Local writer kevin mcpherson eckhoff volunteers in the new book store

Gallery Vertigo is pleased to announce the newest addition to its merchandise corner: an independent, small press store. Writers and publishers will be able to vend their wares, subject to a reasonable commission, along two feature walls. If you are interested in participating in this opportunity, please contact the gallery at info@galleryvertigo.com for details.

The new book corner will join a small but choice selection of locally produced, one-of-a-kind artist cards, unique T-shirts and small works of art as part of Artsake a small shop located at Gallery Vertigo. The small shop is operated by volunteers and a portion of proceeds support gallery exhibitions and programming. Gallery Vertigo is very pleased to offer writers and publishers from the region a venue for the sale of their published works.

Books may be submitted by appointment only. Please call the Gallery at 250-503-2297 for details, and to set up an appointment to bring in your books.

Gallery Vertigo, Suite #1 (upstairs), 3001 31st Street, Vernon, BC

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21 Oct 2008

JAZZ FOR CHARITY

Kelowna’s jazz sensation Olga Osipova is putting on a concert at the Rotary Centre for the Arts on October 25, with partial proceeds to be donated to United Way. “One of the key elements of a civilized society is to build communities that can reach out to and support people in need. Having been through many hardships myself growing up in Russia in times of changing economy, I really appreciate the fact that social services are available to people in Canada. I share United Way’s vision of a healthy, caring, inclusive community, and I want to support their efforts to make a difference”, says Osipova.

She is supporting the charity with what she does best – with the new album nominated for five BC Interior Music Awards this year and radio play on jazz stations all over the country, Osipova is a phenomenal entertainer. She will share the stage with the best musicians in the Okanagan to perform her all-original smoky jazz tunes. Tickets are $25, available through Ticketmaster.

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17 Oct 2008

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Aboriginality

A CELEBRATION OF NATIVE HEALING ARTS
» Thursday 23 October 2008 | 5 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing people and ideas featured in Okanagan ARTS. Join us as Rebecca Cameron, Carol Derrickson, Patricia Morven, Roxanne Lindley and Gayle Liman share personal experiences of aboriginal healing traditions throughout the Americas.

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» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE

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Native Healing Arts the Focus of Special Event

Health care may not have been top on the political agenda this federal campaign, but for thousands of people in the Okanagan it is the most important issue they face on a daily basis. Whether we are coping with a diagnosis of cancer or heart disease, or dealing with mental illness or elder care, our physical wellbeing has a direct impact on our day-to-day experience.

While traditional Western medicine has focused on fixing our health, aboriginal tradition has focused on healing, which often takes a more holistic view of the person by examining not only the physical body, but the mental and spiritual body as well.

The Okanagan Institute Express series has invited a powerful group of experts in the field of aboriginal healing to share their personal experiences of healing - and how it has affected their lives and others. The event touches on not only Okanagan practices, but aboriginal healing traditions throughout the Americas. Aboriginality: A Celebration of Native Healing Arts takes place October 23, at 5 pm at the Bohemian Café.

Rebecca Cameron is a teacher and new mother. She'll discuss her personal experience with aboriginal healer Tis Mal Crow, an internationally known herbalist and Native American Root Doctor of Cherokee and Hitchiti decent, and author of the book Native Plants, Native Healing.

Carol Derrickson is a member of the Westbank First Nation, who has worked as an administrator in social development for the last 15 years, with a particular focus on Pine Acres, the band-owned 63-bed elder's residence which offers intermediate care. A mother and grandmother, Derrickson speaks to the importance of caring for the whole person as we age.

Patricia Morven, of Nisga'a and Thompson decent, teaches life skills for the ROADS Program through Westbank First Nation. An expert in designing programs that use art as a form of healing, Morven will talk about how the arts has helped people overcome addiction.

Roxanne Lindley is a carrier of cultural and traditional medicines. A member of the Westbank First Nations, she will talk about the aboriginal world view with regard to plants and medicine.

Gayle Liman is the research curator for the Westbank First Nation. She will discuss a holistic approach to healing involving mind, body and spirit and her personal healing journey that took her from Mexico to Guatemala and beyond, where she learned about plants and medicines from numerous Aboriginal healers.

Aboriginality is an ongoing series underway as part of the Okanagan Institute's Express Series, which aims to bring diverse groups of people together in the interest of improving our understanding of culture and the arts, and celebrate the breadth of talent expressed in the Okanagan.

Aboriginality: A Celebration of Native Healing Arts is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 63rd 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, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, poet and professor John Lent, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, architect Jim Meiklejohn, broadcaster Mari0n Barschel and others from a wide range of creative fields.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE

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Where Enquiring Minds Gather. 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.

The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that has 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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17 Oct 2008

Figure Drawing       
Sat. & Sun.    Nov. 1 – Nov. 2        1- 4 pm        $98 + GST
Learn to see and draw more believable three-dimensional figures by studying the human form.  In this course, you will gain new insights into the theories of mark-making, composition, proportion, colour and abstraction.  Each session includes three hours with a model. 

Mixed Media Painting and Collage
Thursdays    Nov.6 – Dec. 11        6-9 pm        $270 + GST
Introduce yourself to the process of image making on various textual surfaces and the use of techniques such as collage, frottage, plastering, paint resists, photo transfers, fluid pours and relief application.  A variety of materials will be explored such as acrylic regular body paints, fluid, high load and air brush pigments.  All support and priming applications will be examined.  Acrylic mediums such as modeling pastes, gels and surface building products will also be used.

Travel Writing – Sharing Your Journey
Saturday     Nov. 8            10 am – 3 pm        $149 + GST
Take a day trip with a veteran travel writer and discover what it takes to have your story published.  Good travel writing is more than just describing where you’ve been and what you’ve seen.  This course will teach globe trotters what you should know before you go and how to translate what you’ve seen on to paper.  The session will look at how to generate story ideas, help participants develop their writing skills and teach aspiring travel writers how to get their work published by writing pitch letters to editors.
www.ubc.ca/okanagan/continuingstudies

Call 250 807-8177 or 250 807-9981

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15 Oct 2008

Free Family fun at the Rotary Centre for the Arts.

Individual artists galleries and group galleries are open for discovery.

Free food, drink and fun. Artists have created pieces from a $5 gift of art greeting card to $5,000 for the perfect christmas gift. Support local arts, buy within 100 km, go green this year.

Inquire about future classes and arts events in the cultural core of your own town. See artists in their own setting, creating new works.

from 4 pm until 7 pm each first Thursday of every month.

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13 Oct 2008