The thermometer is finally telling us that summer is here and now it is time to get things swinging.  July 22, 2008 Raise the Roof Summer Celebration has all the ingredients of an evening to remember, amazing musical talent, a unique venue, things to sink your teeth into and something to cool you off.  

You may have seen them other places at other times but never has an event brought such a diverse group of performers together all in one evening for an outstanding buffet of listening.  Smashlee, Ari Neufeld, Andrew Smith, Norm Strauss, Dean Clark, Neville Bowman, Sleddogs, Ten2Nine, The Corvairs, Serge Ryga, Ellen Churchill, Tracy Ross, Scott Gamble and up and coming talent Jessica Toplak are just a few of the evenings performers.

“If summer means spending time with good friends and having fun then you won’t want to miss this event.” says organizer Tracy Ross  “These are spectacular performers and they are ready to put on an amazing show. There will be a little bit of everything, lots of original work and some that you are familiar with, jazz to contemporary and of course some rock.”  

Tickets are on sale now through the Kelowna Actor’s studio box office at 862-2867 or on line at www.kelownaactorsstudio.com

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30 Jun 2008

First medal exhibition in Western Canada by members of the Medallic Art Society of Canada. Juried medals from across Canada, the U.S.A. and Australia will be shown.

You and your family are invited to the Opening Reception

When:   Saturday, July 5, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where:  Geert Maas Sculpture Gardens and Gallery,
     250 Reynolds Road, Kelowna

Exhibition continues throughout the summer till September 5, 2008

* The Monograph SPIRIT OF KELOWNA A Celebration of Art & Community is currently at the printers. A proof will be available for viewing at the Opening Reception.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Saturday, July 5, from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. One and only opportunity for participants of the Spirit of Kelowna medallion project to have a piece of their mould as a memorabilia, immediately following the opening reception at Geert Maas Sculpture Gardens.

Saturday, August 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Dedication ceremony at Kelowna City Hall where the Spirit of Kelowna medallions have now been permanently installed.

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30 Jun 2008

MANAGEMENT AND STAFF LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU JOIN US !
Upcoming Events June 30 to July 4	Greetings! Please be our guest this week, and savour our freshly prepared food, enjoy our unique and relaxing atmosphere, and experience musical performances you will not forget!     Sincerely,  The Management and Staff
JUNE 30 - JULY 1 The Minstrel Cafe hosts two dynamic Canadian Women in Music   June 30 - Kelowna-born Nat Jay  - Show startsat 8 PM  - $5                          &    July 1 - T.Nile with special guest Ann Vriend - Show starts at 8 PM - $10    Nat Jay Bio   Nat Jay took her first steps in her parents' music school in Kelowna (Jay Ess Music School) and continues to land on her feet in the world of music today. With her single, "Love When I Can" featured on ABC's Men In Trees in March 2008, upcoming appearances on CBC Radio 2's "Canada Live," and the highly anticipated summer release of her debut EP, Lights Across the Sky, the young talent has hit the ground running and doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon. Compared with such powerhouse voices as Brandi Carlile, KT Tunstall and Natalie Maines(Dixie Chicks), Nat Jay's compelling and highly accomplished vocal delivery will certainly turn heads in a noisy club, but it is her emotive songwriting ability that will steal the hearts of each and every audience member.   Reservations Recommended June 30 - 8 PM                   Entertainment Charge $5   T. Nile   From Tamara's website:   "Come from Galiano Island with a banjo on her knee, Vancouver's T. Nile could well be the biggest roots noise out of these very rootsy parts since Neko Case and the Be Good Tanyas." ~ John P.McLaughlin "As for T. Nile, her set was as refreshing as a splash of water... she served up a mouth watering menu of rustic and groovy ditties... her vocals were sweet, carefree and tangy..." ~Sandra Sperounces, Edmonton Journal review of Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Aug. 12, 2007 "Eclectic songs, rooted in tradition but looking forward. One of Canada's musical gifts to the 21st century." ~Gary Cristall Reservations Recommended July 1 - 8 PM                        Entertainment Charge $10  ~     JULY 3 - PATIO PERFORMANCE featuring Kath and the TomKats  - Show starts at 8 PM    " Join us for a patio perfromance from a dynamic pop, rock and rhythm & blues band ! "    Reservations Recommended July 3 - 8 PM                Entertainment Charge $10   ~    JULY 4 - Circus in Flames - Show starts at 8 PM    " slightly twisted with an energetic thrust that falls just shy of reckless abandon "   Reservations Recommended July 4 - 8 PM                        Entertainment Charge $5
Minstrel Cafe & Bar 4638 Lakeshore Road Kelowna, BC 250-764-2301 www.minstrelcafe.com

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29 Jun 2008

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The Story So Far

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION THE VALUE OF IDEAS
» Thursday 3 July 2008 | 4:30 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing the people and ideas featured in Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Join us as we celebrate our first year of critical and creative insight and discussion on topics and issues of import to the community. Hosts: Robert MacDonald & Karin Wilson.
» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE

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The Institute Celebrates a Year of Expression

We invite enquiring minds in the Okanagan to come together this week to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Okanagan Institute's Express program.

One year ago, the Okanagan Institute launched its popular Thursday afternoon Express series which feature members of the region's diverse cultural community talking about subjects as far ranging as growth and development, to artistic and creative expression, spirituality and the impact of the green movement on the building industry.

The Story So Far takes place 4:30 pm Thursday, July 3, at the Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard St. in Kelowna.

"We're hoping people will come out for an old-fashioned prairie-style social where they can mingle and remind each other of what we've heard, seen, learned and accomplished in the last year," said Institute founder and director Robert MacDonald. When the Express series started, there was no precedent for a café-style event with a regional flavour. MacDonald decided to pursue his vision regardless, wary it may not survive. But survive it has, now having hosted 47 events over the course of the last year.

More than 70 presenters from throughout the Okanagan region and beyond have taken time to share their expertise. We've played host to visual artists, jewellery designers, musicians, animators, architects and designers. We've heard from university professors and professional story tellers. We've examined architecture, home building, interior décor and green design. Some of the most distinguished writers in our province - Harold Rhenisch, Sterling Haynes, Don Gayton, Ralph Milton, Jack Whyte - have read from and discussed their works. We've generated and invigorated discussion on food security, the future of our water, and the future of development.

"What we've learned in the last year is that people in the Okanagan really want to talk about what is happening here without any political agenda. They want to hear new ideas, and they want to meet the people behind those ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. That's what we've done. And that's what we plan to keep doing in bigger and better ways." The Institute invites everyone who has ever attended or participated in the events to join the celebration, and the general public is welcome as well.

As part of the event, the Institute will be releasing a preview edition of our progress report - The Value of Ideas - outlining our progress to date, the programs and projects we're currently involved with or developing, and our plans for the coming year.

"We want people to know that we're here to stay and what we're thinking about for the future. Our weekly Express series will continue, and we plan to expand on that with more robust quarterly events designed to continue our goal of stimulating inquiring minds. We also intend to continue publishing literary chapbooks, have an exciting new community arts monograph at the printer right now, and are developing a number of other projects that further our mission," he said. "Our main objective is to reveal and enhance the expression of creativity and critical engagement in this valley. We're pleased with what we've accomplished so far, and wanted to celebrate that with a social occasion."

The Story So Far is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 47th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Since that time, the series has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, architect Jim Meiklejohn, and others from a variety of creative fields.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE


Okanagan Institute at the Bohemian Café A hearty feast of lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture and community. Produced by the Okanagan Institute in association with Wheat King Publishing magazines: Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Express is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Publishing, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna.

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The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that have gathered around the goal of providing events, publications and services of interest to enquiring minds in the Okanagan. We partner with individuals, organizations, institutions and businesses to achieve optimal creative and social impact.
Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We invite the participation by all members of the creative community.

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28 Jun 2008

Enowkin Programs for 2008/2009:

• College Readiness program affiliated and accredited with Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
• N'syilxcen Okanagan Language program  affiliated and accredited with Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
• Aboriginal Language Revitalization affiliated and accredited with University of Victoria
• Foundations in Indigenous Fine Arts program - affiliated  and accredited with University of Victoria
• National Aboriginal Professional Artist Training program Certificate Program accredited by En'owkin Centre

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27 Jun 2008