SHELF MEMORIES:  The Invitation

Interactive Photography Exhibition by Sophia CONWAY

February 2nd – April 28th, 2026

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 7th, 1-3pm

The popular photo series “Shelf Memories” by Parksville photographer Sophia Conway returns to the McMillan Arts Centre with a new collection of photographs capturing personal, handwritten annotations found in local used books, along with an invitation for viewers to write their own for Oceanside residents and future generations.

The inaugural exhibition of photographs, held in May 2025 at the MAC, showcased locally sourced book annotations that offered a glimpse into the place of books within human relationships and served as a revealing time capsule of moments in Oceanside-related history.

The follow-up digital exhibition “Shelf Memories: The Invitation” offers new photographs of local annotations gathered over the last six months, as well as invites visitors to write their own into a book to be added to a new Little Free Library launching in the McMillan Arts Centre community garden. People of all ages are invited to bring a new or used book (or a free one provided at the gallery) to inscribe a story, memory, letter, prose, poem, quote, joke, or more on the first page of their selected book. The exhibit is planned to close on April 28th, when the inscribed books will be photographed and added to the Little Free Library (for its official launch on May 1st), offering the opportunity for community connection through the new annotations. Come revisit one of the world’s first collections of photographed book annotations, dive into some Oceanside-related history and record a little of your own!

FREE admission and participation.

 Curious to see the photographs of the 2025 Shelf Memories exhibit, or future pictures? Check out Shelf Memories online! www.sophiaconway.ca / @sophiacoconway / #shelfmemories