts of our transition here. I visit her every month or so, and we always go for coffee. This painting captures one of those moments: Myelle sitting with Sonia and me in a café in Chilliwack, animatedly telling us about her friends and life at school. I spent a lot of time getting her face, the colors, and the details just right — wanting to hold onto that moment of connection as truthfully as I could. I think about her often here in Cumberland — how love stretches across distance, and how even as we settle into a new place, we carry parts of home and family with us. This piece reminds me that Being Cumberland also means embracing where we’ve come from and who remains part of our story.
Nova and the adhd ghost
Oil on aluminum, 11 x 14 in.
(Not for sale)
This painting of my daughter, Nova, shows her seated at our kitchen table — a familiar scene for us, where many of our conversations about life and school take place. I included a faint, ghostlike figure in the background, echoed again in her earring — a visual whisper representing our shared conversations about ADHD, something that “haunts” both of us and we have been coming to understand over the past two years. In her expression, she might be listening intently or lost in thought — it’s often hard to tell, and that ambiguity feels honest and true to who we are. This painting is about presence and attention, about the subtle balance between being in the moment and wandering somewhere inward.
Bad with Emotions
9”x12”
$700.00
This self-portrait reflects emotional suppression following the end of a relationship, where I felt little outward expression at the time, only to confront those buried emotions months later. My face is rendered almost expressionless, surrounded by light green, acid-like raindrops that symbolize feelings I couldn’t access, with a single drop on my cheek suggesting a delayed or incomplete tear. The gray, white, and black background blends light and dark tones, mirroring an internal emotional state that felt present yet difficult to understand or articulate.
Celeste
Oil on aluminum
18 x 24 in.
$950
Celeste was the first server I met at the Waverly Pub — someone whose kindness and attention stood out right away. This painting is an homage to Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère; I borrowed the lighting and her stance as a quiet nod to that lineage of painters observing connection and solitude within everyday life. Through Celeste, I wanted to explore that feeling of being both present and reflective — of standing in a moment where human connection happens in small but meaningful ways. The work is about that sense of recognition, of being seen, and how those moments can anchor us in a new place.
Megan
Oil on aluminum
18 x 24 in.
$950
Megan was the second server I met at the Waverly, and like Celeste, she made me feel welcome and at ease. Her warmth and easy smile gave the Waverly that familiar sense of belonging I’ve come to appreciate. This painting is about her, but it’s also about the feeling of comfort that comes from small, genuine interactions, and how those moments add up to make a community feel welcoming and alive.
Cumberland Sunrise
12x20”
$550
Living where I do in Cumberland, I can step out on my patio and see this epic symphony of colour on many mornings. I love the nestling of houses with their chimneys, allowing small wisps of smoke to blend with the sunrise. It has been very special to be a part of this tiny community that has so much going on.
Dale
Oil on aluminum
18 x 24 in.
$700
Dale was one of the first people I met in Cumberland, and fittingly, it happened at a gallery opening; the same gallery where this show now hangs. The painting captures something of his laid-back charm, his easygoing presence of someone who’s deeply at home in this creative place. It was early on after first moving here, after a night hanging out at the CBC, Dale, who often with a cigarette in hand, was standing under the street lamp and I just really like how it lit up his profile. We were about to part ways when my painter’s brain felt like it was a moment worth capturing. I’ve had many evenings full of conversation since and continue to enjoy his company.
Decadent Compost
12x12”
$450
This painting of my compost was about me, realizing that I was not paying attention to what I was eating, and also not paying attention to the food in my fridge. When I am on my own, I often just eat whatever I want and it isn’t always the best thing for me.
Fando on the Watch
Oil on carved wood panel
5 x 5 in.
(Not for sale)
In this small morning scene, Fando is perched at the window, looking out over the street — our loving watchdog, always alert. The light coming through the window caught her fur in such a beautiful way, creating textures that were a joy to paint. As I worked, I noticed that my foot was sticking out from the couch, with one big toe visible — so I decided to include it, partly as a joke and partly to make the composition a little more interesting. It’s a small, playful detail in an otherwise quiet moment.
Fando and the Dark
Oil on aluminum
$1200
Fando, my rescue dog from Iran, has always been wary of the unknown (mostly just other dogs, but she has a lot of anxiety in general). In painting her, I found a reflection of my own uncertainty and anxiety, when I first arrived here — the shared vulnerability of stepping into a new place, not yet sure what it will hold. The dark in this piece represents that space that lies ahead, the future. It is inevitable, and we can either move forward towards it with anxiety or courage. It is the space where growth and discovery live. It’s a reminder that we can keep learning, keep being open to what’s new, and find our way through hardship toward comfort and belonging through courage. When adding the varnish to this painting, I had a little happy accident, making the towels look like a spirit was leaving them. I started to see another layer of meaning in the painting, as I have been continuously struggling with my understanding of spirituality. I grew up in strict religious constructs, which I see represented in the stairs and the house, kind of like an analogy of a stairway to getting to heaven. But the dark represents everything unknown and the wilder things. It has seemed more appealing to me, which works with the grass being greener on that side as well. I feel like the spirit has left the “wet blanket” of the church and is drifting into the darkness.
Lys
9”x12” (sold)
I have started painting smaller portraits of people in Cumberland, Lys just happens to live on my street and I asked if I could paint her. I liked how the white of her cap kept changing colour in the light to shadow. I wanted to keep the background abstract and push the light to dark boundaries to include a generous mix of middle values. I think it worked well.
Milli
Oil on aluminum
20 x 36 in.
$850
When I first moved here, I noticed a constant gathering of people dressed in goth and punk apparel outside the Masonic Hall, I was drawn by the sound and energy of the punk shows spilling out into the street. Later, I saw them perform with their band, Mean Bikini, and was struck by the energy they bring to the community — both on stage and off. Millie has built a circle of people around them who are adding real vitality and creativity to Cumberland’s music scene. This painting is a reflection of that spark — a tribute to the people who keep the cultural pulse of this town beating strong, and there are so many!
Portrait of the Beach
Oil on wood panel, 18 x 24 in.
$850
This painting is a portrait of the beach — a gathering of familiar objects resting in the evening light. Since moving to Cumberland, this place has been one of rest and simple joy for us, somewhere to unwind and take in the beauty of the island. But like many shared spaces, it can hold different meanings — joyful for some, complicated for others. I think often about how landscapes absorb our stories, how light and memory overlap and shape our sense of place. For me, this painting is about that balance — the warmth of the setting sun, and the quiet understanding that even the most peaceful scenes can hold many layers.
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