okanaganarts Brochure
Okanagan Arts

Culture and Community

 

Re:Imagine
An Ongoing Series of Lectures and Presentations that Celebrate the Creative Okanagan

Okanagan Institute
Re:Imagine
5pm Thursdays
at the Bohemian Café


Click here for schedule
and information.

 

Arts Council of the Central Okanagan
Arts Council of the
Central Okanagan

140-1735 Dolphin Ave,
Kelowna, BC V1Y 8A6
Email: Click Here.
Elke Lange, Executive Director
Telephone: 250.861-4123

Produced in association with the
Okanagan Institute

 

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Okanagan Arts Okanagan Arts News
LATEST VISUAL ARTS ITEMS
  • Cool Arts Community Art Project
  • PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS TO ESTABLISH ARTS FUND IN KELOWNA
  • REEL ROOTs 2010 An exhibition of short films by emerging First Nations artists
  • Art In Action: Inside Out
  • Woodhaven Eco Art Project
  • MAAS Monument for MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving
  • Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall
  • Second Exhibition Set to Open at Lake Country Art Gallery
  • Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall A Retrospective Exhibition
  • In The Footsteps Of The Masters - Plein Air Painting Workshop in the Rocky Mountains


  • Okanagan Arts: News, Views and Reviews



    VISUAL ARTS


    Cool Arts Community Art Project

    The COOL ARTS crew invite you to join us on Tugboat Beach at Waterfront Park during the Fat Cat Childrenís Festival on Saturday June 12 starting at 11:00 am, to make a sandcastle in the shape of a really big SPIRAL.  

    This is ephemeral eco art, using natural materials that will naturally disappear back to where it came from- the beach. Our SPIRAL will be about 40 feet in diameter, and made with sand, water and hands to pat the sand into shape.

    Sometimes art isnít about objects that stay forever, sometimes art is about the process; who we are, what we do and how we work together as a community. And this process is about you, the people who come to make our sand SPIRAL.  So join us for some fun and some sandcastle building! We will be documenting our day and the photos will become part of the city of Kelownaís public art collection. You can find us at the north end of Tugboat Beach next to the bird sanctuary starting at 11:00 am.

    With funding from the public art committee and generous sponsorship from Hannaís Lounge and Grill, the Cool Arts crew along with Lori Mairs are celebrating community through the building of this piece of ephemeral art.

    For more information about this project please contact Lori Mairs at: 250-764-8335 or email at art@lorimairs.com.

    Cool Arts is a not-for-profit society, and is dedicated to providing fine arts opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities living in the Central Okanagan. For more information about Cool Arts, visit our web site at www.coolarts.ca or email info@coolarts.ca.
    08 Jun 2010

    PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS TO ESTABLISH ARTS FUND IN KELOWNA

    Photography graduates at Centre for Arts and Technology are hosting a wine and cheese photography exhibition and live auction at Rotary Centre for the Arts to kick off their initiative to establish a Fund to support student artists in Kelowna.

    Megan Hartridge says, “The struggle of emerging or student artists is that often the awareness is hard to come by and funding is scarce. These artists contribute much to our community, and recent cuts to funding have made it more difficult to be effective. Kelowna has the potential for a very vibrant arts community and that’s what we’re looking to contribute to.” Photography and other visual arts are paramount to our collective history as humans. Photography specifically, is a integral part of our record keeping and freedom of expression.

    A live auction will be held the evening of June 5th 2010 at the Rotary Center for the Arts in Kelowna to raise money to contribute to a local Arts Charity Fund. Seven high quality prints showcasing the diverse beauty of BC will be up for auction. This complimentary evening will be a great opportunity to support local arts and a unique and talented group of photographers.

    The show will go June 5th 2010 at 7pm.  7 photographers will showcase their unique perspectives in their show called, “Pure, Bold, Alive, Photographic Perspectives of British Columbia”. Come out and support this local event! See you there! Admission is free.

    27 May 2010

    REEL ROOTs 2010 An exhibition of short films by emerging First Nations artists

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is one again pleased to host the eighth annual REEL ROOTs exhibition showcasing modern forms of Indigenous storytelling through the portal of transferring and sharing oral Indigenous culture and Knowledge.

    The REEL ROOTs Indigenous Media Art Exhibition of 2010 will be buzzing again with excitement through the screening and exhibition of works in partnership with the Kelowna Art Gallery. An opening reception is scheduled for 7 pm on Wednesday, May 26, and the exhibition will continue until July 18, 2010.

    For almost a decade this successful grassroots Indigenous cultural event has built community dialogue, artist networking opportunities which form new friendships, and partnerships by the sharing of food and culture. The rich cultural history of Canadaís first peoples will be the focus of this event. By expressing their stories through their voices using modern tools, the independent media student works will help to dispel myths and misconceptions about Indigenous media arts.

    REEL ROOTs 2010 showcases indigenous artistic traditions being explored by the indigenous media arts sector. Films by artists of Metis, Cree, Haida, Syilx, Haida, Tilícho, Dehcho and Secwepemc nations will be featured. The Eníowkin Centre, Ullus Collective and the Kelowna Art Gallery invite other partners in the Okanagan to share these stories as they relate to the past, present and future of the First Nations Peoples of Canada exhibited as a legacy for all Canadians to enjoy in spring and summer of 2010.

    This exhibition runs from May 27 to July 18, 2010.
    The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, Mondays 1 pm to 4 pm (July & August). Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors, or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 - 9 pm.
    19 May 2010

    Art In Action: Inside Out


    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to host our 24th annual Art in Action exhibition. This exhibition, on display in the Front Project Space, features approximately 125 works of art created by students in Kelownaís public and private high schools.

    Art in Action: Inside Out  is a celebration of the creativity and artist talent of local youth.  Each year, high-school students are asked to explore their imagination, creating their own creative visions of life through painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and photography.

    Art in Action not only highlights the exemplary art activities taking place in local classrooms, but is also meant to give students an increased sense of pride in their work, while providing a valuable learning experience.  Art in Action is one of our highlight community exhibitions at the Kelowna Art Gallery, as it is always fascinating to see the thoughts and ideas of our youth.

    The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, closed Mondays. Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 ñ 9 pm. www.kelownaartgallery.com
    16 Apr 2010

    Woodhaven Eco Art Project

    A unique artistic endeavor is officially underway in Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park.
     
    It’s called the Woodhaven Eco Art Project and is being facilitated by UBC Okanagan Creative Writing professor Nancy Holmes in collaboration with local artist Lori Mairs.
     
    From April 17 - October 31, 2010, local artists and students, including musicians and performers, writers, sculptors and other visual artists will create multiple works of art in the park and in response to the park.  You are invited to attend the opening ceremony on Saturday, April 17 at 2 PM.
     
    On Saturday, you’ll experience many unique experiences.  Creative Writing students have created downloadable MP3 files for Woodhaven Audio Walks.  There will also be collectable Woodhaven Trading Cards and strange little ‘zines’ to flip through - poems that people can read as they stroll along a path.  There’s even a fridge magnet type log poem that people can use to create their own poetry.  Professors Virginie Magnat and Aleksandra Dulic and Kenneth Newby will be organizing performers and music throughout the park between 2 and 3 PM.
     
    Throughout the year, there will be special guided walks, performances and events and a short film about the art projects and people involved will be created to document the project. Visitors to Woodhaven may find a new ‘natural object’ installation, a new poem or an interesting sculpture.  Each visit could find a new sample of artistic expression, generated from the inspiration of each participating artist.
     
    Regional District Chair Robert Hobson says, “Our Board supports this unique endeavor because it is sensitive to the stewardship and history involved with Woodhaven, which was protected thanks to the vision and environmental activism of Joan and Jim Burbridge.  Hopefully, this history and the wonderful natural surroundings of Woodhaven will inspire the participating artists and we look forward to their creative expressions.  Our Regional Parks encourage people to leave only gentle footprints.  As that forms the focus of this art project ‘that nothing will be left behind’, Woodhaven is the perfect location.”
     
    You can keep up to date with what’s going on by:
    - going to the website:  http://www.woodhaven.ok.ubc.ca/
     - becoming a friend on Facebook at “Woodhaven Project”
     - reading Lori Mairs’ blog at http://blogs.ubc.ca/woodhaven/
     
    The Woodhaven Eco Art Project is funded by the Hampton Fund at the University of British Columbia and is supported by the Regional District of Central Okanagan. 
    13 Apr 2010

    MAAS Monument for MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving



    Artist Geert Maas has been working for months on a sculpture commissioned by MADD Canada at his studio located 250 Reynolds Road in Kelowna. The sculpture is now nearly completed.

    He designed and created a large, visually appealing, and long-lasting monument dedicated to leaving a legacy to victims of impaired driving and to educating the public about the dangers of impaired driving. The monument itself is a large brushed stainless steel circle with a cast bronze relief on it. The images on the artwork are meant to evoke images that coincide with MADD Canada's message; to provide support to victims of drinking and driving and to heighten awareness about this issue. The entire artwork will sit upon a tall base made of exposed aggregate concrete. The monument pays tribute to those loved ones killed or injured in an alcohol related crash, and victims of impaired driving will feel that their loved ones are not forgotten.
    This MADD Legacy Project is meant to inspire hope and offer strength and courage to move forward.

    The monument which will impact many people will be donated by MADD Canada’s Greater Vancouver Chapter to the City of Burnaby. Installation and unveiling in Burnaby to be announced. The ultimate goal of this project is to leave a long-lasting legacy; to recognize and honour the many victims of impaired driving and to raise awareness within the public of the dangers of driving impaired.

    The artist has given careful consideration to the subject matter of the monument since the art work in its entirety should be an inspiration and motivation for the community in which it will be placed. Victims viewing the monument will feel like their loved one is not forgotten and the issue of impaired driving is visible for all to see.

    The stainless steel circle which is the artwork in its entirety represents a giant wheel which is at the heart of MADD Canada's mission to stop drinking and driving. There are four shapes of people's faces (negatives) cut out of this circle. These represent the four people on average killed in Canada every day by impaired driving. These people are the innocent victims of this violent crime. They are missing from the artwork and leave a void in the lives of family and friends. When the monument is viewed from the back, the missing people are there amongst the living. This is meant as a metaphor that although the bodies of the people are gone, they continue to live on in the hearts and memories of friends and families. The four "positives" are the people left behind after the crash. These are the lives that are changed forever, never to return to the way things were before the crash.

    The bronze relief at the bottom of the front of the artwork creates artistic interest at the heart of the piece. The circular nature of the relief again represents a wheel, a steering wheel or the wheels of a vehicle. The circle motif also represents the support and friendship victims can find through organizations like MADD. The circle is like being enveloped in a giant hug after victims and their families have suffered such devastation and loss. There are several images of people in the bronze relief. This represents the many people who are impacted by a single crash. There are friends, family members, support groups, and professionals who deal with the victims and their families after a crash. In between all these people are hollow spots or cut out figures. These are the people who are missing, but never forgotten.

    The MADD Legacy Project is about remembering those affected by impaired driving and about creating public awareness around this issue.

    Last Fall two of Geert Maas bronze sculptures were unveiled at Okanagan College in Vernon and the Tachibana University in Kyoto, Japan commissioned on the occasion of these educational institutions celebrating 20 years of their student exchange programs. The unveiling in Kyoto was attended by the President of Okanagan College, Jim Hamilton, and the artist and his wife Elly Maas.

    On March 4 Geert Maas was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Arts Award from the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan.

    09 Apr 2010

    Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to present the work of local artist Joice M. Hall in a solo show entitled Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall.
    This retrospective exhibition is on display in both gallery spaces at the Kelowna Art Gallery.



    Realist painter Joice M. Hall spent most of her career based in Calgary, before moving to Kelowna to live in 1998. This exhibition is a full-scale survey show that has been organized for the Kelowna Art Gallery by independent curator Patricia Ainslie, who also moved to Kelowna (three years ago) after a long career at Calgaryís Glenbow Museum.

    The show will comprise about forty works, some of which contain multiple units. It will culminate with Hallís recent realist landscapes done in the Okanagan, including her works depicting the Okanagan Mountain fire of 2003. A full-length catalogue will be published with all works reproduced in colour. The show will give local residents and visitors the opportunity to consider the full career of this important and insightful artist who lives in our midst.

    This exhibition runs from March 20 to May 23, 2010. The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, closed Mondays. Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 - 9 pm.
    27 Mar 2010

    Second Exhibition Set to Open at Lake Country Art Gallery

    The Lake Country Art Gallery Society is preparing to open its second show at the new public venue.
    The Art Gallery displays exhibitions by local artists and those from other regions. The popular
    inaugural exhibition, Celebrating Lake Country, included a variety of works by 21 local artists.

    The new themed exhibition, a juried show entitled Sculpture Partners With Abstract, will consist
    of both 2D and 3D works by local artists.
    “The jury was very pleased with the sizeable number of entries for the next exhibition. There were
    many strong and interesting submissions from a number of artists,” said Sharon McCoubrey, Chair
    of the Lake Country Art Gallery Society. “With over eighty works submitted, we believe that the
    selected pieces will create a unique and varied exhibition that showcases the artists talents.”
    Sculpture Partners With Abstract will be available for public viewing during normal Gallery hours
    beginning Thursday March 18. The Gallery will celebrate the new exhibition with a public reception
    on Sunday March 21 beginning at 1:30pm. Winter hours of the Lake Country Art Gallery are
    Thursday – Saturday from 10am – 4pm, and Sundays from 12pm – 4pm.

    A volunteer committee of local artists and residents administers the Lake Country Art Gallery.
    Volunteering is a great way to provide support and meet community members and visitors.
    Memberships are also an essential means of support to ensure the success of the venue. Admission
    to the Lake Country Art Gallery is free so that all have the opportunity to visit, and everyone
    interested in supporting local artists is encouraged to purchase a membership to the Gallery, which
    are very reasonably priced and offer several additional benefits.

    The Mission of the Lake Country Art Gallery is: To celebrate art as an essential part of the human experience,
    enhancing our community through art and art experiences. For more information, or to volunteer, receive a
    membership package, or make a donation, please visit the Gallery at 10356A Bottom Wood Lake
    Rd, email lakecountryartgallery@telus.net or call 250-766-1299. Please also visit their blog
    at http://www.lakecountryartgallery.blogspot.com
    12 Mar 2010

    Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall A Retrospective Exhibition

    March 20 to May 23, 2010

    Image: Joice M. Hall, Cumulus Congestus 1, 2004, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches, private collection, Calgary

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to present the work of local artist Joice M. Hall in a solo show entitled Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall. This retrospective exhibition is on display in both gallery spaces at the Kelowna Art Gallery.

    Realist painter Joice M. Hall spent most of her career based in Calgary, before moving to Kelowna to live in 1998. This exhibition is a full-scale survey show that has been organized for the Kelowna Art Gallery by independent curator Patricia Ainslie, who also moved to Kelowna (three years ago) after a long career at Calgary’s Glenbow Museum.

    The show will comprise about forty works, some of which contain multiple units. It will culminate with Hall’s recent realist landscapes done in the Okanagan, including her works depicting the Okanagan Mountain fire of 2003. A full-length catalogue will be published with all works reproduced in colour. The show will give local residents and visitors the opportunity to consider the full career of this important and insightful artist who lives in our midst.

    This exhibition runs from March 20 to May 23, 2010. The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, closed Mondays. Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 – 9 pm.
    10 Mar 2010

    In The Footsteps Of The Masters - Plein Air Painting Workshop in the Rocky Mountains

    July 16-19, 2010

    In this workshop we will follow in the footsteps of master painters, such as John Singer Sargent, Carl Rungius, Edgar Payne and J.E.H. MacDonald, through their travels of the Canadian Rockies from Bow Lake to Lake OíHara.

    We will be painting outdoors at Bow Lake and Lake O'Hara with stops at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.

    At Bow Lake we will paint in the same places as Carl Rungius did, to study what he saw and why it is important to study the masters to better understand our own work. At Lake OíHara we will stand at Sargent's Point and paint one of the most beautiful, and most painted, places on earth. Painters from around the world have come to paint and study these wonders of mother nature. We will study the works of some of these artists and then learn to create our own interpretation of these majestic places.

    For more details visit http://www.jerrymarkham.com/workshops.html or call Leah at 250-558-0350.
    10 Mar 2010

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    A Day With Carlson & Business Of Art Workshop
    Dates: Saturday, April 24 to Sunday, April 25 - 9 am to 4 pm

    Location: Rotary Centre For The Arts, 421 Cawston Avenue, Kelowna, BC

    Typically there are either painting workshops or workshops on how to promote your work, but not the combination. Jerry & Leah Markham offer a 2-day workshop that encompasses both. How it works is half of the group paints with Jerry the first day while the other half is with Leah learning the business of art, then the groups switch the following day. Here are more details:

    A Day With Carlson ñ taught by Jerry Markham (http://www.jerrymarkham.com)
     
    In this one day workshop we will be delving into ideas John F. Carlson lays out in his timeless book John Carlsonís Guide to Landscape Painting. Carlsonís ideas have been used for years by many painters and yet I hear often that his book is difficult to read, which it is.  So I have developed some exercises to help simplify some of the main points in his book.  We will begin with a painting demonstration to illustrate what we will be learning, followed by a few drawing exercises then a painting session of your own to further illustrate the concepts of Composition, Value, and the important difference between Atmospheric Perspective and Linear Perspective. 
     
    This class is suitable for beginners to advanced painters in acrylic, watercolour and oil as it involves tools and information that will help make your landscape paintings more dynamic and authentic no matter which medium you use.   
     
     
    Business Of Art ñ taught by Leah Markham (http://www.artmarketingbusiness.com)
     
    This workshop encompasses an overview and introduction of a number of topics that contribute to the success of an artist. Topics covered will include:
     
    - how to build an effective website and online marketing strategy
    - marketing materials every artist needs and how to use them
    - techniques to promote your work & places your work can be shown
    - how to approach galleries
    - what to expect from galleries and what they expect from you
    - cultivating relationships with collectors
    - the importance of keeping an inventory of your work
     
    Cost: $125 / person + GST

    Registration: For more information or to register visit http://www.artmarketingbusiness.com/workshops.html#3 or call Leah at 250-558-0358 or email info@artmarketingbusiness.com
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    10 Mar 2010

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    Cool Arts Community Art Project

    The COOL ARTS crew invite you to join us on Tugboat Beach at Waterfront Park during the Fat Cat Childrenís Festival on Saturday June 12 starting at 11:00 am, to make a sandcastle in the shape of a really big SPIRAL.  

    This is ephemeral eco art, using natural materials that will naturally disappear back to where it came from- the beach. Our SPIRAL will be about 40 feet in diameter, and made with sand, water and hands to pat the sand into shape.

    Sometimes art isnít about objects that stay forever, sometimes art is about the process; who we are, what we do and how we work together as a community. And this process is about you, the people who come to make our sand SPIRAL.  So join us for some fun and some sandcastle building! We will be documenting our day and the photos will become part of the city of Kelownaís public art collection. You can find us at the north end of Tugboat Beach next to the bird sanctuary starting at 11:00 am.

    With funding from the public art committee and generous sponsorship from Hannaís Lounge and Grill, the Cool Arts crew along with Lori Mairs are celebrating community through the building of this piece of ephemeral art.

    For more information about this project please contact Lori Mairs at: 250-764-8335 or email at art@lorimairs.com.

    Cool Arts is a not-for-profit society, and is dedicated to providing fine arts opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities living in the Central Okanagan. For more information about Cool Arts, visit our web site at www.coolarts.ca or email info@coolarts.ca.
    08 Jun 2010

    slamcamp 2010

    Do you Slam?

    You hear it all the time in the music you listen to. Raw, unscripted poetry. This is the essence of slam. Slam poetry has quickly become the voice of our generation.

    Have you ever wanted to learn the art of slam, and develop your voice as a writer? Here is your chance. UBC Okanagan is hosting a Poetry Slam Camp at the UBC Okanagan campus from July 23rd-25th.

    Enter to be one of only twenty poets between the ages of 15 and 18. If selected, youíll stay in residence at UBC Okanagan and get the opportunity to write with and learn from university students and local poets. You will have the chance to perform your work with other students at a slam competition and be eligible to win some amazing prizes.
    It gets better: you will also get to attend a poetry slam featuring some of the Okanaganís finest poets and spoken word talent. You will be able to connect with other writers, explore the UBC Okanagan campus, and learn the art of slam poetry.

    The Poetry Slam Camp is sponsored by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan and Canwestís Raise a Reader program.

    Enter by June 7th, 2010. Pick up your pen and paper or your video camera and write or record a poem. Next, email your poem or a send a YouTube link to creativestudies.ubco@ubc.ca. Only twenty of the best poets will be selected. So the question is: do you slam?

    Contact Information:

    Ryan Trafananko: Poetry Slam Camp Coordinator.
    Email: poetryslamcamp2010@gmail.com

    Debbie Henderson: Poetry Slam Camp Coordinator.
    Email: poetryslamcamp2010@gmail.com

    Nancy Holmes: Head of the Department of Creative Studies
    UBC Okanagan 3333 University Way, Kelowna B.C. V1V 1V7
    Email: nancy.holmes@ubc.ca
    05 Jun 2010

    Poetry Slam Camp for High School Students

    UBC Okanagan is hosting a poetry slam camp for high school students at the UBC Okanagan campus from July 23rd-25th.

    Eligible poets should be between 15 and 18 years of age and live in the southern interior of British Columbia. Deadline to apply for a seat: Monday, June 7, 2010.  See website: http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/creative/events/slamcamp.htm

    The Poetry Slam Camp is a great opportunity for high school students to harness their creativity by learning the craft of poetry. During the Poetry Slam Camp, students will learn about slam poetry, develop their material, and practice performance skills with the help of poets and educators. Students will also have the opportunity to attend a slam performance featuring the Okanagan’s finest poets and perform at a slam of their own.

    The Poetry Slam Camp will be two fun filled days of writing, performance and learning. Once selected, the student will arrive on the UBC Okanagan campus in Kelowna after lunch on July 23rd and attend activities and performances throughout the day. Students will get a taste of campus life by staying overnight in the dorms at UBC and will be fed on campus. On July 24th students will workshop their new poems and in the evening with compete in a slam of their own.

    Students will depart from the UBC Okanagan campus on July 25th after a breakfast and wrap up session. Workshops and activities will be instructed by UBC Okanagan students and local poets. This is also a great opportunity for students to explore the UBC Okanagan campus and the great courses it has to offer.

    Each selected poet will be required to pay a $50 fee for the two day camp. This includes accommodation, meals, and classes.

    This slam is sponsored by the Department of Creative Studies in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies and Canwest’s Raise a Reader program.  

    For more information contact:
    Ryan Trafananko: Poetry Slam Camp Coordinator.
    Email: poetryslamcamp2010@gmail.com
    Debbie Henderson: Poetry Slam Camp Coordinator.
    Email: poetryslamcamp2010@gmail.com
    Nancy Holmes: Head of the Department of Creative Studies
    UBC Okanagan 3333 University Way, Kelowna B.C. V1V 1V7
    Email: nancy.holmes@ubc.ca
    28 May 2010

    Shane Koyczan From the Olympic Stage to Kelowna

    The man who defined Canada during the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, with his heart-melting, soul-stirring poem “We Are More” is coming to Kelowna to help raise funds for Project Literacy

    Shane Koyczan has added Kelowna to his sold-out Cross Canada Tour. At 8 p.m. June 25, Shane will perform his spell-binding one-man show at Rotary Centre for the Arts Mary Irwin Theatre to help raise funds to support Project Literacy Kelowna Society’s free adult education program. Tickets are $35, available at SelectYourTickets.com (box office 250-717-5304).
     
    Shane was already an international star when the average Canadian discovered the power of his talent during the Vancouver Olympics. As millions sat spellbound, relatively few had seen this superstar of poetry in action or knew that he has shared the stage with legendary poets Maya Angelou, Quincy Troupe, Utah Phillips and Margaret Atwood.
     
     “We are honoured that Shane Koyczan will lend his voice to our cause,” says Barb Hagan, Executive Director of Project Literacy.”Every year the need for our literacy services grows, but securing adequate funding to meet the demand is extremely challenging.”
     
    Since 1986 Project Literacy’s fully trained volunteer tutors have provided one-to-one instruction in reading, writing, math and English language to over 4,000 men and women; enabling them to find work, enroll in further education, enter trades and apprenticeship programs and improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. With Shane Koyczan’s help, this year Project Literacy will assist more than five hundred individuals to reach their literacy goals.
     
    With his rhythmic verse in high gear, Shane Koyczan navigates his audience through social and political territory with a furious honesty and a tender humanity that has brought audiences to their feet in New York, London, Edinburgh, Sydney and Los Angeles. Winner of the U.S. Slam Poetry Championship and the Canadian Spoken Word Olympics, Koyczan is truly an extraordinary talent that has blown the dust off of the designation “poet”.
    28 May 2010

    PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS TO ESTABLISH ARTS FUND IN KELOWNA

    Photography graduates at Centre for Arts and Technology are hosting a wine and cheese photography exhibition and live auction at Rotary Centre for the Arts to kick off their initiative to establish a Fund to support student artists in Kelowna.

    Megan Hartridge says, “The struggle of emerging or student artists is that often the awareness is hard to come by and funding is scarce. These artists contribute much to our community, and recent cuts to funding have made it more difficult to be effective. Kelowna has the potential for a very vibrant arts community and that’s what we’re looking to contribute to.” Photography and other visual arts are paramount to our collective history as humans. Photography specifically, is a integral part of our record keeping and freedom of expression.

    A live auction will be held the evening of June 5th 2010 at the Rotary Center for the Arts in Kelowna to raise money to contribute to a local Arts Charity Fund. Seven high quality prints showcasing the diverse beauty of BC will be up for auction. This complimentary evening will be a great opportunity to support local arts and a unique and talented group of photographers.

    The show will go June 5th 2010 at 7pm.  7 photographers will showcase their unique perspectives in their show called, “Pure, Bold, Alive, Photographic Perspectives of British Columbia”. Come out and support this local event! See you there! Admission is free.

    27 May 2010

    REEL ROOTs 2010 An exhibition of short films by emerging First Nations artists

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is one again pleased to host the eighth annual REEL ROOTs exhibition showcasing modern forms of Indigenous storytelling through the portal of transferring and sharing oral Indigenous culture and Knowledge.

    The REEL ROOTs Indigenous Media Art Exhibition of 2010 will be buzzing again with excitement through the screening and exhibition of works in partnership with the Kelowna Art Gallery. An opening reception is scheduled for 7 pm on Wednesday, May 26, and the exhibition will continue until July 18, 2010.

    For almost a decade this successful grassroots Indigenous cultural event has built community dialogue, artist networking opportunities which form new friendships, and partnerships by the sharing of food and culture. The rich cultural history of Canadaís first peoples will be the focus of this event. By expressing their stories through their voices using modern tools, the independent media student works will help to dispel myths and misconceptions about Indigenous media arts.

    REEL ROOTs 2010 showcases indigenous artistic traditions being explored by the indigenous media arts sector. Films by artists of Metis, Cree, Haida, Syilx, Haida, Tilícho, Dehcho and Secwepemc nations will be featured. The Eníowkin Centre, Ullus Collective and the Kelowna Art Gallery invite other partners in the Okanagan to share these stories as they relate to the past, present and future of the First Nations Peoples of Canada exhibited as a legacy for all Canadians to enjoy in spring and summer of 2010.

    This exhibition runs from May 27 to July 18, 2010.
    The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, Mondays 1 pm to 4 pm (July & August). Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors, or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 - 9 pm.
    19 May 2010

    Art In Action: Inside Out


    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to host our 24th annual Art in Action exhibition. This exhibition, on display in the Front Project Space, features approximately 125 works of art created by students in Kelownaís public and private high schools.

    Art in Action: Inside Out  is a celebration of the creativity and artist talent of local youth.  Each year, high-school students are asked to explore their imagination, creating their own creative visions of life through painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and photography.

    Art in Action not only highlights the exemplary art activities taking place in local classrooms, but is also meant to give students an increased sense of pride in their work, while providing a valuable learning experience.  Art in Action is one of our highlight community exhibitions at the Kelowna Art Gallery, as it is always fascinating to see the thoughts and ideas of our youth.

    The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, closed Mondays. Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 ñ 9 pm. www.kelownaartgallery.com
    16 Apr 2010

    Benefit concert helps to improve the lives of women and children in the Okanagan

    GET JAZZED
    Tuesday, April 27, 2010
    Kelowna Community Theatre | 7.30 pm


    GET JAZZED with JackОe Guillou and Robert Fine in a benefit concert for NOW CANADA at the Kelowna Community Theatre on Tuesday, April 27.

    >From jazzy tunes and classic favourites, music from the Great American Song Book will entertain audiences in an evening of live vocal performances.

    Fine’s crooner style has wowed audiences with his interpretations of old blues eyes, while Guillou’s vintage vocals has won her the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award at the 2009 Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

    A benefit concert for NOW Canada, proceeds from GET JAZZED will go towards restoring the Alexandra Gardner Women and Children Safe Centre (AG House) in Kelowna. “The AG House is accessed by women and children who are working towards overcoming mental health challenges; are struggling with addictions or fleeing abuse,” explains Liz Talbott, Executive Director of NOW Canada.  “There are also others who have been displaced, lost their jobs, have no way of making ends meet and require assistance to get back on their feet. This 20-bed shelter is a non-judgmental environment, offering clean beds, nutritious meals, clothing and referrals to various community supports,” she explains.  Since opening its doors in 2002, the AG House has operated at full capacity and serviced nearly 5,000 women and children.
     
    For Katherine Kopec, the AG House transformed her life. Living with physical abuse and addiction for more than half her life she explains, “The AG House gave me trust and hope, neither of which I had before. It’s a beautiful place. The support and staff believed in me and because of them, I regained my dignity”. Surviving a volatile relationship of physical and mental abuse, violence and addiction, Kopec is a survivor and a success story of how the AG House changed her life. ”It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” she says.
     
    For Guillou, she’s returning to Kelowna to perform this benefit concert and explains, "I firmly believe that everyone deserves a second chance, especially the women and children that are being reintegrated back into society with the help of the programs and housing provided by NOW Canada.  As a part-time Kelowna resident I like to work within the community itself and with organizations that people aren't generally aware of.  There any many unfortunate issues and problems that women and children face from day to day, and these are taking place in all neighbourhoods.  Luckily for some, they have a chance to change this, to improve or seek comfort whatever they need to lead a better life. I think it's amazing that NOW Canada can provide support, and I would like to personally bring an awareness of this much needed program for all women and children who need help and assistance in changing their lives for the better," she says.

    GET JAZZED is a collaboration between JackОe Guillou and Robert Fine. Performing traditional classics made popular by legendary vocalists Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee and Carmen McRae with a selection of fresh new original pieces. The concert will entertain and help improve the quality of life for homeless women and children in the Okanagan.

    Tickets for GET JAZZED are available at Select Your Tickets by calling 250.762.5050 or visit selectyourtickets.com.
    13 Apr 2010

    Woodhaven Eco Art Project

    A unique artistic endeavor is officially underway in Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park.
     
    It’s called the Woodhaven Eco Art Project and is being facilitated by UBC Okanagan Creative Writing professor Nancy Holmes in collaboration with local artist Lori Mairs.
     
    From April 17 - October 31, 2010, local artists and students, including musicians and performers, writers, sculptors and other visual artists will create multiple works of art in the park and in response to the park.  You are invited to attend the opening ceremony on Saturday, April 17 at 2 PM.
     
    On Saturday, you’ll experience many unique experiences.  Creative Writing students have created downloadable MP3 files for Woodhaven Audio Walks.  There will also be collectable Woodhaven Trading Cards and strange little ‘zines’ to flip through - poems that people can read as they stroll along a path.  There’s even a fridge magnet type log poem that people can use to create their own poetry.  Professors Virginie Magnat and Aleksandra Dulic and Kenneth Newby will be organizing performers and music throughout the park between 2 and 3 PM.
     
    Throughout the year, there will be special guided walks, performances and events and a short film about the art projects and people involved will be created to document the project. Visitors to Woodhaven may find a new ‘natural object’ installation, a new poem or an interesting sculpture.  Each visit could find a new sample of artistic expression, generated from the inspiration of each participating artist.
     
    Regional District Chair Robert Hobson says, “Our Board supports this unique endeavor because it is sensitive to the stewardship and history involved with Woodhaven, which was protected thanks to the vision and environmental activism of Joan and Jim Burbridge.  Hopefully, this history and the wonderful natural surroundings of Woodhaven will inspire the participating artists and we look forward to their creative expressions.  Our Regional Parks encourage people to leave only gentle footprints.  As that forms the focus of this art project ‘that nothing will be left behind’, Woodhaven is the perfect location.”
     
    You can keep up to date with what’s going on by:
    - going to the website:  http://www.woodhaven.ok.ubc.ca/
     - becoming a friend on Facebook at “Woodhaven Project”
     - reading Lori Mairs’ blog at http://blogs.ubc.ca/woodhaven/
     
    The Woodhaven Eco Art Project is funded by the Hampton Fund at the University of British Columbia and is supported by the Regional District of Central Okanagan. 
    13 Apr 2010

    Theatre Kelowna Society presents "Distracted"

    by Lisa Loomer directed by Linda Beaven

    "Distracted" is a new comedy about a family with ADD. The child (Jesse) is the one that is diagnosed with ADD, but the whole family, and the entire community that they live in suffer from it.

    The play is from the mother's perspective, molding the world around her in order to tell her story. At times she loses control of her own story, and at others she is distracted by the technology of everyday life--Instant Messaging, Cell Phones, CNN, Google, Zappos.com and Ritalin can definitely take a toll on a family. Come join us on her journey to do right by her child.

    Cast:
    Mama:   Allison McFarlane
    Dad: Andrew Glass
    Jesse: Konar Sanderson
    Dr. Savala/Waitress/Carolyn: Deborah Ward
    Mrs. Holly/Dr. Waller/Nurse: Debby Helf
    DR. Broder/Dr. Jinks/Dr. Karnes: Roger Ward
    Sherry: Trina Glass
    Vera: Aletha Currie
    Natalie: Sarah Macfarlane

    Okanagan College Theatre
    1000 KLO Rd.
    Evenings 8PM May 6, 7, 8, & 12, 13, 14.
    Special Mother's Day Matinee: Sunday May 9th at 2PM

    TICKETS
    http://www.selectyourtickets.com 250-762-5050
    Prospera Place Box Office & at the door
    Adult $20; Senior $18; Student $10 (plus service charge)
    10% discount for groups 10+

    warning: adult content and language

    info: http://www.theatrekelowna.org
    250-862-8673
    10 Apr 2010

    MAAS Monument for MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving



    Artist Geert Maas has been working for months on a sculpture commissioned by MADD Canada at his studio located 250 Reynolds Road in Kelowna. The sculpture is now nearly completed.

    He designed and created a large, visually appealing, and long-lasting monument dedicated to leaving a legacy to victims of impaired driving and to educating the public about the dangers of impaired driving. The monument itself is a large brushed stainless steel circle with a cast bronze relief on it. The images on the artwork are meant to evoke images that coincide with MADD Canada's message; to provide support to victims of drinking and driving and to heighten awareness about this issue. The entire artwork will sit upon a tall base made of exposed aggregate concrete. The monument pays tribute to those loved ones killed or injured in an alcohol related crash, and victims of impaired driving will feel that their loved ones are not forgotten.
    This MADD Legacy Project is meant to inspire hope and offer strength and courage to move forward.

    The monument which will impact many people will be donated by MADD Canada’s Greater Vancouver Chapter to the City of Burnaby. Installation and unveiling in Burnaby to be announced. The ultimate goal of this project is to leave a long-lasting legacy; to recognize and honour the many victims of impaired driving and to raise awareness within the public of the dangers of driving impaired.

    The artist has given careful consideration to the subject matter of the monument since the art work in its entirety should be an inspiration and motivation for the community in which it will be placed. Victims viewing the monument will feel like their loved one is not forgotten and the issue of impaired driving is visible for all to see.

    The stainless steel circle which is the artwork in its entirety represents a giant wheel which is at the heart of MADD Canada's mission to stop drinking and driving. There are four shapes of people's faces (negatives) cut out of this circle. These represent the four people on average killed in Canada every day by impaired driving. These people are the innocent victims of this violent crime. They are missing from the artwork and leave a void in the lives of family and friends. When the monument is viewed from the back, the missing people are there amongst the living. This is meant as a metaphor that although the bodies of the people are gone, they continue to live on in the hearts and memories of friends and families. The four "positives" are the people left behind after the crash. These are the lives that are changed forever, never to return to the way things were before the crash.

    The bronze relief at the bottom of the front of the artwork creates artistic interest at the heart of the piece. The circular nature of the relief again represents a wheel, a steering wheel or the wheels of a vehicle. The circle motif also represents the support and friendship victims can find through organizations like MADD. The circle is like being enveloped in a giant hug after victims and their families have suffered such devastation and loss. There are several images of people in the bronze relief. This represents the many people who are impacted by a single crash. There are friends, family members, support groups, and professionals who deal with the victims and their families after a crash. In between all these people are hollow spots or cut out figures. These are the people who are missing, but never forgotten.

    The MADD Legacy Project is about remembering those affected by impaired driving and about creating public awareness around this issue.

    Last Fall two of Geert Maas bronze sculptures were unveiled at Okanagan College in Vernon and the Tachibana University in Kyoto, Japan commissioned on the occasion of these educational institutions celebrating 20 years of their student exchange programs. The unveiling in Kyoto was attended by the President of Okanagan College, Jim Hamilton, and the artist and his wife Elly Maas.

    On March 4 Geert Maas was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Arts Award from the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan.

    09 Apr 2010

    Jazz Concert Benefits Women & Children

     Tickets to the hottest Jazz concert in town are now on sale.

    GET JAZZED is a benefit concert for NOW Canada featuring Kelowna's Robert Fine and Jackee Guillou.  

    On Tuesday, April 27th the collaboration of this dynamic duo will take audiences on a musical journey, infusing jazzy rhythms and silky vocals that will feature classic favourites from the Great American Songbook.

    Fine's crooner style has wowed audiences with his interpretations of the legendary Frank Sinatra. Guillou, a recipient of the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award at the 2009 Vancouver International Jazz Festival returns to her Kelowna roots and brings her vintage vocals and fresh style.

    GET JAZZED is a benefit concert for NOW Canada in an effort to raise funds for the Alexandra Gardner Safe House.

    Get your tickets and GET JAZZED today! Tickets are now on sale and available through Select Your Tickets by calling 250.762.5050 or visit www.selectyourtickts.com.
    06 Apr 2010

    LOOKING FOR TRADITIONAL MUSICIANS

    The Princeton Traditional Music Festival will take place August 20-22, 2010.  We present traditional music from southern BC and other traditional musics.  If you know of any makers of traditional music in your area we would really like to hear from them.  The festival is free, and is entirely volunteer-run: no one is paid, including performers (though we can cover some travel expenses). In 2009 year we presented over 100 performers and we hope to do the same this year.

    What is traditional music?  A really good example is Celtic music.  Or it could be songs made by loggers, miners, sailors, settlers, or songs made for fun about local characters and communities.

    If you know of any performers in your area who make this kind of music could you please send us their contact information or have them get in touch with us directly?

    Rika Ruebsaat
    President, Princeton Traditional Music Society
    Past President, Princeton & District Arts Council
    250-295-6010
    Princetonfestival@telus.net
    Box 2451, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0
    Website - www.princetonfestival.wordpress.com
    06 Apr 2010

    Allan Mow, Journalist Accused of Fabricating Mystery, Dies at 66

    Allan Mow, who in the 1980s achieved national prominence as the author of an indigenous ghost story that captivated the reading public in the province of British Columbia, where many continue to believe the story was not fiction, died on Thursday, March 18 in the capital city of Victoria, where he had lived since 1985. He was 64.

    A spokesperson for the Victoria Police Department said Mr. Mow's body had been recovered from the Victoria Harbour, and that the Regional Coroner's office had ruled it a suicide. Mr. Mow's sister, Regina Diane Marias, of Victoria, said her brother had suffered from depression and paranoia for most of his life, as a result of the 1980 events from which he first earned his reputation. Mr. Mow had been missing since March 17, when he attended a gala promoted as "The St. Patrick's All Night Long Boat Party" aboard the Victoria Princess Cruise Ship.

    It is presumed that Mr. Mow jumped overboard, as officials for Victoria Princess did not notice or report any altercation, nor indeed note Mr. Mow's disappearance until contacted by Victoria Police. A flyer for the cruise, as well as the circled question, "Do You Need a Girlfriend?" in an advertisement for Seductresses Unlimited, a local escort agency, were found by Ms. Marias in Mr. Mow's downtown bachelor suite, who searched the apartment when her brother failed to return her phone calls for several days. Citing the agency's policy of client confidentiality, a spokesperson for Seductresses Unlimited said she could not confirm police allegations that Mr. Mow was accompanied on the cruise by a woman known to operate under the alias "Candi". Before disconnecting she added, unprovoked, "Can I just say, though? - poor Allan! He'd been with us from the beginning."

    A semi-reclusive author who developed a national cult following shortly after working as a news reporter for The Daily Clarion, then a daily, now a weekly, in Valley Southside, British Columbia, Mr. Mow is credited as the inspiration for what emerged as a national anti-property development movement, which raised awareness of the importance of preserving the architectural heritage of small towns across Canada. In The Frollett Homestead, a five-part series published in 1980, Mr. Mow claimed to have met, and interviewed, an octogenarian "witch doctor", named Tobias Elliott, who Mow believed to be the last living descendant of a now-extinct, migratory aboriginal tribe called the Chippeweyans.

    In Mr. Mow's story, the tribe had unique psychokinetic powers which they employed for many uses, including the resistance of real estate development. Soundly debunked by historians across the country, many of whom pointed out that Mow had simply borrowed, and loosely modified, the name of his fictional tribe from the Chipewyan, a tribe of Dene, who presently number approximately 11,000. The Frollett Homestead circulated for years amongst conspiracy theorists and fans of the paranormal, not as a work of fiction, but as a historical document. Many of his detractors have long maintained that it was Mr. Mow himself, who began photocopying and distributing the story to such groups, a claim the author denied repeatedly.

    The more dedicated amongst Mow's followers called themselves "Homesteaders" and organized, particularly during the movement's apex from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s, national conventions, where they speculated on the actual, physical location of the Homestead, and sold a range of Frollett Homestead-inspired paraphernalia, including a now-legendary T-shirt that bears Mow's likeness and the legend "Mow Knows"; in 2007, one such shirt, from the original 1984 screen printing, sold for a record $1,650, on the Internet auction site eBay to an unknown buyer in Fort Nelson, BC.

    Mow was surprised by the popularity of his story, and maintained a critical distance from it. Although he never disavowed its authenticity, neither did he formally offer his support of the Homesteaders movement, which lobbied the City of Valley Southside, unsuccessfully, to name May 15 "Allan Mow Day". That date has achieved a special place in Homesteaders lore as the date of publication of the last of the five installments, and the last day, in 1980, of Mow's employment at The Daily Clarion. For "professional misconduct" Mr. Mow's employment was terminated by the newspaper, which has maintained official silence about Mow's tenure there, and the newspaper's subsequent vilification by Homesteaders, who have accused The Daily Clarion of destroying, or concealing, evidence that would verify the claims made by Mr. Mow in The Frollett Homestead. The Daily Clarion did not respond to interview requests.

    In contrast to his public reputation, as a man possessed of many of the same mystical skills attributed to Tobias Elliott, and a man believed by his followers to be able to alter destiny psychokinetically, Allan Mow was described by friends as difficult and uncommunicative, a long-haired barfly who spent the majority of his time altering the patterns of his own mind, usually through gin. Beloved by bartenders throughout Victoria, and also in Vancouver, where he travelled occasionally to speak at Homesteaders conventions, Mr. Mow did not again obtain regular employment as a journalist following his termination from The Daily Clarion. From 1981 until 1987 he worked irregularly as a roofer in Victoria, until freelance writing, usually related to The Frollett Homestead, and speaking fees from conventions, both the result of the persistence and growth of the Homesteaders movement, supplied Mr. Mow with enough income to quit this line of work. In an interview with the Victoria Times Colonist in 1992, on the tenth year anniversary of the publication of The Frollett Homestead, Mr. Mow said, "F--- it, I was too old to roof anymore anyway. Have you ever tried it? S--- gets scary up there."

    Born in Victoria in 1946, Allan Mow attended the University of Victoria for a year in 1965 before moving to Regina, Saskatchewan where he obtained an undergraduate degree in journalism from The University of Regina, in 1968. He worked on small- to mid-sized weekly, and, later, daily, newspapers without distinction, save for the Frollett affair, for the duration of his short-lived journalistic career. According to Ms. Marias, most of his writing jobs were terminated by the employer for insubordination, earning him a reputation that forced him to the otherwise unremarkable Valley Southside where a combination of sunshine, and, briefly, a girlfriend, gave Mr. Mow the most fruitful, if short-lived, period of his career.

    "Allan, may he rest in peace, didn't even know himself anymore what was true or not," Ms. Marias said. "Let's be honest: my brother drowned himself to death about twenty years before he drowned himself to death. Witch doctor? Please. What would I say to all of those people who think he was? Pull your head out, I guess? Pull your head out, and get a job. Oh, and stop phoning me." She went on to explain that she had had to change her telephone number more times than she would "care to count," as a result of overzealous Homesteaders seeking biographical information, or updated contact information, about her brother.

    In addition to Ms. Marias, Mr. Mow is survived by three grandchildren.

    A long-rumoured book based on the original stories, written by Okanagan College professor Colin Snowsell, will be published in mid-April.

    01 Apr 2010

    Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to present the work of local artist Joice M. Hall in a solo show entitled Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall.
    This retrospective exhibition is on display in both gallery spaces at the Kelowna Art Gallery.



    Realist painter Joice M. Hall spent most of her career based in Calgary, before moving to Kelowna to live in 1998. This exhibition is a full-scale survey show that has been organized for the Kelowna Art Gallery by independent curator Patricia Ainslie, who also moved to Kelowna (three years ago) after a long career at Calgaryís Glenbow Museum.

    The show will comprise about forty works, some of which contain multiple units. It will culminate with Hallís recent realist landscapes done in the Okanagan, including her works depicting the Okanagan Mountain fire of 2003. A full-length catalogue will be published with all works reproduced in colour. The show will give local residents and visitors the opportunity to consider the full career of this important and insightful artist who lives in our midst.

    This exhibition runs from March 20 to May 23, 2010. The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, closed Mondays. Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 - 9 pm.
    27 Mar 2010

    In Concert at Gallery Vertigo: Trevor Caswell

    Friday March 26th @ 8PM
    Tickets available in advance at Gallery Vertigo, #1-3001-31st Street, Vernon, BC,  or at the door.

    "a very talented, professional performer... He captured the audience and held them with his superb musicianship and beautiful lyrics." -Shann Gowan
    Music Director, Long Day‚s Night Music Fest.  Swift Current, SK

    "An absolute pleasure to hear live, this very talented songwriter is reminiscent of Bob Dylan, weaving great tales and melodies with his guitar and harmonica." -Julie Fowler, Artistic Director, Artswells Festival of All Things Art, Wells, BC

    „I'd never heard of Trevor Caswell before but I'm sure everyone there will remember his name..."
    -Glenna Turnbull, Capital News, Kelowna, BC

    "Trevor's unique style & well crafted material captivated the audience at The Moonshine. We look forward to a return engagement..." -John Marlatt
    Prop. The Moonshine Café Oakville, ON

    "an engaging, humorous and thoughtful songsmith and poet..." -Paul Crawford, AGSO Curator

    A guitar and a harmonica, a scorching summer and a cool basement, Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" in the CD player, a Bob Dylan songbook on a music stand, and endless Beatles songs in the DNA (having heard them since the womb)- it's the setting and the stew for Trevor Caswell and his music. A glorious summer where a friend left that harmonica behind, so Trevor wandered down to the local music shop and picked up a rack to hold it the way his heroes did. Nothing to do then, but head out onto the streets and start busking- banging and hollering! Dylan, Guthrie, Leadbelly- those classic folk styles served him well, and continue to do so...

    Trevor's original music is highlighted by disarming, socially conscious lyrics alongside great songcraft and a touch of sly humour. His CD releases include 2001's "Serenade", 2003's "Another Something", and 2006's "Mr. Poirier". Each release has built upon that singer/songwriter model with Mr. Poirier branching out into 1960s pop territory and being described as having "a delightfully progressive, gentle feel". The winter of 2008 brought the well received "Folksinger Blues" featuring a group of acoustic blues songs that Trevor had been performing as encores to enthusiastic crowds over the prior years.

    "An absolute pleasure to hear live" Trevor's performances can range from intimate solo shows to appearances with a full band including violin and cello. With the addition of a National steel guitar and that ever present harmonica, seeing Trevor live is a definite treat. Currently basing himself out of Kamloops, B.C. he tours between that province and Ontario, and his songs can be heard on radio across Canada. His festival appearances have included the Komasket Music Festival, Artswells Festival, Morfee Mountain Music Festival and the Long Day's Night Music Festival. 
    22 Mar 2010

    Invocations: Readings for Ryga

    Wild Blue Yonder

    Okanagan ArtsOkanagan Institute Express
    Okanagan Arts
    Invocations
    Okanagan Arts
    READINGS FOR RYGA
    » Thursday 25 March 2010 | 5 pm
    » The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue

    An informal afternoon hour showcasing ideas and people in the Okanagan creative economy. Join us as writer and editor Sean Johnston, artist Jude Clarke and special guests introduce the new issue of the groundbreaking literary publication Ryga: A Journal of Provocations.

    » $2 at the door. Refreshments are available at a modest cost.
    » Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE


    Writers Explore the Imagined Weight of Art at Ryga Celebration

    "How pleasant it would be to live where a farm produced a living, where a man could find warmth and comfort in the companionship of a good tractor, and plants which grew tall and strong, where there was no more fruitless labour in working the soil by hand, or tormenting horses until they were just as weary and sick as the men who drove and guided them, where there were proper schools, and a kid didn't have to begin working the moment he stood upright. Where there was no fear and no want to twist and damage the soul and body of man." So wrote George Ryga in his 1963 novel Hungry Hills, which last year was made into a feature film. An outspoken and perceptive social critic and writer, Ryga has inspired generations through his novels, plays and broadcasting work.

    Ryga: A Journal of ProvocationsRyga: A Journal of ProvocationsOn Thursday, March 25th at 5 pm the ongoing weekly Okanagan Institute Express series at the Bohemian Café presents Invocations: Readings for Ryga. Join us as writer and editor Sean Johnston, artist Jude Clarke and special guests introduce the new issue of the groundbreaking literary publication Ryga: A Journal of Provocations.

    This is the first in a series of readings, performances, publications and other initiatives planned for the coming months as part of the Ryga Festival of the Arts presented by the Okanagan Institute and the Ryga Initiative at Okanagan College.

    These initiatives are a result of the seeds George Ryga planted in the rich soil of the creative imagination of the Okanagan and Canada. Whether directly through his own work, or indirectly through the incredible impact his art in all forms had in defining a new vision of what's possible and who we are, George Ryga remains a seminal figure in Canadian life and letters.

    By showing us the possibilities of cultural and critical engagement, practically and metaphorically, Ryga's creative works continue to inform a transformative vision of society. Our goal is to honour and further his life and work by showcasing the talents of writers and artists who identify with his struggles with creative identity. In a world often bereft of hope and opportunity, our best writers and artists do not flinch from representing the possible and giving idealism voice.

    Sean JohnstonOkanagan InstituteSean Johnston is the author of A Day Does Not Go By (Nightwood, 2002), which won the 2003 ReLit Award for short fiction, and the novel All This Town Remembers (Gaspereau, 2006). He's also published two chapbooks: A Long Day Inside the Buildings (with Drew Kennickel; JackPine Press, 2004) and Bull Island (Gaspereau, 2004). Sean teaches Literature and Creative Writing at Okanagan College, and is the Editor of Ryga: A Journal of Provocations.

    Of the first issue of the Ryga Journal, he wrote, "We take our name from Ryga, a political writer, to honour his commitment to his art and to his world. His legacy is this: he was a human living in a community and that community was living in a nation, that nation in a world. He wrote without nostalgia about the world that lived around him. He believed the artist had a responsibility to write counter-narratives, to treat the marginalized among us fairly, to challenge the formal boundaries of his art without losing the humanity of the characters that drive it. These characters live and move according to a complex, tentative political agreement that must not be taken as natural, but must be interrogated in every way."

    Jude ClarkeOkanagan InstituteJude Clarke is a visual artist and author living in Vernon BC. She was trained in visual arts at Notre Dame University in Nelson, Three Schools in Toronto and the University of Regina. She has been exhibiting her work in private and public art galleries for over twenty-five years. She is the author of The Language of Water, a literary work of non-fiction published by Thistledown Press, Saskatoon, in 2002. She is currently working on a writing/painting collaborative project with her husband, writer John Lent, and is also preparing work for a five-person exhibition at Cityscape Gallery in North Vancouver, June/July 2010.

    Of the image, Midnight Over Kalamalka which appears on the cover of the second issue of Ryga, she writes, "You are floating on your back in Kalamalka Lake. At the edge of your vision is the shoreline. You watch the sun drop with a final benevolent glint behind the far mountain. You hear children splashing and the distant drone of a helicopter scanning the mountains for wildfire. Far beneath you, shadows are held motionless, weighted to the floor of the lake. They are rising now, breaking the water's surface, finding air in the wide-open sky. They shift, break apart, form shape, take on colour, drift into line, chatter, and rise further. They are unremorseful children, thumbing their noses at gravity. It is impossible to deny their invitation, their beckoning, so you let go, feel your body lift and rise above the surface of the water. There now. You are airborne."

    FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE

    Express
    Invocations: Readings for Ryga takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 131st event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007.
    Express 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 laureate and professor John Lent, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, community activist Don Elzer, dancer David LaHay, architect Jim Meiklejohn, culinary artist and writer Heidi Noble, broadcaster Marion Barschel and many others from a wide range of creative fields.



    Okanagan ArtsOkanagan Institute
    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.
    20 Mar 2010

    Literary Events at UBC Okanagan

    Some fabulous literary events at UBC Okanagan over the next two weeks!
     
    World Water Day Poetry Slam!—Tuesday, March 23, 2 – 4 PM – the Ballroom at the University Centre (UNC 200) at UBC Okanagan. 

    Slam about water for prizes.  Contact ubcowaterworks@gmail.com for more info about registering.
     
    Lisa Robertson:  one of Canada’s most gifted experimental writers, will appear on Friday, March 26  at 7 PM at the Alternator Gallery, 421 Cawston Avenue, Kelowna. 

    Her books include XEclogue, Debbie: An Epic, The Weather, Occasional Work and Seven Walks from the Office for Soft Architecture, The Men and most recently Magenta Soul Whip.  Rousseau’s Boat will be out this spring.  She currently teaches at California College of the Arts in San Francisco, and in Fall 2010 will be writer in residence at Simon Fraser University.  This reading is sponsored by The Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okangan, the Canada Council for the Arts, UBC Okanagan Bookstore and the Alternator Gallery.  The reading is free of charge and open to the public.  For more information, contact Michael V. Smith at 250-807-9706 or email at michael.v.smith@ubc.ca.
     
    Building a Career as a Fiction Writer—Free workshop in ARTS 115 at UBC Okanagan, 1:30 – 3:30, Tuesday, March 30. 

    The Department of Creative Studies at UBC Okanagan invites the public to join editor Chris LabontО (Acquiring Editor, Fiction -- Douglas & McIntyre),  Ian Weir (an award-winning screenwriter, playwright and novelist) and Adam Lewis Schroeder (novelist and short story writer) as they conduct a blend of lecture and lively discussion, providing professional advice and practical tools for individuals interested in building a successful career as a fiction writer.   Topics include tips on how to write effective query letters; strategies for approaching publishers, editors, and agents; and insights on completing grant applications. Also discussed: marketing and self-promotion; working with magazine and book editors; negotiating a book contract; pitching; and making a living when writing income is sparse.   Call Nancy Holmes at 250-807-9369 or email nancy.holmes@ubc.ca for  more information.
    17 Mar 2010

    SONGWRITERS’ SHOWCASE CONCERT – April 16, Centre Stage, Summerland



    Ken Smedley and The George Ryga Centre are pleased to present -  “The 15th Annual Bill Henderson/Roy Forbes Songwriters Showcase” – featuring Songwriters from across Western Canada – on Friday, April 16, 8 p.m. at Centre Stage Theatre in Summerland. Advance tickets available immediately at

    Martin’s Flowers(next to Nester’s), Summerland(Ph. 250-494-5432) and

    The Dragon’s Den, Penticton (Ph. 250-492-3011).

    Canadian recording/producing legends Bill Henderson – renowned as the lead Guitarist/vocalist for his band CHILLIWACK – and Roy Forbes(aka BIM), will perform a “rare duo Concert” – the only time, anywhere, they perform as a “duo”- in the spring each year in the S. Okanagan. Traditionally, the past 15 years they’ve shared the stage with a select number of “songwriters”, in this celebrated evening, that showcases some of the emerging songwriting talents - attending their Songwriting Workshop (at The George Ryga Centre) - from throughout the Okanagan and across Western Canada.

    The Showcase and Workshop are produced by Ken Smedley.
    16 Mar 2010

    Second Exhibition Set to Open at Lake Country Art Gallery

    The Lake Country Art Gallery Society is preparing to open its second show at the new public venue.
    The Art Gallery displays exhibitions by local artists and those from other regions. The popular
    inaugural exhibition, Celebrating Lake Country, included a variety of works by 21 local artists.

    The new themed exhibition, a juried show entitled Sculpture Partners With Abstract, will consist
    of both 2D and 3D works by local artists.
    “The jury was very pleased with the sizeable number of entries for the next exhibition. There were
    many strong and interesting submissions from a number of artists,” said Sharon McCoubrey, Chair
    of the Lake Country Art Gallery Society. “With over eighty works submitted, we believe that the
    selected pieces will create a unique and varied exhibition that showcases the artists talents.”
    Sculpture Partners With Abstract will be available for public viewing during normal Gallery hours
    beginning Thursday March 18. The Gallery will celebrate the new exhibition with a public reception
    on Sunday March 21 beginning at 1:30pm. Winter hours of the Lake Country Art Gallery are
    Thursday – Saturday from 10am – 4pm, and Sundays from 12pm – 4pm.

    A volunteer committee of local artists and residents administers the Lake Country Art Gallery.
    Volunteering is a great way to provide support and meet community members and visitors.
    Memberships are also an essential means of support to ensure the success of the venue. Admission
    to the Lake Country Art Gallery is free so that all have the opportunity to visit, and everyone
    interested in supporting local artists is encouraged to purchase a membership to the Gallery, which
    are very reasonably priced and offer several additional benefits.

    The Mission of the Lake Country Art Gallery is: To celebrate art as an essential part of the human experience,
    enhancing our community through art and art experiences. For more information, or to volunteer, receive a
    membership package, or make a donation, please visit the Gallery at 10356A Bottom Wood Lake
    Rd, email lakecountryartgallery@telus.net or call 250-766-1299. Please also visit their blog
    at http://www.lakecountryartgallery.blogspot.com
    12 Mar 2010

    DRUMMING KELOWNA Spring/Summer 2010

    AFRO-CUBAN DRUMMING
    Wed 7-8 pm, April 7-June 9, 2010, Kelowna Drum Studio
    10 week course for all levels and ages,
    Conga drums provided, No experience required Learn basic Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms and popular Latin rhythms.
    Cost: $120 or drop-in $15/class

    MIDDLE EASTERN DRUM WORKSHOP
    Friday, May, 28th, 7-9pm, Kelowna Drum Studio
    This program is for drummers/dancers of all levels who would like to increase their knowledge and technique on the doumbek (Middle Eastern Drum). Topics include terminology, positioning, warm-up exercises, strokes, common rhythms, improvisations, notation, art of the drum solo and style for dance accompaniment.  Cost: $35 Preregistration recommended.

    DRUMMING FOR KIDS (Ages: 8+)
    Looking for an exciting summer program of activity for kids. This is a great introduction to hand/stick drumming. A rare opportunity to experience various percussion instruments of the world. (Bongo, Conga,Timbales, Doumbek, Djembe, Surdo, etc.)
    July 12th-16th 11-12noon or July 19-23 1-2pm, Kelowna Drum Studio
    Cost:$60/Class  Preregistration required
    *Lessons available for private or groups. Drums:Conga, Djembe, Drum set, Doumbek, Dumbek, Darbuka, Tabla. Styles: African, Brazilian, Cuban, Afro-Cuban, Middle Eastern. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, RnB.

    For information call Trevor at (250)763-3951 or see http://www.trevorsalloum.com
    11 Mar 2010

    Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall A Retrospective Exhibition

    March 20 to May 23, 2010

    Image: Joice M. Hall, Cumulus Congestus 1, 2004, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches, private collection, Calgary

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to present the work of local artist Joice M. Hall in a solo show entitled Surreal.Real.Ideal: The Art of Joice M. Hall. This retrospective exhibition is on display in both gallery spaces at the Kelowna Art Gallery.

    Realist painter Joice M. Hall spent most of her career based in Calgary, before moving to Kelowna to live in 1998. This exhibition is a full-scale survey show that has been organized for the Kelowna Art Gallery by independent curator Patricia Ainslie, who also moved to Kelowna (three years ago) after a long career at Calgary’s Glenbow Museum.

    The show will comprise about forty works, some of which contain multiple units. It will culminate with Hall’s recent realist landscapes done in the Okanagan, including her works depicting the Okanagan Mountain fire of 2003. A full-length catalogue will be published with all works reproduced in colour. The show will give local residents and visitors the opportunity to consider the full career of this important and insightful artist who lives in our midst.

    This exhibition runs from March 20 to May 23, 2010. The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, closed Mondays. Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 – 9 pm.
    10 Mar 2010

    In The Footsteps Of The Masters - Plein Air Painting Workshop in the Rocky Mountains

    July 16-19, 2010

    In this workshop we will follow in the footsteps of master painters, such as John Singer Sargent, Carl Rungius, Edgar Payne and J.E.H. MacDonald, through their travels of the Canadian Rockies from Bow Lake to Lake OíHara.

    We will be painting outdoors at Bow Lake and Lake O'Hara with stops at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.

    At Bow Lake we will paint in the same places as Carl Rungius did, to study what he saw and why it is important to study the masters to better understand our own work. At Lake OíHara we will stand at Sargent's Point and paint one of the most beautiful, and most painted, places on earth. Painters from around the world have come to paint and study these wonders of mother nature. We will study the works of some of these artists and then learn to create our own interpretation of these majestic places.

    For more details visit http://www.jerrymarkham.com/workshops.html or call Leah at 250-558-0350.
    10 Mar 2010

    A Day With Carlson & Business Of Art Workshop

    Dates: Saturday, April 24 to Sunday, April 25 - 9 am to 4 pm

    Location: Rotary Centre For The Arts, 421 Cawston Avenue, Kelowna, BC

    Typically there are either painting workshops or workshops on how to promote your work, but not the combination. Jerry & Leah Markham offer a 2-day workshop that encompasses both. How it works is half of the group paints with Jerry the first day while the other half is with Leah learning the business of art, then the groups switch the following day. Here are more details:

    A Day With Carlson ñ taught by Jerry Markham (http://www.jerrymarkham.com)
     
    In this one day workshop we will be delving into ideas John F. Carlson lays out in his timeless book John Carlsonís Guide to Landscape Painting. Carlsonís ideas have been used for years by many painters and yet I hear often that his book is difficult to read, which it is.  So I have developed some exercises to help simplify some of the main points in his book.  We will begin with a painting demonstration to illustrate what we will be learning, followed by a few drawing exercises then a painting session of your own to further illustrate the concepts of Composition, Value, and the important difference between Atmospheric Perspective and Linear Perspective. 
     
    This class is suitable for beginners to advanced painters in acrylic, watercolour and oil as it involves tools and information that will help make your landscape paintings more dynamic and authentic no matter which medium you use.   
     
     
    Business Of Art ñ taught by Leah Markham (http://www.artmarketingbusiness.com)
     
    This workshop encompasses an overview and introduction of a number of topics that contribute to the success of an artist. Topics covered will include:
     
    - how to build an effective website and online marketing strategy
    - marketing materials every artist needs and how to use them
    - techniques to promote your work & places your work can be shown
    - how to approach galleries
    - what to expect from galleries and what they expect from you
    - cultivating relationships with collectors
    - the importance of keeping an inventory of your work
     
    Cost: $125 / person + GST

    Registration: For more information or to register visit http://www.artmarketingbusiness.com/workshops.html#3 or call Leah at 250-558-0358 or email info@artmarketingbusiness.com
    10 Mar 2010

    Okanagan Arts Awards A Terrific Celebration

    The 3rd Annual Okanagan Arts Awards were held on Thursday, March 4th at the Lions Hall in West
    Kelowna. Honoring 25 nominees in a variety of disciplines, the evening featured the Arts Awards
    presentations, artist demonstrations and displays, a silent auction in support of the Arts Council, and pre
    event and post event receptions.

    Hosted by emcee Sandy Dawson, the evening began with a welcome from West Kelowna Mayor Doug
    Findlater, followed by an opening prayer and blessing by Westbank First Nations Elder Wilfred Barnes
    and a performance of Okanagan Song from Westbank First Nations Drummers. In addition to the awards
    presentations, the event also featured performances by harpist Kate Gibson Oswald, pianist Rosalyn
    Frantz, dance group Company B, readings by Okanagan Poet Laureate John Lent, and a short film
    celebrating the visual artists by Jim Elderton.

    “The event was a great success, both in terms of presentations and performances, and by the great show
    of support from the community,” said Sharon McCoubrey, President of the Arts Council of the Central
    Okanagan. “We wish to congratulate all the nominees and winners, as well as our amazing volunteers and
    everyone who supported the event through attendance, sponsorship, and donations to our silent auction.”

    2010 Okanagan Arts Awards Winners
    Lifetime Achievement: Geert Maas, Kelowna
    Literary Arts: Nancy Holmes, Kelowna
    Arts Educator: Leroy Wiens, Kelowna
    Visual Arts: Gary Pearson, Kelowna
    Music: Anna Jacyszyn, Kelowna
    Supporter of the Arts: Jody LaFontaine, Lake Country
    Dance: Tanya Bakala, Kelowna
    Theatre: Louise Sjoquist, Kelowna
    10 Mar 2010

    33rd BC Interior Jazz Festival

    The 33rd BC Interior Jazz Festival, April 8 - 10, 2010, includes middle and high school jazz bands, choirs, and combos from the Central and Southern Interior, Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Washington State.  More than 65 groups will be performing this year.  The festival includes adjudicated performances, free workshops for the public, and two evening concerts.  

    The featured guest artist for the Friday evening Jazz Masters' Concert is Sunny Wilkinson, and the Michael Garding Big Band will play. The Showcase Concert on Saturday evening has the best of the competing groups performing.

    Kelowna Community Theatre
    April 8, 9, 10 throughout day - Jazz bands and choirs
    April 9, 7:30 p.m.  Jazz Masters' Concert featuring Sunny Wilkinson and guests.  Tickets $25 plus service charge available at selectyourtickets.com, 250 762-5050, and the box office at Prospera Place.
    April 10, 7 p.m.  Showcase Concert & Awards Ceremony $5 at the door.

    Rotary Centre for the Arts
    April 8 all day - Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Combos - adjudicated performances - FREE
    April 9 and 10 all day  FREE WORKSHOPS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
    Bring your voice and/or your instrument.

    For details visit www.jazzfestbc.ca
    08 Mar 2010

    Studio Introduces Creative Kids at Cottonwoods Program



    Photo: Cottonwoods resident Mary holds a paper flower that  ArtzZone student volunteer Jade made for her. The flowers and drawings  that were created during the art sessions are displayed in residents rooms and often become conversation pieces for residents, visitors and staff.

    Kelowna's ArtzZone Studio has launched a unique new program – Creative Kids At Cottonwoods - in which students aged 6-13 have an opportunity to volunteer at the extended care facility in Kelowna for one hour twice per month. Students work with the senior residents one-on-one creating art that is inspired by interacting and telling stories.

    The program is the brainchild of Beverly Rein, the director of ArtzZone Studio and Kellie Schonfeld, a recreational therapist at Cottonwoods. Together, they plan and supervise the activities. The program is open to all students currently taking classes at ArtzZone studio.

    The next creative sessions are scheduled to take place at Cottonwoods March 5, April 9 and 23, 2010. The art projects will include card-making using methods of drawing, collage and painting along with creating small sculptures with found objects.

    The Creative Kids At Cottonwoods program is meant to encourage intergenerational communications and to contribute to the well-being of both the residents and volunteers. The children benefit from the interaction and exposure to seniors. They gain an awareness of where many seniors live, some of their disabilities and the daily life of elderly people in our community. They also have an opportunity to express themselves and develop self confidence. The senior residents benefit from the interaction and personal attention from the children. They are mentally stimulated by the conversation and the art making tasks. Everyone enjoys the creative process, exchange of life stories and laughter.

    Children benefit from engaging in the creative process of making art whether it be through drawing, painting, sculpting, printing or any other art or craft form. They learn technical skills that build visual-spacial abilities and develop an array of mental habits not emphasized elsewhere in the school curriculum. The capacity to be reflective, the willingness to experiment and learn from mistakes, the ability to work on projects for a sustained period of time and to persevere through frustration are all important life lessons. Through art making a child finds her or his own personal voice and learns to express ideas and emotions in healthy ways. Self confidence and a sense of accomplishment are positive outcomes of participating in visual arts programs.

    ArtzZone offers both a unique facility and a series of arts instructional programs - tailored to the needs of adults and children - that contribute to the cultural life of Kelowna and the Okanagan.

    The ArtzZone Studio exists to provide high quality visual arts instruction to people of all ages in a comfortable environment that encourages creative exploration and personal expression. The studio is a spacious, stimulating, creative space where experimentation is encouraged.

    The ArtzZone Programs for both children and adults offer students a solid base in traditional art-making practices, all the while encouraging them to think creatively and to be experimental with art materials and ideas. ArtzZone provides a variety of art workshops and classes for beginners as well as those with years of art making experience. There is a dynamic exchange between participants and instructors in an environment of encouragement and exploration. There is no more dynamic way for children of all ages, and adults, to discover their creative selves.

    Beverly Rein, Director of ArtzZone, is an enthusiastic art teacher who loves to share her knowledge and skills with students of all ages. She studied drawing and printmaking at the University of Lethbridge, Art Foundations and 3D studies at Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Art Education at UBC, Painting at the University of California, Hayward, Sumi-e painting in Chiba, Japan and Pastel Drawing at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She holds a Bachelor of General Studies from SFU and a BC Professional Teaching Certificate. She has many years experience leading art classes with children. She has led many workshops for seniors and has taught classes in Acrylic, Encaustic, Sumi-e and Mixed Media painting at her Studio, at the Kelowna Art Gallery and the Vernon Community Arts Centre. She is on the board of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan and is a member of the Okanagan Institute's ArtsCare program.

    Upcoming ArtzZone Programs:
    1. Children: Afterschool art classes, School break art camps, and classes for home schoolers.
    2. Teens: Drawing and painting, Anime and Manga, and Portfolio classes and workshops.
    3. Adults: Encaustic, Mixed media painting, Watercolour, Sumie Painting classes and workshops.

    More information about the Creative Kids at Cottonwoods program is available at the ArtzZone website: www.artzzone.ca
    04 Mar 2010

    RETURN OF “EL MARIACHI” – Mariachi Band Returns to Okanagan



    Ken Smedley & The George Ryga Centre present “The Return of El Mariachi” - a “fiesta of music ” from Ol’ Mexico! Direct from their return engagement to the prestigious International Festival of Mariachis(in Guadalajara, Mexico) EL MARIACHI is a festive musical ensemble that will literally transport audiences into the warmth and joy of Mexican culture. EL MARIACHI’s “return” is anchored once again by former Okanagan resident Terence “Diego” Smedley-Kohl(son of Ken Smedley and Dorian Kohl).

    Tickets are now available for “The Return of EL MARIACHI” on the following dates:

    Tuesday, March 9 – Zion United Church Hall, Armstrong – 8 p.m.
    Tickets at The Final Touch Gallery, Armstrong – Ph. 250-546-1949

    Wednesday, March 10 – Minstrel Café & Bar, Kelowna
    Dinner: 6 p.m. Show: 8 p.m. Reservations – Ph. 250-764-2301

    Thursday, March 11 – Lorenzo’s Cafe, Ashton Creek
    Dinner: 6 p.m. Show: 8 p.m. Reservations – Ph. 250-838-6700

    Friday, March 12 – Kal Lake Campus Theatre, Vernon
    Tickets at The BookNook – Ph. 250-558-0668

    Saturday, March 13 – Centre Stage Theatre, Summerland
    Tickets at Martin’s Flowers, Summerland(next to Nester’s) – Ph. 250-494-5432
    and The Dragon’s Den(Penticton) – Ph. 250-492-3011


    27 Feb 2010

    Olympiad Artist condemns BC arts cuts

    Prominent 2010 Olympiad Artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, creator of the "Vectorial Elevations" searchlight artwork in the Vancouver night sky, says BC arts cuts are "9/11 for the arts."
     
    Rafael Lozano-Hemmer lives and works in Canada and Mexico. Born in Mexico, he is a Canadian citizen. Now based in Montreal, he at one time lived in Vancouver. His artwork Vectorial Elevations, a highly visible public work involving searchlights in the Vancouver sky, is part of the Cultural Olympiad (the arts component of the 2010 Winter Olympics) and has become one of the most popular of the Olympiad artworks.
     
    During a Q&A after his keynote speech at CODE: Dialogues, a 2010 Cultural Olympiad conference, Lozano-Hemmer told an audience that when he learned BC arts funding was to be cut by 90% after the Olympics, he felt that in this context his artwork was "obscene," and said he was dismayed by BC politicians' lack of vision.
     
    He expressed a faint hope that the key and visible role of the arts in the Olympics would induce politicians to change their minds. He also said he hoped it would induce Vancouverites to ask themselves  "what is it about these [art] projects that are making this moment special?" He went on to ask "And what if people get used to that and they demand that of their city, to have that kind of vibrancy and cultural stimulation and so forth? What if the politicans were to be [shown] that this is important not just economically, because culture brings in a net worth, but also in terms of quality of life?"
     
    A number of Olympiad artists have, despite contract clauses limiting free speech, spoken out about the arts cuts, but not all of them have Lozano-Hemmer's international stature. Lozano-Hemmer represented Mexico at the 52nd Venice Biennale and his work is in the collection of NY MoMA and the Tate Modern and many other key museums worldwide.
     
    YouTube video and full transcript of his remarks are here:
    http://stopbcartscuts.wordpress.com
    Explanation of the "9-11" remark in the video clip: Before Vectorial Elevations was launched, its energy use wasn’t fully understood and the piece was accused of being “an environmental 9-11.” In fact, for its entire month-long run, the artwork uses the same amount of power as only 10 hockey games.
     
    For more information please contact Lindsay at Stop BC Arts Cuts: (604) 313-7744 or email: stopbcartscuts@paarc.ca
    23 Feb 2010

    Icons and Idioms: Snowsell On Apples

    Wild Blue Yonder

    Okanagan ArtsOkanagan Institute Express
    Okanagan Arts
    Icons and Idioms
    Okanagan Arts
    SNOWSELL ON APPLES
    » Thursday 18 February 2010 | 5 pm
    » The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue

    An informal afternoon hour showcasing ideas and people in the Okanagan creative economy. Join us as professor and writer Colin Snowsell explores the nature of political and social power in the Okanagan through the story of his family, and launches his chapbook On Apples.

    » $2 at the door. Refreshments are available at a modest cost.
    » Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE


    Writer Follows in Family Tradition of Outspoken Commentary

    Who remembers that Kelowna's mayor from 1930 to 1939 was a furniture dealer named O.L. Jones? And that Kelowna voters sent Jones to Ottawa three times - in 1948, 1949 and 1953 - as the CCF candidate for the riding of Yale? Who remembers that his campaign manager was named Snowsell? The Snowsells once owned and operated over 100 acres of orchard land in the Glenmore Valley. This is not, except in the distance cast by history and forgetfulness, their most significant contribution. The Snowsells' greater influence on the Okanagan was in their socialism, in their activism, and in their support of the CCF and the NDP. If they pioneered anything, it was BC socialism.

    The Snowsells would be horrified to know history had remembered them as landowners. Their life was spent in struggle against the propertied classes, and from the 1930s to the 1960s they were known for the courage and pigheaded tenacity with which they fought to keep the valley, the province, and the country out of the clutches of conservatives. It just so happened that their struggle was against the two most powerful politicians the province has known.

    On Thursday, February 18th at 5 pm the ongoing weekly Okanagan Institute Express series at the Bohemian Café presents Icons and Idioms: Snowsell On Apples. Join us as professor and writer Colin Snowsell explores the nature of political and social power in the Okanagan through the story of his family, and launches his chapbook On Apples.

    When you're driving down Snowsell Street - as the old portion of Glenmore Road will be named, as soon as the Glenmore Bypass is operational - you'll be driving down a street named after the one local family that came within a hair of upsetting the conservatives' rise to power. That's the message of On Apples, a chapbook by Colin Snowsell, a writer and professor of Communications at Okanagan College and the great grandson of Edwin and Felicia Snowsell, the pioneer Glenmore orchardists who arrived in the Okanagan in 1925.

    "When the city announced it was renaming Glenmore Road, my students started asking me if I was one of THOSE Snowsells," said Snowsell. "What bothered me wasn't that they didn't know who the Snowsells were anymore - Kelowna's a pretty big city now and the name's not that common - but that the city didn't seem to know who the Snowsells were either. Did they own orchards? Yes. But so what? It's what the family did in the community, not so much what they owned, that should be remembered."

    Both Felicia Snowsell and her son Frank, former head of the provincial NDP/CCF and one-time MLA for the now-defunct provincial riding of Saanich, opposed W.A.C. Bennett on the ballot in tightly contested races. In the essay - part lament, part revisionist history - Snowsell speculates how Kelowna, and the province, might have looked, had the contests gone a different way.

    The novelist Caterina Edwards describes Snowsell, who is also a fiction writer whose novella, entitled The Frollett Homestead, is scheduled for release in March, as "more than a promising writer: he is a full-blown talent."

    Colin SnowsellColin Snowsell holds a MA in Communications Studies from the University of Calgary. He is finishing a PhD through the Department of Art History and Communication Studies at McGill University.

    Snowsell's essays have been published in This Magazine, Maisonneuve and PopMatters. Earlier versions of Snowsell have appeared on MuchMusic (in the role of Calgary alt-indie impresario), obtained a journalism diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and worked in corporate communications at Greyhound Canada's head office in Calgary.

    Prior to joining the Communications faculty at Okanagan College, Snowsell taught professional communication at the University of Saskatchewan.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE



    Express
    Icons and Idioms: Snowsell On Apples takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 126th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007.
    Express 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 laureate and professor John Lent, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, community activist Don Elzer, dancer David LaHay, architect Jim Meiklejohn, culinary artist and writer Heidi Noble, broadcaster Marion Barschel and many others from a wide range of creative fields.



    Okanagan ArtsOkanagan Institute
    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.
    12 Feb 2010

    Coming of Age 2010

    Youth Symphony of the Okanagan  - "Spring Concert 2010"

    Come, celebrate the 21st season of the Youth Symphony of the Okanagan!   "Coming of Age"  will showcase the YSO, conducted by Imant Raminsh, with orchestral works by Mozart, Elgar, Khachaturian and Strauss, along with a selection of Songs from Cambodia.  Featuring youth soloists Nick Denton (cello), guest tenor Chanthavouth Hy of Cambodia, and guest conductor Rosemary Thomson.



    Locations, Dates, Times:

    Penticton: Sat. March 6th at 2:00 pm  --- Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle, 945 Main Street

    Kelowna: Sat. March 6th at 7:30 pm  --- First Lutheran Church, 4091 Lakeshore Road

    Vernon:  Sun. March 7th at 7:00 pm  --- Trinity United Church, 3300 Alexis Park Drive

    Tickets available from YSO musicians or at the door.
    ∑    $15 General Admission
    ∑    $10 Seniors and Youth
    ∑    $5  Children (12 and under)

    website:  www.youthsymphonyokanagan.com
    eMail enquiries to  youthsymphonyokanagan@gmail.com
    11 Feb 2010

    Sunshine Theatre Company presents You Fancy Yourself

    Mar 10-13 2010 8:00pm  -  Matinee Mar 11 12:00noon
     
    Award winning writer/performer Maja Ardal's one-woman comic tour-de-force You Fancy Yourself is epic in scope. Maja plays 11 brilliant, quirky characters, in an action-packed challenging, humorous and poignant tale of the growing pains of a girl trying to fit in to a new culture. 

    This tale of playground politics and childhood loyalties set against the background of 1950s Edinburgh, tells the story of six year old Elsa whose family has emigrated from the land of the Vikings and fairies to wild and woolly Scotland.  Post-war industrial Edinburgh is suspicious of foreigners and Elsa quickly and cruelly learns that navigating her way through her new world of tenement buildings, scrubbing ladies and elf children will require more than learning the words to ëScotland the Braveí.  Fitting in means taking on the schoolyard bullies; and that being fascinated with the massacre of Glencoe doesn't make you Scottish; and that dreams come with a high price.

    Tickets just $30.00 available at www.select yourtickets.com or call 250-717-5304
    06 Feb 2010

    Kevin Fox at Rotary Centre for the Arts

    Tree Brewing presents The RCA Spotlight Series featuring Kevin Fox
    Saturday, April 24, 2010 7:30PM

    After years of recording with artists as diverse as Raine Maida and Celine Dion, and touring extensively with musicians ranging from Chantal Kreviazuk to Tom Cochrane, Kevin Fox is ready to step from side-stage back into the spotlight as a frontman with his Trio.
    Kevin combines his signature instrument- the Cello, which he skillfully bows, plucks, taps and loops, with his charismatic voice, to create a lush and captivating musical tapestry of cello-driven folk/pop. The production is fresh and innovative, embracing pop sensibilities within the world of classical orchestration and electronics.  

    Kevin will host a masterclass of Kelowna Youth Symphony and cello students in his ìsongs for the Cello & Voiceî to show  classical can also be tremendous fun, and it has a real place in popular music. They will join him onstage fro 2 numbers.  
     
    Preshow: Jordan Davies @ 6:30PM

    Tickets just $30.00 available at www.select yourtickets.com or call 250-717-5304
    06 Feb 2010

    Ken Hamm In Concert at Gallery Vertigo

    Ken Smedley & The George Ryga Centre are proud to present legendary Acoustic Delta Blues Guitarist KEN HAMM "In Concert"  on his 10th Annual tour throughout theOkanagan Valley!



    KEN HAMM will perform at Gallery Vertigo
    Wednesday, February 17th @ 8pm
     
    Tickets are available at the Book Nook in Vernon
    Phone: 250-558-0668
     
    KEN HAMM is also conducting his 10th Annual Guitar Workshop, Feb. 20 & 21 at The George Ryga Centre, Summerland.  This workshop is open to guitar players at all levels and is a rare opportunity to work with a master of the Delta Blues style.
     
    There are still some openings in this prestigious workshop.  Interested registrants should register by contacting Ken Smedley(Ph. 250-546-9886).  Cost of the Full Weekend Workshop is $200.
    Produced by Ken Smedley
    30 Jan 2010

    Art on the Line

    GALA FUNDRAISER 2010
    Saturday, February 06, 2010, at 6:00 PM
    Fipke Building, UBC Okanagan

    The Department of Creative Studies in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies with UBC Okanagan and the Visual Arts Course Union will hold the 8th annual ëArt on the Lineí Gala Fundraiser on Saturday February 6, 2010.  For the second year, the ëArt on the Lineí will be held in the Fipke Building located on the UBCO campus.

    There will be 100 tickets sold for ëArt on the Lineí at $175.00 each. One ticket admits up to two people and entitles the holder to one piece of original juried art, delicious appetizers and live entertainment by The Malarkeys.

    'Art on the Lineí will contain juried works by students, as well as works by noted local artists, Visual Arts Professors, and Visual Arts Alumni. The works will include a variety of visual mediums such as drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, mixed media, etc. to meet the tastes and interests of everyone. The ticket holders will select the artworks based on a random lottery system. The first number drawn, which will correlate to the number on the ticket, will allow the first ticket holder an opportunity to pick the first work of art to be taken home. The process will continue until the last ticket is called. There will be 125 works to choose from, so even the last ticket holder gets a choice from a large selection of juried artwork.

    The funds raised are in support of the UBC Okanagan Visual Arts Course Union. As a group, we are devoted to creating high quality artistic work by establishing and maintaining an active environment for artistic development, experimentation and research. ëArt on the Lineí will help us reach our goals by funding things such as research opportunities, new equipment, visiting artists and guest lectures. You will also be supporting the fourth year Student Graduate Exhibition which will run in April 2010. In addition, 10 % of the proceeds will support the local charity ëCool Artsí.

    The doors will open at 6:00pm for ticket holders to view the artwork and the draw will begin at 7:30pm. Please allow yourself an hour to view all works and to make your selections. There will be live entertainment, door prizes, appetizers and refreshments served.

    If you should have any further questions about ëArt on the Lineí please contact us at vacu09ubco@live.ca . 
    30 Jan 2010

    Author Reading: Michael MacLennan

    Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan
    3.Description : Event date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, at 7:00 PM
    Location: Art 218, UBC Okanagan



    Michael MacLennan divides his time between Toronto,Vancouver and Los Angeles. His plays have been produced throughout Canada, Europe and the US. His books include Beat the Sunset, Grace, The Shooting Stage, Last Romantics, Life After God and The Good Egg. He has won a Jessie, two Voaden Prizes, Theatrum National Playwrighting Award and was twice nominated for the Governor General's. As screenwriter, Michael has been nominated for five WGC Screenwriting Awards. He was co-executive producer of Queer as Folk, creator/ executive producer of Godiva's and Jpod, and consulting producer on Being Erica.
    This is a free public event.

    Sponsored by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan, UBC Okanagan Bookstore, The Canada Council for the Arts, Okanagan Regional Library. and the Alternator Gallery. 
    30 Jan 2010

    Winter Painting Workshops

    Acrylic & Watercolour Painting Workshops*

    Introduction to Acrylics #1
    Saturday, February 6, 2010
    10 am ñ 4 pm

    Introduction to Acrylics #2
    Saturday, February 20, 2010
    10 am ñ 4 pm

    Introduction to Watercolour
    Saturday, March 6, 2010
    10 am ñ 4 pm

    Fun and informative workshops designed to introduce you to the skills and techniques used in painting with these exciting mediums. Instruction includes colour theory, composition and demonstrations of the special qualities unique to these mediums which the students will then apply to their own paintings. Students will complete paintings during each workshop. Beginners Welcome.

    Workshop Fee: $75.00 each. Art Supplies extra.
    Supply List available at Opus Store or check online at the Opus website.
    *All Workshops subject to enrolment.

    Location: Opus Art Supply Store - Classroom, Kelowna, B.C.
    Instructor: Marlene G. McPherson
    Phone 250-766-3934
    www.MyArtClub.Com/Marlene.McPherson

    M.G.M. Fine Art Studios
    Teaching Creativity in the Okanagan since 1993
    26 Jan 2010

    Visiting Artist Speaker Series: David Jolliffe

    Thursday, January 28th at 6pm in room Art 103 at UBC Okanagan



    Daniel Jolliffe is a media and visual artist whose work integrates a wide range of artistic practices with electronic systems to examine the effect of technology on human communication and experience. His interactive works and technology-based art projects have been shown across Canada, the United States and internationally, most recently during the Biennale de Montreal 2009. Daniel's work has also received international media attention. His research interests include anonymous speech, open source approaches to creating artworks and cultural objects, and interventionist and kinaesthetic art, amoung others. In 2009 he co-organized the GOSH! summit on open-source hardware and cultural practice at the Banff Centre for the Arts. He is currently an assistant professor at Concordia University and the University of British Columbia. he holds a BA in Philosophy (Victoria) and an MFA in Art and Technology (Ohio State). 

    Admission to all FCCS Visiting Artist Speaker Series talks are free and open to the public. The FCCS Visiting Artist Speaker Series is sponsored by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan. 
    22 Jan 2010

    Culture/ Power Speaker Series: Cindy Holmes

    A Reputation for Tolerance: examining contested geographies of belonging in Kelowna, BC

    DATE: Thursday, January 28th at 2:15pm in the UBC Okanagan Library room 306

    Cindy Holmes is a PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies and holds a SSHRC doctoral fellowship at UBC Okanagan. Her dissertation research draws on critical race, queer feminist and spatial theories to examine how interlocking forms of violence, safety and belonging are imagined and produced in different contexts and scales. Alongside her academic work, she has worked with community groups for over 20 years in the areas of violence against women, violence in the lives of LGBTQ people, health promotion and anti-oppression education. Cindyís forthcoming and most recent publications are: (Forthcoming January 2010). Troubling normalcy: Examining ëhealthy relationshipsí discourses in lesbian domestic violence prevention  in J. Ristock (Ed.) Intimate partner violence in LGBTQ Lives. New York: Routledge; and (2009) Destabilizing homonormativity and the private/ public dichotomy in North American lesbian domestic violence discourses in Gender, Place and Culture 16(1), 77-95
    This event is free and open to the public.

    CONTACT: David.jefferess@ubc.ca or Lindsay.balfour@ubc.ca
    22 Jan 2010

    Bill Bourne with Bop Ensemble

    Date: January 22, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
    Price: $30 per adult / $10 per student

    Free Preshow: Jane Eamon at 6:30 p.m.

    A multiple Canadian Juno Award winner, Bill Bourne has received international acclaim for his recordings and live performances. Bill loves to collaborate with fellow musicians. His most recent collaboration is with Jasmine Ohlhauser and Wyckham Porteous in the band 'bop ensemble'.

    Previous to bop ensemble, Bill's other collaborations with Alan MacLeod, Eivør Pálsdóttir, Shannon Johnson, Hans Staymer and Andreas Schuld, and Lester Quitzau & Madagascar Slim, as well as his solo projects, have all attained award status in Canada. A mainstay on the international roots scene, life on the road is reflected in Bill's music - powerful rhythms and soulful songs, steeped in World Beat, Blues, Cajun, Celtic, Folk, Flamenco, Funk, Poetry and more...

    Porteous matches Bourne's nearly legendary status and was described by Andrew Loog Oldham as "Leonard Cohen meets Harry Dean Stanton, a warm, warm, performer whose voice is like a bottle of wine who has matured into a friend." His latest album, 3 AM, has taken it's time, but Wyckham Porteous has finally done what he does best. He has emerged as a storyteller, but a storyteller whose personal experience gives the songs on this record a unified philosophical perspective.

    Jasmine "Jas" Ohlhauser is the wild card of the bunch, an exuberant 25-year-old who also plays with the Edmonton band Lilys On Mars. With the addition of her dance theatrics, Bop Ensemble shows come close to performance art. Each of the three is great on their own; together they're something truly special.

    First releases are always something special and "Between Trains" exemplifies this to the extreme. The music is authorial in nature and evokes the essence of the storyteller, but in music. Each track is formed by conscious awareness to the world and the lives it houses.
    "Between Trains sounds like it could have been recorded around a crackling campfire on a midsummer night by three friends swapping tunes and passing a bottle. As winter approaches, you might want to keep a copy in your winter-blues emergency first aid kit. Marshmallows not included." - By Scott LingleyBop Ensemble "Between Trains" Fall 2009 Review - Penguin Eggs Magazine

    Tickets can be purchased online through Select Your Tickets, by visiting the RCA Box Office, or by calling (250) 717-5304. For more information on Bop Ensemble visit http://www.billbourne.com.
    19 Jan 2010

    Get Creative this winter and take an art class at the Kelowna Art Gallery

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is offering an exciting line-up of winter art classes designed to bring out oneís creative side.

    Whether you've never picked up a paint brush before or you wield a drawing pencil like a pro, there are classes that start with the basics for beginners or provide inspiration for the more advanced.

    The gallery offers day and evening courses in watercolour, pastel painting, oil painting, printmaking, drawing and mixed media, as well as weekend workshops in acrylic painting and stained glass.

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to have the following artists teach the winter classes; Dawn Emerson, Jim Kalnin, Robin Lowe, Jacquie Meyers, Kathryn Newell,  Crystal Pryzbille, Beverly Rein, Tina Siddidui, and Rena Warren.



    For a full description of classes visit www.kelownaartgallery.com
    To register, call the Gallery at 250- 762-2226.
    19 Jan 2010

    Call for Submissions for the 7th Annual Wearable Art Gala

    Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2010

    Self-expression and extravagance reigned at the Alternator's Wearable Art Gala in 2009, as a huge, diverse and daring crowd took in the sold-out theatre show, and over 200 partygoers danced late into the night, making it the Alternator's most successful event ever.

    The gears are now turning in preparation for the Alternator’s 7th Annual Wearable Art Gala coming July 17, 2010. This fun and funky adult event is not a fashion show in the traditional sense - it's an artistic exploration of all types of body adornment. All creative minds are called upon to participate. New categories include Indigenous culture, the art of light, dark art, cyber art, emancipation and freestyle.

    If you have an interesting idea of art you can wear, simply download an entry form from our website by following the Opportunities link to Special Calls. Follow the instructions making sure entries include drawings and/or photos of your submission along with a brief description of your project.

    Cash prizes totaling $1000 are up for grabs including a $500 peoples’ choice award.

    There are no entry fees. Wearable art submissions can be returned, just include an SASE with your entry form. Accepted submissions will be showcased at the Alternator’s 2010 Wearable Art Gala to be presented at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

    Video Promotion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C83vuf1Z-8
    14 Jan 2010

    FCCS Visiting Artist Speaker Series:Krisjanis Kaktins-Gorsline

     Join visiting artist Krisjanis Kaktins-Gorsline on January 21st at 6pm in Arts 103 at UBC Okanagan.

    Krisjanis Kaktins-Gorsline's paintings, drawings, and prints draw from numerous models of representation and abstraction. In his versatile deployment of a vast arsenal of painting methodologies, combined with images sourced from mass media, art history, and private photographs, he produces jarring, fragmented, and complex mixed-genre paintings. He describes his painting practice as "a cycle of ingestion, gestation and expulsion of imagery." His exhibition history includes Galerie Simon Blaise, Montreal: Katherine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects, Toronto: Deitch Studios, Long Island City, NY: and Heather James Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA. His work has also been shown at Scope Art Fairs in Basel, Miami and New York City. Kaktines-Gorsline has an MFA (2008) from Columbia University, in New York. He lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    Admission to all FCCS Visiting Artist Speaker Series talks are free and open to the public. The FCCS Visiting Artist Speaker Series is sponsored by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan.
    http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/creativeandcritical/welcome.html

    14 Jan 2010

    Lake Country Art Gallery

     The Lake Country Art Gallery Society announced today that it is poised to open the doors to a new public art gallery in the community. The Lake Country Art Gallery will open on January 22, 2010 at 4:00 pm with a celebratory event and inaugural exhibition that everyone is invited to attend. Long a dream of a group of Lake Country artists and community members, the opening of the first public art gallery in Lake Country is an important step in its development as a community. “This is a significant and exciting occasion because the new art gallery will provide many opportunities for artists in the area, and will offer a variety of new cultural experiences for all citizens”, explains Society President Sharon McCoubrey. “We hope that all community members and visitors to Lake Country will enjoy regularly visiting our new gallery, and take advantage of the assortment of participatory opportunities offered throughout the year”. The Lake Country Art Gallery will display exhibitions by local artists and those from other regions. Artwork by both emerging and established artists will be showcased, and the gallery will also present various speakers, films, workshops, educational sessions and other related events throughout the year. Given that public art galleries do not have the same opportunities for revenue potential as commercial galleries, memberships are an essential means of support to ensure the success of the venue. “Admission to the Lake Country Art Gallery will be free so that everyone has the opportunity to visit” said McCoubrey. “We encourage everyone interested in supporting local artists to purchase a membership to the Gallery, which are reasonably priced and offer several benefits”. The Mission of the Lake Country To celebrate art as an essential part of the
    human experience, enhancing information please email lakecountryartgallery@
    13 Jan 2010

    The Event: Conduit Festival; Art, Music, Crafts & Ideas

    Cakewalk Co-op, Alternator and Okanagan Greens Society presents conduit A live showcase of emerging and established Art, music, installation, sculpture, Urban Farms, handmade crafts, Cake, literature, furniture, heirloom seeds, fire spinners, story tellers, slam poets, and speakers.
    Local and Organic gourmet Food, Beer, Wine and Martinis.

    Conduit is all about the Global Green Movement. It is a Zero Waste all Organic and Local faire, self-sufficiency Festival that will be dealing with the issue of Climate change with proactive creative solutions from our community. It is for everyone to be inspired and involved in our societal evolution, understanding and wellbeing. There are over 100 local artists, musicians, poets and crafters contributing. Story tellers from Ení Owkin will be sharing ancient stories of the land and generations past. This is the revolution, and there will be dancing!

    -Saturday Feb. 6, 2010
    -4pm to 1am
    -Multiple galleries and spaces within the Rotary Centre for the Arts. 421 Cawston Avenue, Kelowna.
    -Sliding Scale admission $10- $20 at the door

    Thanks to city of Kelowna, Cultural Services branch for providing the venue.

    Live Performances:
    Local experimental,folk and Alternative Music.
    List: Kevin Kane, Old Manís Beard, Prairie Cat, Kinshira, Midnight, Leila Neverland, Uncanny Valley, The Capers, Time, Yoko, Allison Cociani, Nixie, and more
    09 Jan 2010

    A New Journey for 2010 at Kelowna Actors Studio

    Mame was a great success so thank you to our cast, crew and of course our audiences!  ON BROADWAY - A MUSICAL REVUE is already selling and we still have a month to go.

    On Broadway: A Musical Revue
    February 11 to March  2010
    The most beloved musicals are showcased in this extravaganza performed by your favourite Kelowna Actors Studio performers
    Gwen Plitt, Nate Flavel, Kelly Whelan, Randy Leslie, Ashleigh Somerville, Scott Lawler, Carmen Harris, Chad Abrahamson, Gillian Reed, Tracy Ross
    With songs from Cabaret, South Pacific, Lion King, Mamma Mia, Wicked, Into The Woods, Sound of Music, Man of La Mancha, Singin In The Rain, Evita and many many more!
    Phone 250-862-2867 or www.KelownaActorsStudio.com for more info.
    Tickets will go quickly!

    Also opening night of ON BROADWAY is the 2010/11 Season Announcement.  It's going to be exciting!!!  You've been asking for some of these shows for a long time.  Hmmmm.....
    Auditions will be in June so start rehearsing now (grin)

    SIGN UP FOR CLASSES NOW BEFORE THEY'RE FULL!!! WORKSHOPS START JANUARY 23!!!  AGES 7 TO ADULT
    Winter Semester Classes include:
    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Musical Theatre
    Fairy Tale Theatre
    Teen Scene
    Adult Improv and...
    THE  KAS GLEE Club go to www.KelownaActorsStudio.com or phone
    862-2867 - Classes start at the end of the month.
    The deadline for the NEW KAS GLEE CLUB has been extended to January 20 - this is a by audition class only - go to the website for further info.  Already 20 signed up for auditions.  It's going to be a blast!!!

    The Greenroom Restaurant is now back in full swing for 2010 so for lunch, dinner or after show snacks check them out.  In the Library Parkade across from the theatre Mon. & Tues. -  10am to 4pm - Wednesday to Sunday  10am til Late
    The food is great they also do our catering for Kelowna Actors Studio.
    www.greenroomrestaurant.com

    The "SOLD OUT" Adult Master Class in Scene Study started last night.  We had to turn people away so we will be offering it again in the Fall with a first and second level class.
    Sign up on our website to receive all info for auditions and classes so you never miss an opportunity!

    WE ARE LOOKING FOR STAGE CREW AND FRONT OF HOUSE FOR ALL OUR UPCOMING SHOWS
    IF YOU WANT TO HELP OUT IN THE BOOTH OR BACKSTAGE - NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY - WE WILL TRAIN YOU -
    PHONE OUR VOLUNTEER HOTLINE AT 250-862-2867 EXT. 205
    FOR FRONT OF HOUSE CALL CHERYL AT 250-862-2867 SPOTS ARE FILLING QUICKLY FOR ON BROADWAY -so if you don't have the funds and want a free dessert and to see a show volunteer your time and become a part of the KAS family!
    09 Jan 2010

    Kelowna Collects at Kelowna Art Gallery

    Selected works of art from private collections in Kelowna
    January 16 to March 7, 2010

     What do the artists who were members of Canada’s famous Group of Seven have in common with American POP artists Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol? Or BC painter Emily Carr with Canada’s contemporary international art star Janet Cardiff? Believe it or not, all these artists and many more are represented in private art collections owned by residents of Kelowna. Organized as the Kelowna Art Gallery’s salute to the Vancouver Olympics, Kelowna Collects is a large exhibition made up of works borrowed from local collections. This is an opportunity not to be missed, to see in one spot many highlights and works by well known artists that are all owned by people in our own community. A selection of recent acquisitions acquired by gift or purchase to the Gallery’s collection will also be included.


    Kelowna Collects is sponsored by Pushor Mitchell Lawyers.
    Join us for the GO party! fundraiser and opening reception of Kelowna Collects on Friday January 15.

    The GO Party! event is building on our already successful gallery openings, making the evening bigger and better. Guests will enjoy music by performers from the Okanagan Symphony who will be entertaining with brass fanfares, classical and modern works. There will be refreshments, a silent auction, door prizes, and the opportunity to see works of art in our community collections.

     Tickets are $10 for members, and $20 for non-members, and can be purchased at the gallery or by calling 250-762-2226. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser support innovative exhibitions and public programming at the Kelowna Art Gallery

     This exhibition runs from January 16 to March 7, 2010. The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, closed Mondays. Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 – 9 pm.
     
    08 Jan 2010

    Lecture Series at the Kelowna Art Gallery

    Conversations on Contemporary Art
    Thursdays, January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
     
    Join us for the lecture series on contemporary art. These illustrated introductory lectures will feature a new topic each month, and discussions will be led by distinguished experts and artists from the University of British Columbia Okanagan's Department of Creative Studies. Through lively discussion, participants will learn about the significance of contemporary art and its connection to culture and history. Lectures are FREE to attend.

    January 14: Kenneth Newby | Multiplicity, Identity and Ecology ó Re-Thinking Images in Animation after Cinema
    This lecture will explore the intersection of several concepts that relate to historical and recent art research into the creation of artworks that make use of polyphonic and heteroform techniques for organizing audio and visual media. 

    February 11: Panel discussion: The Fine Art of Collecting
    March 11: Denise Kenney | Theatre as an Ecological Act: a case study in the challenges of production
    April 8: Katie Brennan | Urban Pictorial Space

    KELOWNA ART GALLERY 1315 WATER STREET  KELOWNA, BC  V1Y 9R3
    T: (250) 762-2226  F: (250) 762-9875  www.kelownaartgallery.com
    08 Jan 2010

    Family Constellation Workshop March 19-21, 2010 in Kelowna, BC

    Family Constellation Weekend With Claus Kostka
    FRIDAY evening, all day SATURDAY & all day SUNDAY,
    March 19 - 21, 2010

    Claus Kostka is an internationally renowned Family Constellation facilitator and Systemic Energy Psychologist from Europe. His workshops are powerful, inspiring, and heart-opening. Kostka has a genuine and warm presence -- a warmth and wisdom that inspires trust. He is a licensed psychotherapist with a private practice spanning 25 years. He is also a certified art therapist, somatic-body therapist, and family therapist. His work has a strong spiritual (non-sectarian) foundation.  Kostka's work heals intergenerational suffering. It enlivens us to our sense of purpose, our deepest selves, and our relationships.

    Family Constellation Work as developed by Bert Hellinger, is a facilited group process that helps to reveal and liberate us from repetitive entanglements with our ancestors and families of origin. This process can lead to profound changes in our lives in the realms of relationship, money, creativity, and spirituality. As the process unfolds we rediscover our inner radiance and clarity.

    Location: Kelowna, BC                         

    Course Fee:     
    Full Participant - getting your constellation done:
    $395 early bird (before Jan 31st)
    $450 (after Jan 31st)
                                       
    Proxy / Supporting Participant - standing in for other peoples' family members:
    $195  early bird (before Jan 31st)
    $250 (after Jan 31st)

    Registration Contact:  
    Cindy Reed 250-859-3917
    cindyr99@gmail.com

    "Over the course of the workshop, Kostka masterfully and tenderly illuminated the hidden dynamics of many inter-generational obstacles within my family in a manner which allowed me to affect immediate change in my life."
    -- Dan Nesbitt, Kostka workshop attendee

    Note:  You don't need to have any other members of your family present at the workshop to do this work.  All participants will have the opportunity to work directly with Claus Kostka on their own family constellations (therefore registration will be limited to 18 full-participants). People who would like to attend the workshop but do not wish to work on their own family systems are welcome to participate as Proxies/Supporting Participants at a reduced course fee.

    Sponsors:  the Alethea Foundation


    For further reference:

    Kostka's website: www.clauskostka.de (on the homepage be sure to click on the British Flag icon for the website's English translation.)

    Books:
    Love's Hidden Symmetry  by Bert Hellinger
    The Healing Power of the Past by Bertold Ulsamer

    Some words from Kostka himself:

    The Basis of my Work by Claus Kostka

    Every human being is unique, complete, and whole.

    There is nothing we need to attain because everything we seek for, wish, or desire, is already waiting and present -- within each one of us, without exception.

    Sometimes we forget this. Then we feel as if all beauty, all life force, all warmth has left us. We no longer feel at home with our selves.

    To become centered again, to allow satisfaction into our lives, and to be able to nourish ourselves, we need the courage to move in new directions.

    In our work, we reclaim our denied feelings and reintegrate them; by doing so we build a strong basis of ease for dealing with the difficulties of life. We become joyful and appreciative in relationships, and we experience a blossoming and growing capacity for love.

    We create space for beauty and for something that is much bigger than ourselves.

    In this process we reconnect with our courage: the courage we need to come home again.

    For over 20 years I have had the privilege to guide people in their search for themselves. I deeply enjoy being able to help them rediscover their radiance, their beauty, and their vision. I love doing what I do!

    Family Constellation Work in the tradition of Bert Hellinger:

    Each and every one of us lives in a system.

    This system consists of people - spouses/domestic partners, parents and all the rest of a person's forebears - and is shaped by our individual cultural heritage.

    As I've learned from the work of Bert Hellinger, these systems have their own natural order - an order which is important to respect. When this order (of love) is disrupted, the effects are felt by subsequent generations as the system tries to correct itself. The result is a situation in which people are seemingly chained to a destiny which is not really theirs and which prevents them from finding and leading authentic existences. Many of us live this way without realizing it and without recognizing that we are repeating the fates of other family members.

    As long as we haven't found 'our own lives', we cannot begin to realize our potential in any satisfying way. Until we can unlock our inner potential, it is impossible to satisfy our soul's longing and find inner peace.

    Most personal problems, including problems in relationships, result from disturbances in family systems. These problems follow familiar patterns and have a way of repeating themselves over and over.

    This workshop is designed to help people

        * To see dysfunctional systems with clarity and make them functional again
        * To make decisions that will bring their relationships onto a new and firmer foundation (or end a relationship amicably)
        * To heal difficult and painful family problems (such as divorce, death, illness, and separation)
        * To learn to be more compassionate
        * To draw proper boundaries and discover their own healing powers
    08 Jan 2010

    Friends of Jazz Cafe

    We at Jazz Cafe are starting to get organized for the 17th of Jan. This month’s special guest is singer/songwriter Flora Ware from Nelson BC. You will enjoy her smooth vocal style well beyond the roots of Jazz. Her latest album is aptly named “Insight” When I first heard it I instantly thought Zero 7 (who are one of my fav British chill bands). I am truly pleased to have her perform this month at Jazz Cafe.

    Bursary Notes: Well with only two Jazz Cafes behind us, the Bursary total is already at $200.00. Thank you, Thank you Thank you. This months raffle prizes include Dinner Certificates for Milestones, Orchard Park, and Suzanne’s Fashions + CD’s and of course a ticket to next months Jazz CafО. $2 a ticket and 3 for $5

    Note in your calendar for upcoming events to attend:

    Jan 9th -Sir Winston Pub (Vernon) with Loni Moger & Bernie Addington

    Jan 14th -Ricardo’s (Winfield) with Neville Bowman & Bernie Addington

    Jan 17th -JAZZ CAFE at the Black Box (Kelowna)

    Feb 3rd -KSS band concert at KCT with Anna Jacyszyn and the grade 11 & 12 jazz bands (more info coming)

    Feb 6th - Kelowna Jazz & Blues Society fund raiser at KCT (more info coming) Jazz CafО is sponsoring a fun photo booth to raise money for future festivals in Kelowna. Come down and support the cause.

    As always, I welcome your emails with suggestions, comments and just saying hello. It’s great to hear from you. I truly hope that I can continue bringing great songs and talent to you and your like minded guests. It’s my honor to please you and I hope that’s what we do at Jazz Cafe.

    Anna Jacyszyn and the Jazz Cafe team
    www.jazzcafekelowna.com
    250 763-6141
    08 Jan 2010

    Cheuk Fai (Jeffrey) Wong, "Attempt"



    Kelowna, BC-based Chinese-born emerging artist Jeffrey Wong presents an exhibition of paintings titled Attempt, that is a cross-cultural commentary on the global state of affairs based on his personal experiences and ideas relating to the issues of immigration in general. Wongís approach to this question is two-fold; his desire to be able to live in Canada and adopt Canadian values on one hand, and questioning if it is even possible culturally on the other.

    Check out our new website at www.vernonpublicartgallery.com

    3228 31st Avenue, Vernon, BC, V1T 2H3
    Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm
    Saturday,11:00am to 4:00pm 
    08 Jan 2010

    Joanne Gervais, "Re-Sourced/Recalled"

    The Vernon Public Art Gallery will host the exhibition titled Re-Sourced/Recalled by Kelowna, BC-based artist, Joanne Gervais. Her exhibition at the VPAG is a video installation that addresses the issues of ethnicity and cultural identity. Her previous work focused on creating commemorative narratives for specific audiences, often descendants of the First Nations and French homesteaders in Northern Alberta. In this exhibition Gervais advances the notion that the sense of nostalgia became a unifying factor that contributed to the formation of the cultural identity of MÈtis in that region.  The source images for this video installation are actual photographs, digital images, documentaries and various culturally implied narratives communicated orally and in written format. As an artist and descendant of MÈtis culture, Gervais offers the viewers an opportunity to engage and explore the video itself as a non-linear presentation of imagery and sound tracks that form the open-ended propositions relating to the history and interaction of different ethnic groups.

    Check out our new website at www.vernonpublicartgallery.com

    3228 31st Avenue, Vernon, BC, V1T 2H3
    Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm
    Saturday,11:00am to 4:00pm 
    08 Jan 2010

    Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens, "Horse & Sparrow"



    The Topham Brown Memorial Gallery in the Vernon Public Art Gallery will exhibit Montreal and Vancouver based artists, Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens.  Ibghy and Lemmens have been producing collaborative works since 2002. Their practice is focused on synthesising modes of expression that combine linguistic, scientific and visual forms of representation.  In this exhibtion titled Horse & Sparrow the analysis of various models and theories allows them to  bring together seemingly non-related variables that result in propositions and commentaries on the human condition.

    Exhibition runs from January 7 - March 11
    3228 31st Avenue, Vernon, BC, V1T 2H3
    Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm
    Saturday,11:00am to 4:00pm

    Check out our new website at www.vernonpublicartgallery.com
    08 Jan 2010

    Looking into Ice

    The Summerland Art Gallery is pleased to announce the first show of its 2010 season ... "LOOKING INTO ICE" features the digital photographs of local Summerland artist, Jeremy Heibert.



    These abstracts of ice and snow reveal stunning images. Heibert says the he has "grown to love ice for its ephemeral beauty. It emerges for minutes or days before changing or disappearing - like infinite simulations run from equations using nothing but gravity, time, temperature, wind and water."

    "LOOKING INTO ICE" opens with a wine and cheese reception on Thursday, January 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. and continues until March 13, 2010.
    The Summerland Art Gallery, at 9533 Main Street, is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

    For further information. please call the Summerland Art Centre at 250-494-4494 or slandarts@telus.net.  And don't forget our website  www.summerlandarts.com and http://twitter.com/artspalette
    08 Jan 2010

    Conduit Festival

    Proceeds toward Okanagan Greens Society (Non Profit);

    Okanagan Greens Society
    Working together in our community for a healthy environment, happy people and a sustainable local economy.

    The Event: Conduit Festival
    ‘Cakewalk Co-Op’ has partnered with ‘Okanagan Greens Society’ to bring the people CONDUIT; A live showcase of local and organic emerging and established Art, music, installation, sculpture, eco-activism, handmade crafts, Cake, literature, furniture, heirloom seeds, beer, wine, martinis, snacks, fire spinners, story tellers, slam poets, and speakers.

    -Saturday Feb. 6, 2010
    -4pm to 1am
    -Multiple galleries and spaces within the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
    -Sliding Scale admission

    Venue donated by Cultural Services; The city wants to see more activity in the art district to hold interest for the 18-35 year old demographic.

    Live Performers:
    We are committed to sourcing the most auspicious in local experimental, folk and Alternative Music.

    List: Kevin Kane, Old Man’s Beard, Prarie Cat, Midnight, Leila Neverland, Uncanny Valley, The Capers, Time, Yoko, Sam Wilson, Alison Cociani, Nixie, Imaginary friend, Bradley Florent, Thom Bouman, Vanessa Eides, Lee Schurian, Timothy Fehr, Kinshira, and more…
    07 Jan 2010

    Author Readings- Matt Radar and Gillian Wigmore

    Join authors Gillian Wigmore and Matt Radar on January 14th at 6pm as they read from their original works. This event is free and will be held in room Art 106 at UBC Okanagan. Everyone is welcome.



    Gillian Wigmore grew up in Vanderhoof, BC, and currently lives in Prince George. Her first book soft geography was nominated for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry prize and won the Relit Poetry Award in 2008. Recently, she has been shortlisted for both the Malahat long poem prize and the Great BC Novella conest.



    Matt Radar is the author of two collections of poetry, Miraculous Hours (Nightwood 2005) and Living Things  (Nighwood 2008). Published in magazines, journals, and anthologies around the globe, Rader's poems and stories have been nominated for numerous awards including The National Magazine Award, the Pushcart Prize, The Gerald Lampert Award, and The Journey Prize. He teaches creative writing at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, in British Columbia's Lower Mainland.
    05 Jan 2010

    Songwriters Workshop

    Songwriters Deadline Extended to Jan. 31



    Due to an unprecedented number of requests, from “Songwriters” from across Western Canada, the deadline for submissions to the 15th Annual Bill Henderson – Roy Forbes “Songwriters Workshop Weekend/Intensive” (April 17 & 18, 2010 at The George Ryga Centre, Summerland) has been extended to Jan. 31, 2010.

    Songwriters should register “immediately” by sending two songs(on CD or tape) with “two sets of type-written lyrics” (plus a $30 registration fee payable by cheque or M.O. to: The George Ryga Centre).

    Submissions should be mailed to: Songwriters’ Workshops C/O Ken Smedley
    Box 323, Armstrong, B.C., VOE 1B0
    05 Jan 2010

    Sunshine Theatre Company presents Apr 14,1912

    Apr 14,1912 runs Jan 13-17th  at 8PM at the RCA

    "The beautiful and poignant images that sweep across the stage...fire the imagination and stay with us long after the curtain has rung down", The Globe and Mail

    In honour of the 98th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, April 14, 1912 will be coming to Kelowna through April 13-17th at 8:00 p.m. with a matinee performance on Thursday, April 15th at noon.



    Produced by Toronto-based theatre company Rusticle Theatre, April 14, 1912 weaves together three viewpoints from one of the greatest tragedies in the 20th century: the sinking of the Titanic.

    Inspired by the story of one of the shipís surviving Marconi officers, Harold Bride, the performance does more than recreate events. Bride (Patrick Conner) and his fellow officer, Jack Phillips (Matthew Romantini) are real characters, and through them audiences hear the literal and imagined hopes, dreams and fears of the passengers.  The production's third character is the story's femme fatale, the ship herself, played by Lucy Rupert.

    Tickets just $30.00 available at www.select yourtickets.com or call 250-717-5304
    01 Jan 2010

    Sunshine Theatre Company presents You Fancy Yourself

    Award winning writer/performer Maja Ardal's one-woman comic tour-de-force is a ìsuitcaseî show, designed to tour. It can be performed in a community hall or theatre. Physically mobile, this play is however epic in scope. Maja plays 11 brilliant, quirky characters, in an action-packed challenging, humorous and poignant tale of the growing pains of a girl trying to fit in to a new culture.   YOU FANCY YOURSELF is guaranteed to both entertain and strike a chord with audiences of all ages.
     

    This hilarious and poignant tale of playground politics and childhood loyalties set against the background of 1950s Edinburgh, tells the story of six year old Elsa whose family has emigrated from the land of the Vikings and fairies to wild and woolly Scotland.  Post-war industrial Edinburgh is suspicious of foreigners and Elsa quickly and cruelly learns that navigating her way through her new world of tenement buildings, scrubbing ladies and elf children will require more than learning the words to ëScotland the Braveí.  Fitting in means taking on the schoolyard bullies; and that being fascinated with the massacre of Glencoe doesn't make you Scottish; and that dreams come with a high price.

    Tickets just $30.00 available at www.select yourtickets.com or call 250-717-5304
    31 Dec 2009

    THE SHAKESPEARE SHOW

    Or;
    How an illiterate son of a Glover became
    the Greatest Playwright in the World



    If you have a love for language, physical comedy and intelligent wit & even if you don't know any Shakespeare you'll still understand The Shakespeare Show. Monster Theatre's Artistic Director Ryan Gladstone wrote the play entirely in iambic pentameter and almost completely in rhyming couplets.  

    Based on the greatest theatrical debate of all time, The Shakespeare Show investigates the theory that the plays of William Shakespeare were actually penned by Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford.

    Just like one of his tragic heroes, Oxford sets his own tragedy in motion by using young Will Shakespeare, the boy who holds the horses outside the theatre, as a "Front" for his playwriting ventures.  The result?  Another "relentlessly clever, action-packed and intellectually satisfying" (Edmonton Journal) Monster Theatre adventure, complete with puppets, songs, satire and swordfights.  

    Tickets just $30.00 available at www.select yourtickets.com or call 250-717-5304
    The Shakespeare Show runs Wed Jan 13-Sat Jan 16th at 8PM at the RCA
    31 Dec 2009

    Okanagan Symphony Masterworks Series III ~ OUR FUTURE

    Kelowna Community Theatre, Saturday, January 23, 8:00 p.m.
    Vernon Performing Arts Centre, Sunday, January 24, 7:00 p.m.

    Celebrating fifty years of classical music in the Okanagan Valley means celebrating our youth, especially those who study and stay here, going on to perform in a professional capacity on local stages. Young people who study music excel in many areas of their lives, both as young students, and throughout their careers and other endeavours. In "Our Future" the orchestra celebrates the youth of our community in a number of ways. The OSO will be joined onstage by the Youth Symphony of the Okanagan for this concert.

    Program:
    "Child Play",Stephen Gellman
    "Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor", BWV 1043 [Vivace; Largo ma non Tanto; Allegro], Johann Sebastian Bach
    "The Songs of the Lights" [Song of the Stars; The Sower; The Sun is a Luminous Shield; Daybreak Song], Imant Raminsh
    "Concerto for Timpani & Strings", [Bachroque; Aria; Horse Ride], Ney Rosauro

        Guest Artists: Alicia Venables, violin; Colleen Venables, violin; Candesca Vocal Ensemble, Alexandra Babel, Director; Dominique Bernath, timpani

    Celebrated Canadian Composer Gellman wrote Child Play under a commission from the CBC, and it premiered in 1992 under the baton of Simon Streatfield and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.

    Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings and Continuo in D Minor (BWV 1043), also known as the Double Violin Concerto, is perhaps one of the most famous works by JS Bach and considered among the best examples of the work of the late Baroque period. Bach wrote it in Leipzig sometime between 1730 and 1731, most likely for the Leipzig Collegium Musicum, of which he was the director. In addition to the two soloists, the concerto is scored for strings and basso continuo. The concerto is characterized by the subtle yet expressive relationship between the violins throughout the work. The musical structure of this piece uses fugal imitation and much counterpoint in three movements.
    The first movement is featured in the Woody Allen film Hannah and her Sisters, the second in the film Children of A Lesser God.
    Remarkable young violinists Alicia and Colleen Venables have performed onstage with the OSO for several years, as well as playing in the Youth Symphony of the Okanagan. They will be performing this same Bach work with the VSO. We are delighted that we signed them up first! in this same concert year. Both young students are award-winning musicians with outstanding opportunities and careers ahead.

    The Songs of the Lights is a set of four movements for treble choir, flute, glockenspiel, and strings, based on Algonquin and Navajo texts, sung in English. This evocative choral and orchestra composition from renowned international choral and orchestral composer Raminsh, Principal Second Violin with the OSO, will be rendered in all its tenderness and evocation by Candesca, the group of young Okanagan-based female singers who toured Europe in the summer of 2008 with their director, Alexandra Babbel.

    Rosauro's Concerto for Timpani & Strings is a unique work in which the soloist plays singing melodies rather than drum patterns. Audiences love this challenging work composed in 2003 which is loaded with tuning changes and musicality. Ranging from an homage to Bach, to lyric melodies, to lively ragtime, it is composed by Brazilian percussionist Ney Rosauro, Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Miami. Dominique Bernath, OSO Principal Timpani since 1997, enjoys a vibrant career playing regularly with the Vancouver Symphony, Prince George Symphony, West Coast Symphony, Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the Willingdon Church Orchestra.

    Open dress rehearsal...
    Kelowna Community Theatre, from 2-4:30 pm on Saturday, January 23. Admission is free.

    Pre-concert talks...
    One hour before each mainstage concert (except Christmas and The Andrew Lloyd Webber Experience) our Music Director and Conductor Rosemary Thomson will greet ticket holders with an in-depth discussion and Q&A session on each mainstage concert. Just plan on joining us in the theatre one hour before showtime, and enjoy and learn from this in-depth presentation on that evening's music, compositions, and composers.

    Afterthoughts...
    In every city, Rosemary invites the concert's guest artist/s to join her onstage post-concert with one or two musicians from the orchestra to share questions and thoughts with the audience.

    Concert proudly presented by TD Canada Trust Music
    29 Dec 2009

    GO Party! fundraiser at the KAG

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is organizing our third GO Party! fundraiser as our opening reception for Kelowna Collects exhibition on Friday Jan 15, 2010.

    To help Kelowna put on its best face in 2010 when we welcome visitors from around the world who come to the Vancouver Olympics and stay to tour the province, the Kelowna Art Gallery devised this loan exhibition of important works of art in private collections in this city.

    The GO Party! event is building on our already successful gallery openings, making the evening bigger and better. Guests will enjoy music by performers from the Okanagan Symphony. There will be refreshments, a silent auction, door prizes, and the opportunity to see works of art in our community collections.

    Tickets are $10 for members, and $20 for non-members, and can be purchased at the gallery or by calling 250-762-2226. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser support innovative exhibitions and public programming at the Kelowna Art Gallery.

    Mark your calendars for January 15 and join us for an event of olympic proportions at the Kelowna Art Gallery!

    Kelowna Collects is sponsored by Pushor Mitchell Lawyers.


    23 Dec 2009

    Christmas Open House December 19 & 20

    at the Oyama Lake Alpaca Farm

    Hot apple cider and Christmas baking will be served between 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.      You may also browse in our Gift Gallery for some Christmas gift giving ideas.     We are also open during the week, by appointment, for those who are unable to visit during the weekend.
     
    There are directions to our farm www.alpacadelights.com under "Contact Us".    Please look for signs by the side of the road en route to our farm.
     
    Our herd of 29 Alpacas eagerly await your visit to the farm which is decorated for the holiday festive season.

    Sincerely,
    Darlene & Jim
    Oyama Lake Alpaca Farm
    'Alpaca Delights' Gift Gallery
    Guided Farm Tours
    14 Dec 2009

    Concept Green: Exhibition runs December 11- 31, 2009

    Passers by the window display are directed to follow the words of poet Greg Younging, “…my beloved beautiful life-giving sacred curving Earth…”

    His words are situated in a cascade of reclaimed plastics, lit up in disco green, a collaborative presentation with painter/sculptor Kevin Michael Witzke.

    The message of this first point of contact is clear. There are many possible directions to take, however there is guidance to be found from the elders of this beautiful land,“…Elder, teacher, survivor, warrior…”

    Enter through the doors and into the main gallery.  The messages begin to develop in hue and tone. Unusual juxtapositions and an eclectic mix of green directions mark this 20th annual members’ exhibition at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, bringing together 31 artists from the Okanagan Valley.

    The works on display in the main gallery appear to be drawn around a central work, a second sculpture by Kevin Michael Witzke. Using water, earth pigments and time, Witzke has built a three dimensional painting, a time piece not unlike an hourglass which he uses to bring us back to ages of ice and rock and the stories of the people and the land who have occupied this valley for thousands of years.

    A new work by artist David Wilson reminds us of these stories. A stunning and powerful painting couched in red and gold, Path of the Sacred Tree, tells us that the earth will heal when people as individuals find balance within themselves.

    Wilson, an artist of the Syilx nation tells us:
    “The elders say that our minds are like two opposite snakes one good and one bad this must be so as this makes us whole like the creator.  We can not be too far at either end of the spectrum we must be in the middle it is like taking black and white and making grey.”
     
    Contrasts of history and the now collide like blue and yellow as artists of the Okanagan take us on a journey through time.  From the first peoples of this land to the Alternator’s new 1960’s lounge through to the modern day clinical, commercial and poetic approaches, these artists provide a rich array of voice and consideration of time, place and vision in an exciting exhibition offering a direction for all.

    The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Province of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council; the BC Gaming Commission; the City of Kelowna; the Central Okanagan Foundation; the Kelowna and District Arts Council; the Vancouver Foundation, members, volunteers, Lois Lane Warehouse and the Okanagan community.

    The Alternator would also like to offer a special thank you to all of the participating artists including; Miranda Aschenbrenner, Scott August, Susan Bizecki, Vanessa Bohay, Chris Bose, Gabe Cipes, Aunaray Carol Clusian, Adrian  Duceac, Timothy Fehr, David Jefferess, Robert Jenkins, Mary B. Jenkins, Katfish, Sandra Kessler, Jake Kennedy, Santa Tom Kliner, Shawn Laraby, Heather Martin, Mattoo, Mike Macleod, Kathryn Newman-Renwick, Erika Meissl, Richard Moncion, Alice Pallett, Jennifer Pickering, Arthur Schwimmer, Lacia Vogel, Kim Walker, David Wilson, Kevin Michael Witzke and Kyle Zsombor.
           
    Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
    #103-421 Cawston Ave. Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6Z1
    250-868-2298
    13 Dec 2009

    SPEAKeasy @ Gallery Vertigo

    Friday December 18th @ 8pm

    This month Okanagan College's Other:____ Literary Magazine will be hosting the SPEAKeasy alongside the launch of their latest issue at Gallery Veritgo on December 18, 2009.

    Come and read your poetry or prose, show off your visual arts, sing your songs, or play your instruments - anything goes. If you're not performing, stop by and enjoy the show.

    The "Otherers" also be launching Issue 3/8 of Other:___ - a whole new look by a whole new team. Of course, the new issue be on sale, as well as buttons and old issues.

    Calling Writers and Illustrators: Place your submissions in a submissions box for the spring issue of Other:____.

    Doors open at 8:00pm, the show starts at 8:30pm.


     About the SPEAKeasy Tradition:

    Once an establishment that sold alcohol illegally during prohibition, the term Speakeasy, from here on in, will refer to a gathering of the creative community at Gallery Vertigo. SPEAKeasy offers a chance to network, share ideas, and keep in touch with the creative pulse of the Okanagan...a venue for artists to perform, witers to read and musicians to play.

    The original SPEAKeasy was an elaborate show with food, live music, floor shows and strip tease dancers. The SPEAKeasy at Gallery Vertigo may prove to be just as much fun....well maybe minus the striptease dancers...the atmosphere will be casual....conducive to innovation and inspiration.

    All are welcome to attend. Our door is open to students, creative professionals and curious onlookers. Choose to perform or just sit back and enjoy. It's your home sweet home.

    "Anybody who is anybody will soon walk through that door..." (from the movie Bugsy Malone, "Speakeasy")

    Admission by Donation. Suggested Donation is $3.00. (Pay what you can.)

    Complimentary Refreshments will be served.
    08 Dec 2009

    NEW YEAR, NEW MUSIC, NEW PLACES

    DZUNUKWA - A SPATIAL TROMBONE CHOIR EVENT
    PERFORMERS: The Slide Rule Trombone Choir
    UBC Forest Services Centre, Macmillan Bloedel Atrium, Vancouver, BC
    DATE: 7:00 pm; January 7, 2010
    ADMISSION: FREE
     
    Vancouver, BC… Vancouver, BC. New Music in New Places continues to boldly go where no Canadian music has gone before with our first concert of 2010: Dzunukwa. Featuring the Slide Rule Trombone Choir led by Jeremy Berkman, this free concert showcases the music of both established and emerging composers within the awe-inspiring architecture of the UBC Forest Sciences Building. This event is co-presented with the Redshift Music Society and the UBC School of Music. Admission is free and the concert begins at 7pm in the Macmillan Bloedel Atrium, located at 2424 Main Mall on the UBC campus.
     
    Dzunukwa takes its name from the First Nations ogress of Kwakwaka’wakw mythology, and a favourite subject of the renowned BC artist Emily Carr. Dzunukwa was both the bringer of wealth and the stealer of children; she was both feared and revered. In tribute to this awe-inspiring mythical figure, the music for this event will reflect on the power, rapture, bounty and potential danger inspired by our province’s natural beauty.
     
    One of the UBC campus’ newest buildings, the Forest Sciences Centre boasts a stunning, four-storey indoor atrium, constructed of Canadian forest products. For Dzunukwa, Redshift will fill every corner of this amazing building with music by established and emerging Canadian composers. Lurking in the balconies and skulking in the parapets, the musicians of the Slide Rule Trombone Choir will perform new works written specifically for the venue by composers Scott Good, Jordan Nobles and Jocelyn Morlock, as well as UBC composers Farshid Samandari, Jeff Caron, Roydon Tse, Benton Roark and Conor Stuart.
     
    The Redshift Music Society was founded in 2001 in Vancouver, with a focus on bringing the music of contemporary Canadian composers to the general public through unique musical events, mostly in public venues.
     
    New Music in New Places is an innovative concert series presented by the Canadian Music Centre, designed to bring Canadian contemporary music out of the concert hall and into the lives of Canadians.
     
    The Canadian Music Centre is an independent, not for profit, non-government agency that promotes and disseminates the music of Canadian composers.   The Canadian Music Centre gratefully acknowledges the support of the SOCAN Foundation and the Government of Canada through the Canada Music Fund. More Info: Canadian Music Centre http://www.musiccentre.ca/ 604-734-4622
     
    04 Dec 2009

    Wintermezzo at the Greenroom!

    We are totally trying  something new at the Greenroom next weekend and we think you're going to love it.
    We've booked 5 of the most talented musicians in the valley to bring you a beautifully relaxing night filled with Piano, Violins, Bass and Vocals.  Add to that a fantastic three course dinner (click here for more info) and you have one heck of a night out with friends.  Its a mellow meeting of retro christmas vocals and classical Christmas instrumentals.

    Featured performers include:
    Roslyn Frantz on Piano
    Susan Aylard on Violin
    Shari House on Violin and Mandolin
    Edmund House on Contrabass
    and Rick Worrall on Vocals.

    December 3rd to 5th (Thurs to Sat)
    Dinner and Show at 7:30pm
    Tickets are only $45 including three course dinner
    Can be purchased at the Actors Studio Box office or by calling the Greenroom at 250-869-0193.  

    Reserve your tickets soon as there are less than 100 left in total for the three nights combined.
    29 Nov 2009

    Here and Now: Creative Studies Research Talk by Peter Morin

    You are invited to attend our last ìHere and Nowî talk of term one!  Bring your lunch and enjoy the event.

    HERE AND NOW: RESEARCH IN CREATIVE STUDIES

    December 1st ,  1 - 2 PM  
    Fipke 124

    "A Look into Three of Twelve"
    by  Peter Morin

    MFA Graduate student Peter Morin will present 3 of the 12 Making Objects interventions recently completed for Open Space gallery in Victoria, BC.  These interventions were created with the intention of creating pathways of transformation of the grief and spiritual trauma within aboriginal communities as a result of the Residential School system.  As an inter-generational survivor, Morin created twelve interventionist performances in which the audience, along with the performer, could acknowledge the effect of this grief and co-author ways of creating change.

    In one of the performances, Peter worked with High school students to created thirteen Button Blankets. These blankets were combined to create a giant button blanket for the Earth.   
     
    In the second performance intervention, Peter demonstrates how to read aboriginal written language. His visual work concerns itself with the authentic relationship building between objects of meaning within Tahltan cultural practice.
     
    In the third intervention, Peter worked with Martial Artist David Kong to clear the gallery of negative energy so that the work of healing and transformation could be accomplished.  

    Peter Morin is an MFA student working in the department of Creative Studies and is a member of the Crow Clan of the Tahltan Nation.
    27 Nov 2009

    ubc okanagan fall 2009 Deans' Lecture Series

    Dr. Robert Belton, Dean of Creative and Critical Studies
    He Said, She Said: Why Do People See Different Things in Creative Acts?

    WHEN:  Friday, November 20,  12:15 – 1:15 pm
     
    WHERE:  Downtown Kelowna Branch, Okanagan Regional Library -- 1380 Ellis St., Kelowna
     
    The Deans' Lecture Series is a brown-bag lunch event that offers the public a chance to learn about the latest developments in research and teaching at UBC Okanagan, as well as participate in engaging conversation with the deans and researchers themselves, and network with community and business members. The Nov. 20 talk will be He Said, She Said: Why Do People See Different Things in Creative Acts?, presented by Dr. Robert Belton, Dean of Creative and Critical Studies.

    Have you ever had one of those conversations about a book or a movie that ended in disagreement with words like, “I don’t think you were watching the same movie I was?” Why is that—especially when you’ve been watching exactly the same movie or reading the same book? Robert Belton, Dean of the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, presents an overview of some current research into the psychology of responses to works of art and the way differences in such things as priming, task requirements, selective attention, cognitive mastery and interpretive fluency affect our judgments of visual art, films, and all sorts of other creative acts.

    Registration:  No cost, but registration is required. To reserve a seat, e-mail <mailto:cs.ubco@ubc.ca>cs.ubco@ubc.ca or by phone 250-807-9289. Space is limited so reserve a seat today!

    For More Information:  <http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/continuingstudies/programs/deanseries.html>http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/continuingstudies/programs/deanseries.html
    Note – This event is sponsored by UBC Okanagan and the Okanagan Regional Library.
    We look forward to having you join us for this engaging talk in the Deans’ Lecture Series, along with coffee/tea and conversation this fall!
    14 Nov 2009

    Okanagan Festival Singers Handel's MESSIAH

    The Okanagan Festival Singers, BC Interior's foremost choral ensemble, presents Handel's well-known oratorio, MESSIAH on Saturday, November 28th at the First Lutheran Church, 4091 Lakeshore Rd, Kelowna at 7:30pm.  

    Leroy Wiens conducts Orchestra, Chorus and Soloists.  Nancy DiNovo is Concertmaster.
    Soloists are: Christina Jahn, soprano
                  Fabiana Katz, alto
                  Jerald Fast, tenor
                  Paul Grindley, bass

    Join MESSIAH lovers everywhere who make this musical event their start to the Christmas season!

    A reception for audience and musicians follows the concert.

    Tickets are limited:  $28 Adults   $20 Students
    Available through: www.ofsingers.com
                       Choir members
                       or phone: 250-763-8070
    13 Nov 2009

    Theatre Kelowna Society presents: "Scrooge & Marley"

    Take the timeless Dickens' tale of "A Christmas Carol", and present it from the viewpoint of the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's departed partner..add in a bunch of favorite Christmas carols and you have TKS's Christmas Show, "Scrooge & Marley".  Director Brian Haigh has taken traditional "Christmas Carol" scenes and added snippets from the text of Dickens' original story to create a new approach to one of the classic Christmas stories of all time.  Featuring Charlie Fleming as Scrooge and Jeff Samin as Marley with Choral direction by Robin Jarmin, this production is suitable for all ages.

    Theatre Kelowna Society, born in 1949 as "Kelowna Little Theatre" is in their 60th year of community theatre in Kelowna.  Come help celebrate with "Scrooge & Marley"!  Opening Night Birthday Party!

    Kelowna Community Theatre

    Nov. 27-Dec. 6
    evenings 7:30; weekend matinees 2PM
    www.selectyourtickets.com  250-762-5050

    Box office at Prospera Place
    $20 adult; $15 student/senior; $10 kids 12 & under; Family of 4 $40.

    info. at Theatre Kelowna  250-862-8673  www.theatrekelowna.org
    12 Nov 2009

    Three new exhibitions now on at the Kelowna Art Gallery

    Utopia / Dystopia: The Photographs of Geoffrey James
    Organized by the National Gallery of Canada
    October 31, 2009 to January 10, 2010

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to host Utopia / Dystopia: The Photographs of Geoffrey James. This is a large exhibition of mostly gelatin silver photographs by this internationally recognized Canadian artist, organized by the National Gallery of Canada. The themes and subjects are wide ranging, and include works from the artist’s 1970s panoramic-format photographs of European gardens series, his work on the asbestos mines in Quebec from 1993, some examples of his Running Fence series on the border fence between Mexico and California, from 1999, and work since the turn of the century, including photographs made in Paris in the year 2000, and his Toronto-based works from 1999 onwards. James is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and has been the focus of many important exhibitions and publications. This exhibition is accompanied by a major publication. The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Canada and is sponsored by Meiklejohn Architects.

    Bryan Ryley: Sum of Destructions
    November 7, 2009 to January 10, 2010

    Okanagan-based artist Bryan Ryley has installed a suite of ten colourful works on paper with an attendant painting on canvas, produced in 2004 and all based on a single small drawing by Pablo Picasso. The drawing was a small preparatory sketch for Picasso’s famous 1937 painting, Guernica, and features a clasped fist gripping a broken sword. Ryley moves from one meditation to another in the works on paper, considering violence and war from various points of view.

    Dysfunctional Chairs Series: Lori Mairs: Ellispes
    November 7, 2009 to May 9, 2010

    Lori Mairs’s Ellipses is the fourth in an ongoing series of commissions of contemporary art at the Kelowna Art Gallery for our outdoor Rotary Courtyard space. Kelowna-based artist Lori Mairs responded to the challenge of creating a dysfunctional chair-themed work by creating a deconstructed chair, that is an arrangement or conglomeration of chair-ish elements, utilizing the whole courtyard space. Mairs has used her hallmark materials of steel flatbar framing in shapes whose planar edges are formed by coating mulberry paper with beeswax. Intriguing on many levels, the work in this show will also be re-arranged and positioned by the artist during its run.

    The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm, closed Mondays.

    Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors and $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 – 9 pm.
    09 Nov 2009

    On exhibition at the Kelowna Art Gallery: We Are Artists

    Guest Curated by Sara Lige
    November 28, 2009 – March 21, 2010

    Opening reception is on November 27 at 7:00 pm
    The reception is open to the general public
    This project is a partnership between the Kelowna Art Gallery and the Cool Arts Society.

    We Are Artists is an exhibition that will showcase the artistic efforts of local artists who have developmental disabilities.This will be the first exhibition of its kind at the Kelowna Art Gallery and will be an invaluable opportunity to both connect this population that typically experiences minimal access to the arts, and to challenge dominant perceptions about people with developmental disabilities.
    Traditionally, people with developmental disabilities have not enjoyed the same access to the arts as non-disabled people; therefore the We Are Artists exhibition is an important show that promotes diversity, accessibility and equality in the arts.

    Sara Lige, a local artist and founder of Cool Arts, is the guest curator of the exhibition. Since its inception in Kelowna in 2003, Cool Arts has offered arts instruction and art-making opportunities to local adults with developmental disabilities in the Central Okanagan.

    We would like to thank the Province of British Columbia and 2010 Legacies Now for their support of We Are Artists. We would also like to recognize our other community partners, the Central Okanagan Foundation, Arts Council of theCentral Okanagan, Kelowna Sunrise Rotary, United Way, Kiwanis Kelowna Summit Club, and Kickstart.

    Panel Discussion on Disability Arts
    Saturday, November 28 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm

    The panel is hosted by the Kelowna Art Gallery, and will be moderated by UBC-O professor Stephen Foster, will include guest curator and Cool Arts founder, Sara Lige, Carolyn MacHardy UBC-O professor of Art History, Rachelle Hole, UBCO Professor of Disability Studies, Geoff McMurchy, Founder and Creative Director of Kickstart, Vancouver, and Cool Arts artist Scott Gould.

    This exhibition runs from November 28, 2009 – March 21, 2010, and is on display in the Kelowna Art Gallery’s Front Project Space. The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, closed Mondays. Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 – 9 pm.
    09 Nov 2009

    Rodney DeCroo and Dave Lang - Our Money Your Feelings Tour

    Rodney DeCroo and Dave Lang bring the Our Money Your Feelings Tour to the Penticton Art Gallery on Sunday, November 22. Doors open at 7 pm.

    Smart words, smart chords, smart clothes ц Dave Lang has had a fondness for smartness since someone told him he had a smart mouth. Inspired by Cole Porter, Bob Wills, Randy Newman and Lenny Bruce, Lang writes smart songs that make you smile. гEven the love songs are biting and satirical,д  says Geoff Berner.

    Dave Lang is currently the ќmusician in residenceв at the Lyric Theatre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. He tours regularly with like-minded performers and is currently on a marathon three month tour of Canada. He has appeared on record alongside musicians such as Neko Case, Corb Lund, Geoff Berner and Carolyn Mark. He has written music for film and television and received glowing reviews online and in print magazines such as The Georgia Straight and Spin.

    Rodney Decroo, as one music writer put it, is a true original. Rodneyвs songs and performances are known for their authenticity ц he has lived what he sings and writes about. He delivers his songs like a scrap metal freight train blasting through mountains and valleys or with the sensitivity of a mother lion lulling her cubs to sleep. There are few hearts he can not touch.

    Rodney established himself at the Railway Club in downtown Vancouver; running the stage once a month for 3 years hosting his Folk You shows. Ridley Bent, Carolyn Mark,The Brakemen, Ida Nilsen and Sam Parton are just a few of the artists who performed on his stage. Heвs also shared stages across Canada with Elliot Brood, Cuff the Duke, Corb Lund, Herald Nix, Rae Spoon, Utah Phillips, Poв Girl, Cam Penner, and many other artists.

    DeCroo has five critically acclaimed CDs available.

    Tickets for the November 22nd Rodney DeCroo and Dave Lang concert are available at the Penticton Art Gallery; $10 for Gallery members and students, or $15 for non-members. This event will be held in the intimate concert setting of the Tea Room with seating limited to 50, so please reserve yours in advance. To arrange a media interview, reserve tickets, or for more information, please contact Paul Crawford at the Penticton Art Gallery; (250) 493-2928.

    http://www.myspace.com/wartornman
    http://www.sonicbids.com/rodneydecroo
    http://www.davelang.com
    http://www.myspace.com/davelang68

    09 Nov 2009

    Masterworks Series II ~ MASTERS OF MELODY

    In November, the Okanagan Symphony celebrates two of the great compositional masters, Mozart and Schubert.

    Kelowna Community Theatre, Saturday, November 21, 8:00 p.m.
    Vernon Performing Arts Centre, Sunday November 22, 7:00 p.m.

    Program: The Schubert Birds, Michael Colgrass;
    Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, K. 299, W. A. Mozart;
    Symphony No. 3 in D major, D200, Franz Schubert

    Guest Artists: Heidi Krutzen, harp and Lorna McGhee, flute

    **The Okanagan Symphony and the Rotary Centre for the Arts invite you to spend a uniquely entertaining evening combining the November 21, 2009 Symphony concert "Masters of Melody" with the classic EVERGREEN fundraiser, all in support of the arts.  See www.okanagansymphony.com

    "Twittering" takes on new meaning in composer Colgrass' fancifully titled work: a "little concerto" (in 41 variations) for orchestra based on Franz Schubert's Kupelwieser Waltz. Colgrass portrays Schubert as a bird who spent his life singing, surrounded by a circle of others who were attracted by his lyricism and sang with him. The rich tableau of sustained musical discourse involves instrumentation which takes on roles similar to those of characters in a play. Pulitzer prize-winner Colgrass is a jazz percussionist and composer who lived and worked in Chicago and New York, and now makes his home in Toronto.

    Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, K. 299 is one of only two true double concertos that Mozart wrote, as well as his only piece containing harp. One of the most popular such concerti in the repertoire, it was written in 1778 in Paris for the Court of Guinness, at a time when harp and flute was considered an extremely unusual combination. Today, the concerto is often played in chamber ensembles, regarded as technically challenging for both instrumentalists.

    Heidi Krutzen is Principal Harpist with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and is a member of Trio Verlaine, along with Lorna McGhee. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Krutzen is on the faculty of UBC and has performed widely around the world. Scottish-born Lorna McGhee was co-principal flute of the BBC Symphony Orchestra before immigrating to Canada in 1998. She has performed as guest principal with many orchestras, including the London Symphony, Academy of St-Martin-in-the-Fields, and Pittsburgh Symphony. As a soloist, she has performed internationally. Currently, she teaches at UBC.

    Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200 was written between 24 May and 19 July 1815, a few months after his eighteenth birthday. The four movements cover forms which range from slow and dramatic, to the lyrical charm and interplay of solo clarinet with syncopated strings. The symphony is breathtaking, full of grace and humour, with high spirits and dynamic contrast throughout.

    OPEN DRESS REHEARSAL...
    Kelowna Community Theatre, from 2-4:30 pm on Saturday November 21. Admission is free.
    PRE-CONCERT TALKS...
    One hour before each mainstage concert Music Director and Conductor Rosemary Thomson will greet ticket holders with an in-depth discussion and Q&A session on each mainstage concert.
    AFTERTHOUGHTS...
    Rosemary joins her guests and selct musicians onstage post-concert to share questions and thoughts with the audience.

    09 Nov 2009

    'Cool Blues Fusion' in Kelowna

    Having just finished off their festival season at the Okanagan Rhythm Festival, Small Change will be bringing their unique sound to the Minstrel Cafe,Friday November 13th @ 8 pm. Small Change has been getting great responses from it's concert audiences who have enjoyed the musical journey from highly charged rhythmical pieces to dark and moody. If you are looking for a night of great music, check out Small Change at the Minstrel.
     
    Small Change can be seen on Youtube (just google 'Youtube Small Change at Squilax') or go to  www.myspace.com/smallchangeokFor more inf. contact Jim at jimcopeman@telus.net  
    07 Nov 2009

    Call for Entry ~ January 22 - March 14, 2010

    "Art that cannot shape society and therefore also cannot penetrate the heart - is no art." ~ Joseph Beuys, 1985

    The Penticton Art Gallery would like to invite artists working in all media from across the British Columbia to participate in a non-juried exhibition set to open at the Penticton Art Gallery on Friday January 22, 2010. This exhibition is intended to provide a public forum to examine the legacy which will remain as a result of the recent cuts to arts and culture funding and the 2010 Olympic Games. As a result of these cuts the Penticton Art Gallery is not able to pay CARFAC fees for this exhibition but each participating artist will receive a copy of the catalogue for their records and the gallery will pay for the return shipping of all submitted artworks at the conclusion of the exhibition.

    Artists have long been at the forefront of social change and their legacy is not only the barometer for which the health of a society can be ascertained it's the benchmark for which historians will judge and record our passing. It‚s been an unprecedented year in so many ways both globally and provincially with the global economic crisis, the election of Barack Obama, our provinces devastating cuts to arts and culture and the onslaught of the 2010 Winter Olympics. As we begin to welcome the world to Vancouver what legacy will come of these events and what if any global change will result from such a significant international gathering? Artists from across the province are invited to submit a work which questions the state and health of our society today and the legacy which will remain as a result of these contemporary events.

    In considering this question we ask that you also consider the following quotes as they pertain to the Provincial Governments acknowledgement of the important roll that arts and culture plays in our province and the Olympic Games.

    "Think of what we're doing as we work with our First Nations people to create with them a sense of opportunity for the future. Think of what we can do with our young people as we hold that Olympic gold medal up ahead of them as they reach for that pinnacle of excellence in whatever sport they decide to pursue. And think of what it can do for our cultural community." ~ Premier Gordon Campbell address to the 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Olympic Bid Committee, November 23, 2001

    "You know, the Olympics are certainly about doing great in athletics and arts and culture, but it's much more than that. The Olympics - and any Olympian who stands on the podium and gets a gold medal put around their neck will be able to tell you this - are about teamwork. It's about support from your family and support from coaches, support from trainers. It's really about looking deep inside yourself and seeing what matters to you and what you're willing to commit yourself to. It's about being willing to go through difficult times to achieve something that is maybe higher and better than you ever expected." ~ Premier Gordon Campbell address to the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities, March 26, 2004

    It's also interesting to read the how the Province of British Columbia comes to view the roll of the visual arts and the artist. In the Ministry of Education‚s Integrated Resource Package published by the Ministry of Education Standards Department in 1995 and revised on January 26, 1999 the Ministry describes the values as set out in the provincially prescribed curriculum for Visual Arts students in grade 11 and 12. The full curriculum can be found at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/va1112/vaco.htm

    "The art of image making is a unique and powerful human endeavour. In visual arts, images give shape and meaning to ideas and feelings. Images take many forms and transcend boundaries of time, culture, and language. Visual arts both reflect and affect the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they exist. For this reason, visual arts education provides a unique opportunity to foster respect for and appreciation of a variety of values and cultures. In addition, an education in visual arts promotes understanding of the role of the arts in reflecting and challenging social values throughout history. The visual arts are an essential form of communication, indispensable to freedom of inquiry and expression. Visual literacy skills enable students to evaluate the contributions of artists in society, and to work with images to better understand social and environmental issues. Through experiences with the visual arts, students gain pleasure, enjoyment, and a deepened awareness of themselves and their place in their environment, community, and culture. By making learning personally relevant to students, visual arts education fosters lifelong learning. Visual arts education promotes intellectual development by expanding students' capacities for creative thought and encouraging critical-thinking skills such as curiosity, open-mindedness, persistence, and flexibility."

    In designing this call for submissions the Penticton Art Gallery hopes artists from across the province will gather en mass to celebrate the importance of the visual arts as an essential form of communication, indispensable to freedom of inquiry and expression. This is your opportunity to be heard and for us to document and record a snapshot in time and provide future generations an opportunity to see where we were at this important point in our history.

    * The fine print * ~ important details and deadlines ~

    Friday December 18, 2009 (confirmation of participation due)

    If this project appeals to you I ask that you e-mail your confirmation of participation in this exhibition by Friday December 18, 2009. As space is limited I need to have confirmation of your participation by this date to plan the exhibition. Work in any media is welcome but if your work requires any special consideration (Size, Installation, Multimedia Etc...) I ask that you contact me prior to discuss your proposal to see if it will work.

    Please e-mail your confirmation to:
    Paul Crawford E-mail: agso_curator@shawbiz.ca

    Friday December 18, 2009 (artist statement due)

    Please e-mail a 250 ˆ 500 word artist statement explaining your thoughts on "2010 Legacies Now" as it relates to your piece. These will be used for a small catalogue which will accompany the exhibit. If possible please e-mail an image of your work to be submitted for the exhibition. Please also include up to 15 addresses for invites to be mailed to for the opening. If you are interested in giving an artist talk or being apart of any exhibition programming like a roundtable discussion around the topic of "2010 Legacies Now", or potential workshop ideas, please let me know and I will book programming around the exhibit.

    Please e-mail your artist statement to:
    Paul Crawford E-mail: agso_curator@shawbiz.ca

    Tuesday January 5th - Friday January 15th, 2010 (Work to arrive at the Penticton Art Gallery)

    All works to be included in the exhibition need to arrive at the gallery framed and ready for display unless otherwise discussed. The gallery can undertake some framing of works on paper using standard OPUS back loading exhibition frames. Works can be made available for sale at a 70/30 split with the Penticton Art Gallery. Works that arrive later than this date will not be included in the exhibition due to space restrictions and exhibition planning.

    7:00 pm Friday January 22nd, 2010 (Exhibit opening)

    The exhibition opening which is open to anyone and everyone so please invite your friends and family and all you meet on the street.

    5:00 pm Sunday March 14, 2010 (Exhibition closing)

    Due to the recent cuts to provincial and municipal funding the Penticton Art Gallery is unable to pay CARFAC fees for this exhibition but the gallery will cover the return shipping costs of all submitted works. Works will be returned by April 15th unless otherwise mutually agreed to in advance of the exhibition. Each artist will also receive a copy of the catalogue for their records.
    07 Nov 2009

    Opening Reception for Little Shop of Artists

    Five local artists have banded together to create Kelowna's newest Art Gallery and Studio!

    Little Shop of Artists will be open seven days a week, starting November 1st, to create a unique little shop for Kelowna.  You'll find that all of the work hanging on the walls was created by one of the artists of the gallery!  Each day of the week our customers will be delighted to find that the artists not only contribute their creations to the gallery, but their time as well.  Each of the artists will be working in the shop one or two days a week to help out and work on their latest creations in store.

    November 7th at 5pm will be the Opening Reception party of Little Shop of Artists where everyone is invited to come in, share in some goodies, have a chance to win a door prize, chat with the artists, and preview the work for sale.  

    Here is an introduction to each of the five artists of Little Shop of Artists:

    Ed Goodon of Metal Dream Designs - The creative force behind Metal Dream Designs, Edward's spirit soars as a metal sculptor. In his words "beginning of my explorations in form may be a type of material, an idea, scrap on the floor, a vision, a sketch, or nothing at all: just pure play. I try to create sculptures that play on the basic nature and ruggedness of the metals I use. I believe it's necessary to ensure that each sculpture expresses just the right emotion".
    Welded steel, recycled metal and more come to life as Edward sculpts them into fluid, organic forms and ìpersonalities". ìI guess Iíve always been an Artist, building sculptures and artwork has been a hobby of mine for the past 30 years". His work over the years has evolved into a diverse collection of garden sculptures and decorative indoor art pieces. "My ancestry is metis and this influence can be seen in several of my earlier pieces. Some of the items used were actual items my dad and I used when trapping and hunting as a young man".

    After many compliments and much encouragement from everyone who has seen his work, he decided that it was time to give his work the exposure it deserved. With the help of his wife, he began bringing his work to the public with the creation of Metal Dream Designs in 2005 (www.metaldreamdesign.com).
    Angella Goodon ñ Angella Goodon is an emerging abstract artist, currently living and working in Kelowna, BC.

    As a young child she was constantly drawing or painting.  During her school years she took every art related class possible.  In 2006, Angella decided it was time to improve on her self-taught skills and enroll in classes towards a Diploma in Art.  In 2008, she graduated with honors.

    Through these classes, her love for design and fine art grew and she was able to refine her abstract painting skills.

    Angella currently works in acrylics but enjoys all mediums.  And while she does a lot of her work on paper, canvas is her preference.  Canvas gives her the freedom to create more depth.  By employing bold lines and vibrant color, she creates art that leaves an open interpretation.

    She has been approached to paint a number of commissions and has several pieces in private collections.

    In January 2009, she launched her website, www.angellagoodon.com displaying her most recent work.

    Jazmyn Douillard ñ is an illustrator and graphic designer but you will see many mediums in the store of her work since sheís always experimenting with something new.  

    Born and raised in Kelowna, she has taken on many commissions for graphics and illustrations for local companies and clubs, and she is always taking on extra work to help out start up companies.

    Her artwork has appeared in magazines and websites world wide; but she canít consider any of it work.  Creating is simply what she loves to do.  Any style, any medium, everything is a new challenge and something sheíll gladly take on.

    Sheís inspired by both American and Asian comics, and you will see a lot of that translate through her work, but donít be surprised if you turn around and see something abstract with her name on it, or something sculpted.  Life is too bland for her if you only look at one way to live, and one way to create.  Much of her work can be viewed at www.bandear.deviantart.com

    Stu Brown ñ he grew up beside the Chilliwack river in Sardis BC where he developed his love for the outdoors.  He started going fishing whenever possible, along with going for hikes, bicycling among other things.  Those were the days before he even dreamed of owning a car; he would rather just ride a bicycle anywhere he had to go.  Back then he was happy working 40 hours a week and taking home enough money to survive.

    Presently heís blessed with the opportunity of living in the Sunny Okanagan, which is in his opinion one of the most beautiful places in the world.  He started his photograph company and is inspired to take some breathtaking photographs wherever he travels to in this vast province.

    He says ìI don't have the perfect lifestyle yet, but give me some time and I know that I'll make it as close as humanly possible.î  His website is www.bcscenicwonder.com.

    Theresa Fougere ñ She has been painting in Kelowna since 2003.  She has traveled and worked in Nova Scotia, Southern Ontario, and Northern Alberta and her exhibitions from Hamilton Ontario in 1975 to RCA in Kelowna in 2009. Her interest in watercolours flared through private art instruction from Edna Chadwick in 1975.  She furthered her studies by acquiring a B.A. with a fine art major, from Guelph University in 1985.  Tony Sherman was a great influence.

    She enjoys a wide variety of subjects, but concentrates on animals and portraits.  She has also taught adults and children, for the past 7 years.  She has enjoyed volunteering at many local community events.

    We invite you to take part in the opening of Kelowna's newest and most personal gallery, and experience each of these creative individuals in their element. 
    06 Nov 2009

    November Writing Workshops @ Gallery Vertigo

    Gallery Vertigo presents a series of workshops for writers this month.
    These day-long intensives are ideal for new writers or for experienced writers looking for an injection of inspiration.
    (photos of instructors attached)

    November 14th

    Getting Started - Karen Meyer

    This workshop will be based on Natalie Goldberg's popular book, "Writing Down the Bones - Freeing the Writer Within." An instant success, Goldberg combined her ten years of studying Zen meditation with writing and discovered that, in fact, writing naturally transcends into the spiritual. I will review some of the many lessons from inspiring book. Together, we will learn about Beginner's Mind and trusting the process of writing. Also, we will go over the six rules of writing practice. We will do a number of timed writing exercises and a game. We will learn to recognize our own obsessions and strong feelings for a person or situation as rich material to write about. We'll end the day by taking a walk to the Bean Scene for some immersion in caffeine culture and a chance to write in a different environment.

    November 21st

    Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction

    Currently, the most popular type of writing is creative non-fiction -- the truth with a twist.  Your work is based on reality, but through your unique interpretation.  Articles, stories and all kinds of books from biographies to travelogues fit into this category.  Learn the limits of when it turns into fiction!
    Come and explore what and how to writein this exciting genre.

    November 28th
     
    Stories from Life: Writing your Memoirs - Devon Muhlert
     
    A creative approach using various arts disciplines to coax out the stories of your life and then writing them for others to understand what they have meant to you.
     
    December 12th
     
    How to Win Writing Contests - Dona Sturmanis
     
    Want to become an award-winning writer, get published and receive prize money for your efforts?  Find out all about writing contests (including the best ones), how to discern the real ones from
    scams, how they work and strategies involved for entering and placing...or even winning!
     
    Registration Information:
     
    Cost is $65.00 per workshop for NOAA Members and $80.00 for Non-Members.
    Special Price: $240.00 for all for 4 workshops for NOAA Members only.
    Sessions will run on Saturdays, 10am to noon, break for one hour and then from 1 to 4pm.
    Pre-registration is required at Gallery Vertigo by Tuesday November 10th.
    Payment is due at time of registration. Cash or cheque please.
    Class size is limited, so please register early to avoid disappointment.

    Instructor Bios:
     
    Dona Sturmanis
     
    Dona Sturmanis, BFA, MFA, has been a professional writer, editor and publisher for 30 years. Her poetry, fiction and journalism have won many awards and has been published in magazines and journals across Canada. She has taught writing courses for Okanagan College Continuing Studies for 17 years at all campuses.
     
    Karen Meyer

    Writing began to interest Karen Meyer at the age of eleven. In her early twenties, she travelled South East Asia and then made a living performing at special events as Paisley the Face Painter. She earned both an English Lit degree from UBC and a photojournalism diploma from Western Academy. These experiences led into a job as staff writer for Focus On Women Magazine in Victoria. She is currently a writer in residence at Gallery Vertigo.

    Devon Muhlert

    Devon L. Muhlert, B.Ed, CMP, is an award-wining writer, columnist, songwriter, and facilitator/teacher. Now reinvented as a delusionist, she wrote a weekly newspaper column, *Devon's Delusions*,  for years.   Creativity is her forte, and she especially loves crossing artistic disciplines to invite inspiration. For ten years she translated for the International Choral Bulletin based in Belgium, and for over 20 years was a music director which included writing and producing several musicals.  
     
    01 Nov 2009

    The Second Annual Vertigo Book Fair

    In honour of the book! Join us for a book fair, exhibition of books and festive launch party at Gallery Vertigo.
     
    Book Exhibition: November 17th to December 12th
     
    Gallery Vertigo is pleased to present a group exhibition of books from November 17th to December 12th at the gallery in what is becoming an end-of-the-year tradition. The event is designed to offer gallery visitors a warm festive atmosphere in which to enjoy books of all kinds. The exhibition will include paperbacks and hardcover books by local writers, broadsheets and comics, chapbooks and journals as well as some interesting found books, artist book works, CD's and DVD's. It's a great opportunity to purchase books by local writers. Or, just drop by to browse and enjoy some interesting books and music.
     
    Call for Submissions:
    Work to be included in this exhibition should be delivered to Gallery Vertigo by Saturday November 14th at 4pm. Writers, musicians, filmmakers and publishers, please submit up to ten copies of your book or CD/DVD. Artists are welcome to submit one-of-a-kind book works or book-related artworks. Also, sign up to be part of LAUNCH!
     

    LAUNCH!

    Saturday, November 28th - 1 to 4pm

    Join us for an afternoon celebrating the book arts in the Okanagan. This festive launch party is in honour of the talented writers and musicians among us. Master of Ceremonies kevin mcpherson eckhoff (photo attached) will host the event which will feature both well-known and emerging authors interspersed with lively musical entertainment. (Eckhoff is an instructor at Okanagan College, and a writer and publisher in his own right.) Admission is by donation. Everyone is welcome.

    1PM - Readings
    Join us from 1 to 2pm for readings by many of the writers involved in the current exhibition of books. Enjoy excerpts, short stories and poems.
     
    2PM - Book Signing
    A book signing will be held from 2 to 3pm. This is your chance to meet and chat with the writers among us, and to have books signed, either for your own collection, or as a personalized gift.
     
    3PM - Story Circle for Children
    At 3pm, we will have a children's story circle with local storytellers and children's authors reading stories from their collections.
     
    Holiday Cheer:
    Hot mulled cider and goodies will be served all day. Local CD's will be featured for your listening pleasure. Come enjoy the festivities!
    23 Oct 2009

    ‘Always…Patsy Cline’ Has Something for Everyone

    Whether you’re a fan of Patsy Cline’s velvet voice and touching songs or simply a theatre goer looking for an evening full of laughter, music and fun, Always…Patsy Cline has the broad appeal to meet everyone’s expectations.

    “This isn’t just a revue showcasing Patsy’s wonderful music,” says Danielle St.Pierre who plays Patsy’s dear friend Louise Seger in the production. “The script is so well written. It tells a wonderful story of friendship with sincere emotion. I still find myself laughing out loud at some scenes and then shedding a tear in others.” Combine that with over 20 favourite songs such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces and Walking after Midnight and you have a truly memorable night of theatre.

    The two person musical brings St.Pierre and Michelle MacTaggart (who plays Patsy) back to the Kelowna stage where both have performed with Viva Musica in previous productions. They are now in their final week of rehearsal before the production opens next week at the Mary Irwin Theatre.

    Always…Patsy Cline runs at the Mary Irwin Theatre from October 28th to November 1st, 2009.

    Tickets are available through Select Your Ticket at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at (250)762-5050. For more information visit www.vivamusica.ca
    19 Oct 2009

    Matters of Inclusion: Red, Yellow, Black and White

    A new exhibition by artist Jason Baerg opens at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art on Tuesday October 20, 2009. Developed during an artist residency in Kelowna BC, Baerg's  artwork boldly claims new territory for all people of the red, yellow, black and white nations.

    A resident of Toronto, Jason Baerg's art has been presented at such institutions as the Walter Philips Gallery in Banff, Art Basel Miami and the Luminato Festival in Toronto, Ontario.

    Baerg's exciting work combines traditional painting techniques with new digital extensions. This innovative blending of new and old technologies is also mirrored in his exploration of traditional knowledge in a contemporary context.

    When asked about his approach Baerg reflects, "My work is grounded in ancient wisdoms but is equally invested in focusing forward, investigating spaces of politics, the media, the environment and other contemporary creative movements such as the visual arts, literature, music, fashion, architecture and industrial design."

    Baerg is founding member of the Métis Artist Collective, one of three official officers of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus for the Creative Rights Alliance, a board member for the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective, the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition and the Independent Media Arts Alliance.

    Also on display is an exhibition of new work by Taylor Belanger, Nathan Lindley, Twyla Lindley, Charlene Smith, Saynah Stewart and Stephanie Squakin, local Indigenous youth from Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna. Artworks include digital drawing, photography, sound and web communications created during a ten-week digital media workshop overseen by Jason Baerg.

    The solo and youth exhibitions run from October 20 - November 27, 2009. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Tuesday October 20, at 7pm. All are welcome and admission to the Alternator is by donation.

    The Alternator gratefully acknowledges generous project support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Hamber Foundation, Westbank First Nation, Sookinchoot Youth Centre, the En'owkin Centre and the Centre for Arts and Technology.
    18 Oct 2009

    Kelowna Watercolour Guild 25th Anniversary + Retrospective Celebration

    Come celebrate our Watercolour Exhibition and Sale at Evans Gallery, 571 Lawrence Ave, Kelowna. The Opening Reception is Oct 29 from 5-9 pm. The show runs Oct 30 11-5 and Oct 31 from 11-3:30.

    At this Retrospective Celebration, the Guild will also be honouring its founding members. Our tree logo was designed by the late Helen Beattie.
     
    Watercolour is the oldest painting medium known to man! It is the "Poetry of Painting". Endless possibilities: bold and vibrant or soft and delicate with flow of colour, form, transparency, and interpretation. Watercolour is said to be the most difficult medium to master. Why? Simply put, it can be very unpredictable and seems to have a mind of its own. The artist must find balance between two seemingly opposite forces- discipline and freedom. THAT IS THE MAGIC OF IT.
     
    The Kelowna Watercolour Guild (KWG) enjoys an established image and patronage for more than 25 years. We are committed to honour and uphold watercolour painting in the "purist traditional form". 
     
    The Guild supports the Arts in the community. We hold membership with the following: the Kelowna Art Gallery, KVPACS and ARTSCO. Raffle proceeds are donated to support ARTSCO and specific charities.
    12 Oct 2009

    Random Acts of Poetry Founder Reads in Kelowna

    Wendy Morton, the force behind the national phenomenon, Random Acts of Poetry, be reading in Kelowna at UBC Okanagan on Wednesday, October 14, 7 PM—Student Services 026. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

    Morton has published five books of poetry, most recently What Were Their Dreams: Valleys of Hope and Pain- Canada's History.  This is a book of photos and poems based on historical photographs of the Alberni Valley on Vancouver Island.   The poems in this book were originally displayed beside historical photos at the Alberni Valley Museum for an exhibit exploring150 years of history.  She interviewed several residents, including survivors of residential schools, who told her stories and brought her photographs from which she wrote her poems.

    Morton’s other books include Undercover, Private Eye, Shadowcatcher, and Gumshoe. She lives in Sooke BC and she has been an insurance investigator for 27 years. Her memoir, 6 Impossible Things Before Breakfast, was published in 2006.   Wendy Morton initiated the first “random acts of poetry” on strangers: reading them a poem and giving them a book. By 2004, 27 poets across Canada joined her and since 2006, with the sponsorship of The Canada Council for the Arts, dozens of poets across Canada have been involved in bringing poetry to  the streets of their cities and towns. Wendy Morton has also been WestJet Airlines' poet of the skies and Daimler-Chrysler's poet of the road.

    This event is sponsored by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, the Department of Creative Studies, and the UBC Okanagan bookstore.  For more information, contact Nancy Holmes at 250-807-9369 or <mailto:nancy.holmes@ubc.ca>nancy.holmes@ubc.ca.
    09 Oct 2009

    PHOBOPHILIA

    2boys.tv - Montréal, Québec, CANADA
     
    UBC-Okanagan
    Mon Oct 19:  6pm and 8pm
    Tues Oct 20: 4pm, 6pm and 8pm

    UBC Okanagan presents “Phobophilia” by 2boys.tv.    “Phobophilia” is a unique 45 minute theatrical event where a small number of spectators (24 maximum) are blindfolded and led to a secret location to witness a peculiar interrogation which also involves an elaborate pop-up book. The performance location is a secret until the night of the performance, so all audience members meet in the lobby of the Arts Building on campus. Due to the small number of spectators for each performance  we highly recommend buying tickets in advance.  We cannot guarantee the availability of tickets at the door.

    2boys.tv, Montréal duo Stephen Lawson and Aaron Pollard, work within the tradition of cross-disciplinary  artistic expression which does not favour one set expressive form or discipline above any other.  “Phobophilia” centres around the question “what is the role of the poet in an age characterized by fear?”and is inspired by research into the life and work of Jean Cocteau.  It is an absurd and ethereal work that uses a complex meshing of sound, action, ritual, projection and audience participation.
     
    This work has been performed in Glasgow, Montreal, Buenos Aries, Santiago and Bogotá.  Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for nonstudents.  Advance tickets can be purchased in person by cash at UBC Okanagan in Arts 173, 9am-4pm weekdays or can be purchased at the door (also in cash), though seats are extremely limited due to the nature of this performance.  

    This show is sponsored by UBCO’s Unit 6 Barber School, Community, Culture, and Global Studies, Cultural Studies , Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, the Department of Creative Studies and Pride Resource Centre.
    09 Oct 2009

    The Power of Three

    Vernon Public Art Gallery Celebrates Exhibitions with Opening Reception
     
    (Vernon, BC, September 25, 2009) The Vernon Public Art Gallery is pleased to present three new exhibitions beginning Thursday, October 1st with an Opening Reception from 5-8 PM. The Topham Brown Memorial Gallery will exhibit bodies of drawings produced by internationally recognized Canadian artist Ann Kipling based in Falkland, BC. The pen-and-ink drawings are marked by the artist‚s persistence on a repetition that exemplifies the same subject, in this case the landscape. Kipling‚s subject-based drawings have the appearance of abstract subject matter and bring attention to their ephemeral quality that displays both an illusion of a volume and a sense of airiness at the same time. Kipling‚s exhibition is titled Recent Landscape Drawings.
     
    The Caroline Galbraith Gallery will host the exhibition titled Watermark, consisting of a selection of paintings which explore landscape forms reflected on the surface of the water. The artist, Jane Everett, has been producing paintings with water-related imagery for the last decade. The works in this exhibition were created in the last two years on locations in BC at Shuswap Lake and Mission Creek, and in Ontario at the Winnipeg River. While her landscape paintings are based on the observed sites, the influence of her memory of these places clearly contributes to almost dreamlike images where most of the shapes start to dissolve in an environment permeated by light. Everett‚s exploration in capturing light, together with the fragmented landscape forms reflected on the surface of water bodies, results in images that are ephemeral and invoke a feeling of a peaceful sensual experience.
     
    Katherine Upton‚s exhibition in the Up-Front Gallery, with the title The Paint Itself, will create a body of paintings addressing the issues of representation and abstraction. The works in this exhibition will combine elements of portraiture with more abstracted patterns pertaining to different cultural origins. Upton is a Vernon-based artist who has been producing paintings and drawings for more than 30 years. Her exhibition exhibits a new direction in her studio practice. The paintings in this exhibition focus on the non-representational mode of expression where she does not use any source material of observable reality, be it figurative or landscape in nature. Upton opts instead for purely formalist aesthetics where the Œform‚ as a subject matter takes precedent over the portrayal of any recognizable subject.
     
    The exhibition by Ann Kipling will run until December 22, 2009, while Jane Everett‚s and Katherine Upton‚s will run until November 19, 2009.
    26 Sep 2009

    KALAMALKA VERTIGO


    All are invited to view the works at Kalamalka Vertigo, located at Vernon's Kalamalka Campus of Okanagan College. The gallery, a joint venture between Gallery Vertigo and Okanagan College, is located just past the      college lecture theatre in the main building adjacent to the college office. The current exhibition can be viewed during college hours from now until November 15th.

    One Thing Leads to Another

    "One Thing Leads to Another" is a selection of work created between 2007 and 2009, that demonstrates the progression of changes that occurred in my work during this time. - from smaller non-referential paintings to larger canvases that began from found visual motifs. There were other tangents that I explored during this time, including large paper works and painting installations, but throughout I kept up a strong sketchbook practice. This was were ideas morphed from one tangent to another and copious numbers of variations were explored.

    During this time my painting practice moved into a practice, that at its core, courts the unfamiliar through flirtations with the familiar, as a means of investigating how visual forms claim meaning. This interest comes out of a sense that images actually do much more than we are acutely aware of. I feel that abstraction, as it was employed at the height of modernist painting, is a suitable form of address ˆ as it has the ability to detach forms from meanings they may have previously claimed.

    I work with the repetition of visual motifs to suggest an order or logic that simulates other motifs, such as logos and diagrams, which communicate information through images. In using repetition, I make everything familiar and unfamiliar at once, pulling images from their contexts, and pushing their associative connections to the periphery to reveal something different and newly unfamiliar. I paint in a somewhat performative manner, mapping things out by hand, allowing painterly moments to occur, such as drips and visible brush strokes, while still maintaining the graphic quality of the forms.

    About Katie Brennan:

    Katie Brennan is a BC artist, currently based out of Vernon BC. She recently completed her MFA at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. She complete her BFA at Emily Carr University in Vancouver BC. Recent exhibitions include "Surround" at Island Mountain Arts in Wells, BC - a show that used the characteristics of the landscape of

    Wells as a source for a series of abstractions that investigated the formal make-up Wells  and  a group show at Georgia Scherman Projects in Toronto. Her writing has appeared in Border Crossings. Currently, she is a sessional lecturer at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan Campus.

    Gallery Vertigo is a registered non-profit society comprised of local and regional artists and friends of the arts. Since September of the year 2000, we have been actively engaged in creating public awareness of the arts in all its forms by establishing and maintaining Gallery Vertigo, the only artist run centre in the North Okanagan. The centre offers a rich and varied array of visual art exhibitions, cultural events and learning opportunities for all ages.

    We are located upstairs at Suite #1, 3001 31st Street, downtown Vernon, in the historical Winnipeg Union Bank building across from Nolan's Drugs. Please use the side entrance under Krause Jeweller's awning.
     
    Hours of business are from 11:00am-4:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
    For information call Gallery Vertigo @ (250)503-2297 or email: info@galleryvertigo.com.
    Our website can be found at www.galleryvertigo.com.
    23 Sep 2009

    Okanagan Book Launch & Charity Dinner: Chefs’ Table Society, Vancouver Cooks 2

    Forget what you’ve heard about too many cooks in the kitchen, Mission Hill Family Estate will host the official launch of the Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia cookbook, Vancouver Cooks 2, with an exclusive reception and five-course dinner, October 9. Sharing the evening’s spotlight with Mission Hill’s Winery Chef Matthew Batey are four of British Columbia’s premier chefs, including: Pino Posteraro of Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill, Vikram Vij of Vij’s and Rangoli, Ned Bell of Cabana Bar and Grille, and Rob Feenie of Cactus Club Restaurants.
     
    A reception in the Wine Shop will kick off the festivities, with an optional tour for guests of the underground Barrel Cellar. A sumptuous five-course wine and food pairing will follow in Mission Hill’s Chagall Room, named for the exquisite tapestry by Russian-born painter Marc Chagall that adorns the room - one of only 29 Chagall tapestries ever made.
     
    Guests will enjoy a culinary homage to British Columbia with delicious selections prepared by the all-star chef line-up. The menu features cookbook-inspired dishes by the chefs paired with Mission Hill’s premium wines a sampling includes fennel marinated sablefish with Reserve Riesling, seared Qualicum scallops and squash ravioli with Perpetua, and south Okanagan Valley venison with Quatrain.
     
    Completing the evening will be a special take-home gift -- each guest will receive a copy of the Chefs’ Table Society cookbook, Vancouver Cooks 2 with the authors available for personalized book signings.
     
    Later this autumn, Mission Hill will also be offering a special Chefs Table Society culinary workshop at the winery based on recipes from the new cookbook.
     
    Details:
    Chefs’ Table Society Book Launch
    Reception and Dinner
    Mission Hill Family Estate, Chagall Room
     
    Date: Friday, October 9, 2009
    Time: 6:30 - 11:00 pm
    Cost: $175 plus taxes (per person)
     
    About The Chefs' Table Society of British Columbia
    The Chefs' Table Society of British Columbia is a chef-administered, province-wide collaborative dedicated to creating a foundation for the exchange of information between culinary professionals. The Society supports innovative and sustainable programs that will inspire, educate and nurture its chefs, producers and the local food industry, all the while promoting standards of excellence with the aim of enhancing the reputation of regional cuisine.
     
    About Vancouver Cooks 2
    A second helping of recipes celebrating the BC food scene, served up by 70 well-known and emerging chefs. Five years after Vancouver Cooks, which sold more than 13,000 copies, the Chefs’ Table Society returns with over 100 new recipes from 70 chefs around Vancouver, Victoria and the Okanagan. Divided into four sections—local food, international flavours, emerging talents and pioneering chefs—Vancouver Cooks 2 celebrates the key elements that have forged Vancouver’s unique culinary culture and made the city a world-class dining destination. We also see the industry behind the scenes, understanding its heritage and the innovative strides Vancouver chefs are taking.
     
    Written for the home cook, Vancouver Cooks 2 pairs more than 50 full-colour photographs with the mouthwatering recipes, each with wine notes. Royalties from the sale of this book go to the Chefs’ Table Scholarship and Bursary Fund.
     
    About Mission Hill Family Estate
    Mission Hill Family Estate is world renowned for its award-winning wines, stunning setting and architecture, and its Cuisine de Terroir-based Terrace Restaurant. Honoured as one of the Top Five Winery Restaurants globally, the restaurant and epicurean program is led by Chef Matthew Batey.  The winery’s vineyards are located in five distinct growing regions of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.  Reflective of the origin and unique character of the Valley and of the careful ‘pruning to bottle’ program, Oculus, our signature Bordeaux-inspired wine, represents the pinnacle in premium winemaking.  Proprietor Anthony von Mandl and winemaker John Simes produce elegant internationally acclaimed wines with New World flavours and Old World refinement from this incomparable lakeside mountaintop winery.  Visit www.missionhillwinery.com for more information.
     
    23 Sep 2009

    Yukiko Onley - Portrait Photographs

    Join Yuikiko Onley for her Artist Talk
    Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m.

    Yukiko Onley was born in Osaka, Japan where art and culture were an intrinsic part of her upbringing. Her grandmother was both a master of traditional flower arrangements and a master of the tea ceremony. In addition, one of her aunts had gained a name as an accomplished painter. It‚s not surprising then that Yukiko‚s early training in the visual arts was as a painter. After meeting and falling in love with the renowned Canadian painter Toni Onley, Yukiko packed up and moved to Vancouver in 1976.

    Her relationship with Toni, both during and after their marriage, has played a significant role and has deeply influenced the development of her work. Originally working as a painter Yukiko began to see the limitations of the medium and in 1989 she began to explore the possibilities of photography. Largely self-taught as a photographer, her explorations and understanding of the medium began to suit her aesthetic and artist sensibility and over the past twenty years she has firmly established herself as one of the premier portrait photographers working on the West Coast.

    Her approach to her subjects is intuitive and spontaneous and the resulting portraits are elegant, sophisticated and timeless. Over the years she has documented some of the leading cultural figures living and working in Vancouver including: Arthur Erickson, Jim Hart, Fred Herzog, Robert Reid and of course the late Toni Onley. In addition to her work as a photographer, Yukiko is interested in and involved with a wide range of music, dance and theatre productions. Currently she is a volunteer photographer for the Modern Baroque Opera Company in Vancouver.

    Yukiko continues to live and work in Vancouver and has recently relocated her photographic studio to Alberta Street where she also operates a small gallery. Besides her work as a celebrated portrait photographer, she is increasingly being sought after as a wedding photographer. For more information on her work, please check her website at: www.yukikoonley.com.

    Love Toni, xox

    Artist Talk with Yukiko Onley on Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m.

    I first met Toni Onley during the fall of 1993 at what I imagine must have been the apex of the breakdown of his marriage to his wife Yukiko. I had phoned him up and asked if I might be able to meet with him in an effort to learn more about his life and work. Truth be told I had only known of his name from my recent study and interest in the development of the visual arts in Vancouver and through his friendship and association to many of the artists whose work I had begun to collect. A catalogue from his 1971 Vancouver Art Gallery retrospective also provided some invaluable advance knowledge of his life and career. The excuse I used to contact him came in the form of my involvement with an auction that raised funds to offset the legal fees of those who had been arrested during the Clayoquot Sound blockades. I was amazed to find him listed in the phone book and that the number was actually that of an answering service. I left a message and received a call the next day. I told him the reason for my call and he quickly invited me over to collect a work to assist with our benefit auction.

    A week later I travelled from Victoria to Vancouver on what was a typically dreary and rainy November day. Pulling up to his westcoast modernist home on Yuculta Crescent, I found a moving truck buzzing with a crew which was swiftly and carefully loading the van. This was all being conducted from a balcony above the driveway by the object of my visit. As I approached the house I could hear him yelling down at the movers to be more cautious as they were handling very expensive kimonos and other objects which needed the greatest of care to ensure the safe transport. I introduced myself and reminded him of the purpose of my visit and was welcomed into his home. He quickly apologized for being so flustered and for the chaos which surrounded him and offered me an espresso.

    No sooner did I have my espresso in my hand when the phone rang and Toni‚s demeanour changed. It was his wife Yukiko phoning to say that she was going out for the afternoon and requested that the movers could come at a later time. It would be the first and only time I would see him loose his temper, albeit briefly. After a quick exchange, he hung up the phone and returned to the balcony where he leaned over yelling to the movers working below that they could forget his demands that they take extra caution with the possessions and should they find no one home when they arrived at Yukiko‚s house, to just dump her stuff on the balcony whether it was raining or not. He quickly retuned to the kitchen, apologized once again and we began a friendship which would last until his death in 2004. This was also my introduction to Yukiko albeit not directly and not in the best possible light.

    As my friendship with Toni grew, we would often talk about our bad luck in romantic relationships and I began to develop a picture of Yukiko. Other than that single moment of frustration I never heard him say anything that was mean spirited but he did talk of his sadness of the situation. The majority of our conversations dealt with his reflections of the happier times of their relationship. Toni genuinely loved her and that affection and admiration was never lost in any of our conversations and was corroborated by the fact that they remained great friends and at times roommates up until his untimely passing. In fact, it was Toni who suggested that I do an exhibition of her photographs while I was working at the Grand Forks Art Gallery.

    At that time I had talked briefly with Yukiko about the possibility of an exhibition, but it would not be until I moved to Penticton that we would have the opportunity to bring the idea to fruition. It was during one of our conversations that she mentioned her idea of putting together an exhibition of Toni‚s letters which he had written to her after the break-up of their marriage and she asked if I would be interested. I wrestled with this for a while debating the morality of such an exhibition, where his most intimate thoughts and pain would be made public. As I turned this idea over in my mind, an advance preview copy of the book Love Toni xox by the renowned designer Robert Reid appeared at the gallery.

    The book consists of twenty-six letters and their accompanying sumi-ink illustrations which Toni sent to Yukiko between 1991 and 2003. The letters offer a unique and vastly different view of an artist whose bravado and public persona have been well documented and are legendary. The letters show a sensitivity that for many was only ever seen in his paintings and document both his love and the deep sense of loss and vulnerability he felt with the breakdown of their relationship. Robert Reid wanted to capture the sensitivity of these letters and has meticulously reproduced each letter in full color on various handmade Japanese papers. The copies are so good that I was at first convinced that Yukiko had sent me the originals.

    These letters show a side of the artist not seen by many and provide more insight into the personality responsible for some of the most iconic interpretations of our province. In terms of art history they would be considered minor works but they are no less important as they provide background and a point of reference to the last thirteen years of his life. These works are now part of the public record and in that regard I feel that they contribute to an even greater understanding of the artist and his work. In addition when I considered Toni‚s long term relationship to the Penticton Art Gallery and our community I felt that we would be an appropriate venue to host this exhibition. I hope that this exhibition will only serve to further expand his already substantial contributions to the development of the art history of our province and provide for many a new perspective of the man behind the images.
    19 Sep 2009

    A Little Nightmare Music at the Kelowna Community Theatre

    A Blend of Music and Comedy Unfolds in A Little Nightmare Music at the Kelowna Community Theatre

    Sunday, September 27th | 8 pm

    On Sunday, September 27th, 2009 international music and comedy sensation Aleksey Igudesman and Richard Hyung-Ki Joo make a stop in Kelowna as part of a Western Canadian Tour of A Little Nightmare Music.
     
    Premiering in Canada, these two classically trained musicians are highly acclaimed for their unique showmanship that combines comedy and sheer virtuosity.
     
    Trained at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England where the two met at the age of 12, soon became a lifetime of camaraderie and writing partners.  Breathing life into classical music with a splash of comedy was the vision of a unique show.  “We felt even back then (at the age of 12) that classical music was too stuffy, and wanted to make it more accessible to a wider audience and a younger audience,” says Joo. “Classical music can be fun and we want to have fun with it as well,” he says.  
     
    Following in the footsteps of luminaries such as Victor Borge and Dudley Moore, the dynamic duo collaborated in their first groundbreaking show, and in 2004 A Little Nightmare Music was born.  A blend of comedy and outlandish episodes unfold in a series of hilarious scenes. Critics have described the show as “zany, outrageous humour”.
     
    Monty Python Director and Comedian, Terry Jones says, "A Little Nightmare Music brings surrealism to the concert hall and takes its trousers down! Very musical, very engaging and very funny. A Big Hand for A Little Nightmare Music's Big Hands."

    “Igudesman and Joo are not only musical virtuosi but also comic maestros. Anything they touch turns to gold and I am enchanted by them every time I see them. Definitely one of the funniest and most entertaining shows I have ever seen and I can't wait to see them again in action!" - MISCHA MAISKY – cellist.
     
    Performing with major symphony orchestras around the world the two musicians have toured across Europe, in the United States and in Japan.
     
    Their show has reached well outside the classical field and toured with legends of the pop world including Robin Gibb (Bee Gees), Midge Ure (Ultravox), co-creator of Live Aid and Band Aid, Tears for Fears, Simple Minds and Kim Willde. Individually, Igudesman has worked with musicians ranging from Academy Award winning Hollywood composer, Hans Zimmer, to multi-Grammy Award winning vocalist, Bobby McFerrin.  Joo, has had equal distinction, working with Academy Award winning composer, Vangelis and was selected by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Billy Joel to arrange and record Joel’s classical compositions on a CD that reached No.1 on the Billboard Charts.  Together, the two musicians have collaborated with actor, Roger Moore on several occasions for UNICEF.
     
     
    For one night only Igudesman and Joo will perform A Little Nightmare Music at the Kelowna Community Theatre on Sunday, September 27th at 8 pm.  Delivering a spellbinding performance that integrates hard-hitting music and comedy is an entertaining evening.  Tickets for A Little Nightmare Music are $34 for seniors and $40 for adults and are available at Select Your Tickets by calling 250.762.5050 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com
    For more information on A Little Nightmare Music and to preview their upcoming show visittheir official website www.igudesmanandjoo.com
     
    17 Sep 2009

    The Kelowna Art Gallery's annual fundraiser, Seeing Red and White

    The Kelowna Art Gallery's annual fundraiser, Seeing Red and White, will be held on
    Saturday, October 24, 2009.

    This evening of fine art, fine dining, fine wine, and dancing will be a night to remember, with music performed by local musicians The Darylectones, food prepared by award-winning Joy Road Catering, a sparkling wine reception sponsored by Leona Baxter, delicious red and white wines from local wineries, and beer from Cannery Brewing.

    There will also be a silent auction that will include dozens of works of art by well-known local artists, as well as home dОcor accessories, hotel packages, wine packages and much more. Guests will view on-site painting by local artists, with the works they create being auctioned live at the end of the evening.

    The title sponsor for this yearвs event is Chris Sorensen of Investors Group Securities Inc. Sorensen says гThe strength of this community lies in its people and all that they make possible. The arts are an integral part of Kelowna's successful future, and I am honoured to sponsor the galleryвs premier fundraiser this year. I have attended this fundraiser for the past few years, and I am excited by the changes this year that will make Seeing Red & White fresh and exciting.  The event has already confirmed more than 20 works of art by local artists and will build on its reputation as the premier art auction in the Valley. I canвt wait to see what the evening holds.д

    Kelowna Art Gallery Executive Director, Dona Moore, says "We're excited about the changes and additions we have made to this yearвs event. We have been fortunate to have the continued support from Mission Hill Family Estate and Quailsв Gate Estate Winery for the past three years, and are happy to have them on board again. We are also thrilled with the commitment of Chris Sorensen as the title sponsor of this yearвs event and the addition of Raven Ridge Cidery and Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery. We are pleased to be working with Joy Road Catering as they focus on using local, in-season ingredients, and being socially responsible by helping to sustain the farmers and artisans who represent the agricultural heritage of the Okanagan.

    Proceeds from this annual fundraiser support innovative exhibitions and public programming at the Kelowna Art Gallery.

    Embrace the Red & White Ј add a splash of either or both colours to your attire.

    Join us for the Kelowna Art Galleryвs Annual Seeing Red & White Fundraiser Saturday, October 24, 2009. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

    Tickets are $160.00 for members, $175.00 for non-members, and can be purchased at the Kelowna Art Gallery.  For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 250-762-2226 or visit our web site at www.kelownaartgallery.com
    17 Sep 2009

    Fall Art Classes at the Kelowna Art Gallery

    The Kelowna Art Gallery’s Fall Art Class schedule is now available. The gallery is offering day and evening courses, and weekend workshops in drawing, acrylic painting, watercolour, printmaking, and the basics of photography, as well as a three-part lecture series on contemporary art. There are classes for everyone from basics and beginners or to provide inspiration for the more advanced.

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to have the following artists teach the classes, Jason Babakaiff, Jim Elwood, Kathryn Newell, Wanda Lock, Beverly Rein, and Rena Warren.

    For more information and to register, call 762-2226 or visit www.kelownaartgallery.com

    The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, Closed Mondays. Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 – 9 pm.
    16 Sep 2009

    LIT@ALT Reading and Discussion: Jan Zwicky

    On Tuesday, September 29th, 2009, at 7:30 p.m., Poet, philosopher, teacher, musician, and Governor-General Award winner, Jan Zwicky will be reading and in conversation at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art.

    Zwicky is one of Canada’s most esteemed, celebrated, and socially-engaged poets. She is the author of more than eight books. Her poetry and critical essays are equally concerned about ethics and responsibility in our often dire modern moment. For Zwicky, the arts—be it music, poetry, or philosophy—can assist us in moving towards social justice and unity. As she puts it in her Governor-General’s acceptance address, “Lyric art is intimate — when it is good it is always, whatever its medium, a struggle to achieve an integrity of spirit, body, and mind.”

    At the LIT@ALT reading, Zwicky will read from her poems and critical works and also engage the audience in a conversation about the broad topic of art and responsibility. This is truly a unique opportunity to hear and interact with one of country’s important and thrilling writers.

    The Philosophers’ Café: LIT@ALT Reading and Discussion Series, a new program designed to enhance the community’s understanding of contemporary art/writing and stimulate discussion about cultural issues, is organized by the Alternator, an artist-run centre in the Rotary Centre for the Arts at 421 Cawston Ave.  Admission is by donation.  There will be food stuffs and drink stuffs, too.

    Call (250) 868-2298, check www.alternatorgallery.com or e-mail info@alternatorgallery.com for information.
    16 Sep 2009

    Visual artists across Canada outraged by BC cuts

    CARFAC, the national association of visual artists, is outraged by the 85-92% cut to arts investment in British Columbia. Not only will these cuts destroy the arts community just as the world is watching Vancouver but it will also cost the BC government millions in lost tax revenue.
     
    “The rest of Canada has often looked to British Columbia as an example of a vibrant and successful arts community,” said April Britski, Executive Director of CARFAC’s national office in Ottawa. “A loss of investment of this magnitude will undoubtedly mean the loss of one of BC’s greatest assets.”
     
    B.C.’s arts and culture sector employs more than 78,000 people and contribute over $5 billion each year to the provincial economy. The B.C. government’s own research has demonstrated that for every dollar invested in the arts between $1.05 and $1.36 comes back in taxes. The costs of creating jobs in the arts and culture sector are among the lowest compared to other sectors of the economy. Creating a new job in the cultural sector is estimated to cost $20,000-$30,000, compared with light industry ($100,000) or heavy industry ($200,000). Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland have all increased their level of investment understanding that it brings returns in economic growth. BC will now have the lowest arts funding in all of Canada.
    “The BC government is shooting themselves in the foot,” said Britski. “I seriously hope they reconsider.”
     
    Even before these cuts, visual artists were under huge financial pressure. The average income of a visual artist in Canada is $13,976 and the median, or typical income is less than $8,000. This despite the fact that 41 per cent of artists have a university degree, a certificate, or a diploma – almost double the rate of the overall labour force.
     
    “The stories we are hearing from visual artists are upsetting,” said Julie McIntyre, President of CARFAC BC. “These are people who are already working with razor-thin budgets on microscopic salaries and their important work is suddenly at risk of being completely wiped out.”
     
    CARFAC (The Canadian Artists’ Representation/le Front des artists canadiens) is the national association of Canada’s professional visual and media artists. CARFAC defends artists’ rights through advocacy and professional development and produces a schedule of artists’ fees that is widely recognized as the national standard. The Status of the Artist Act empowers CARFAC to negotiate with national organizations on behalf of all visual artists in Canada.
     
    Visit CARFAC BC’s cuts event on Facebook.
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119552309106
    16 Sep 2009

    ART VISIONS 2009 COMES TO KELOWNA

    Contributed by Debra Lees, Exhibition Chair, Federation of Canadian Artists Central Okanagan Chapter, Sept 2009
    Like opening night at the theater there is excitement and anticipation in the air: the doors have closed and the lights have been dimmed everyone is waiting for the show to begin! Now at last the curtain begins to rise... POSTING OF SHOW IMAGES HAS STARTED! Visit Art Gallery 2009

    Following on the success of last year's Art Visions 2008, the Central Okanagan Chapter of The Federation of Canadian Artists is proud to bring a National Show of Quality Current Art to Kelowna.  

    Art Visions 2009 is an exhibition and sale of up to 90 original pictures that have been assembled from Federation of Canadian Artists nation wide.  It’s an awesome opportunity to purchase high quality original art.  The paintings range in style, medium, size and prices range from as low as $250 to $10,000.  
    The top prize of $2009, is awarded to the Artists whose work is selected for the Founding Patron’s Gold Award and the total awards package for entering artists is valued at over $6500.

    We are delighted that Mayor of Kelowna, her worship Sharon Shepherd will officially open the show at the Opening Reception and Award Ceremonies at the Rotary Centre for the Art Friday, October 9th , 7 – 9PM.
    The Opening Ceremonies is a rare opportunity for you to rub shoulders with the award winning artists and modern day masters as they are honoured for their outstanding work!  After the Awards Ceremonies, Wine and Cheese Receptions sponsored by Arrowleaf Winery and Gray Monk Estate Winery will be held in each of the co-hosting galleries where you can be the first to view the entire collection.
    And you won’t want to miss your chance to enter to win “Sunday Sail” valued at $650, an award winning original oil painting by Jerry Markham, Receiver of this year’s Genn/Turcotte Valley’s Best Award.
    Three of Kelowna’s finest professional art galleries are sponsoring and co-hosting the exhibition Oct 9 – 23, 2009.  These galleries are steps from each other and located in the downtown cultural district of Kelowna: The show will continue daily 10am – 5 pm until October 23, 2009 in each of the galleries.
    •    Hambleton Galleries, 1290 Ellis Street, Kelowna, (250) 860-2498
    •    Gallery 421, 100-421 Cawston Avenue, Kelowna (250) 448-8888
    •    Turtle Island Gallery, 115-1295 Cannery Lane, Kelowna (250) 717-8235
    •    Rotary Centre for the Arts, Galleria, 421 Cawston Avenue, Kelowna
    Once again we owe a big thank you to all those who have financially supported Art Visions 2009! All of us can take encouragement that despite the economy, art lovers still wish to support artists and their endeavors!

    Our sponsors: Hambleton Galleries, Gallery 421, Turtle Island Gallery, Rotary Center for the Arts, Classic Gallery Framing, Robert Genn & Stewart Turcotte, Gray Monk Estate Winery, Arrowleaf Winery,Opus Framing & Art Supplies, Sue Einerssen, Georgette Johnson, D. Gartner Contracting, Access Dental Care Centre, Picture Perfect Award, Kelowna Cultural District, Athena Custom Framing, Framing & Art Center.

    Questions?
    e-mail: artvisions2009@yahoo.ca or see our website www.artvisions.ca for show preview

    16 Sep 2009

    Alternator's 20th Anniversary Celebration and Art Giveaway

    Quick Hit
    Who: The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
    What: 20th Anniversary Celebration and Art Giveaway
    When:Saturday, September 19 from 4:00pm ñ 5:30pm
    Where:Sonoran Estate Winery, 5716 Gartrell Road, Summerland BC
    Tickets: Available at the Alternator or online at: www.alternatorgallery.com

    Wine and art lovers are invited to join the Alternator on the patio at the Sonoran Estate Winery for Forbidden Love ñ an event celebrating the finest the Okanagan has to offer with an afternoon of art, local wine, food, and stunning views. To thank the community for 20 years of support, all guests will be given a gift of original artwork to take home.

    Reserve your tickets now and secure your place in line to choose from over 150 postcard-sized original artworks donated by over 50 Canadian artists. Contributors include award winning contemporary and traditional artists; Rebecca Bellmore, Jason Baerg, Dana Claxton, Rod Charlesworth, Richard Prince, Jayce Salloum, David Wilson, Paul Wong and many more.

    Thereís a secret thoughÖ the artists have signed their work on the back. We anticipate great excitement as guests bring the works off the wall and discover the artistsí identities. The value of each work ranges between $50 and $1000. These works make great additions to existing collections, unique gifts for you or a friend or a great investment for those with an eye for expensive things.

    All proceeds go to support the Alternatorís artistic programming, with strong support for local emerging artists in 2009/10.
     
    The Alternator is grateful to all contributing artists for their enthusiastic support. The artworks can be viewed in person prior to the event in the Alternator's Window Gallery in Kelowna at 421 Cawston Avenue from September 11 ñ 17, Monday - Sunday from 8am-8pm.

    Please visit www.alternatorgallery.com for a full list of all participating artists. We would also like to thank our sponsors, the Sonoran Estate Winery and Opus Framing Ltd. 

     For more information please call the Alternator at: 250.868.2298 or email members@alternatorgallery.com.
    05 Sep 2009

    Commissioning Opportunity: Alternator Music and Media Arts Festival 2010

    The /Alternator Media Arts Centre/ is seeking to commission artists working in all forms of new-media and interactive art. The successful submissions will be presented during a Music and Media Arts Festival in Kelowna BC on July 17, 2010. Artists with a focus on experimental and alternative film, audio, video, interactive and 3D formats are encouraged to apply. Four selected artists will receive a commission to produce new work.
    Awards are as follows:
    x 2 commissions @ $750
    x 2 commissions @ $215

    A selection committee appointed by the Alternator Board of Directors will determine the disbursement of the artists' commissions.

    Requirements:

    Some or all elements of your work must be produced or presented in any new-media based format (audio, video, 3D, Flash, or any interactive media). Works may also incorporate performance and/or visual art.

    The proposed works must also be interactive - your piece will involve some kind of audience participation, where the viewer becomes a participant or contributor. For example, the interaction may involve the viewer interacting with a computer, website, a sensor, the artist or any other element of the artwork.

    Artists must submit the following:
    * Artist CV
    * Project proposal and description (max 200 words)
    * Brief artist statement
    * Technical requirements for presentation
    * Link to online portfolio

    Please send submissions by email to: mediaarts@alternatorgallery.com

    Deadline: * *Monday September 21, 2009 @5pm
    05 Sep 2009

    Kelowna Community Theatre Rolls Out the Red Carpet

    “see it live” showcase
    Wednesday, September 9th
    7.30 pm

    On Wednesday, September 9th at 7.30 pm, the Kelowna Community Theatre will roll out the red carpet and raise the curtains for the inaugural “see it live” showcase.
     
    Highlighting the fall season is an evening of live entertainment jam-packed with performances that features live orchestra, ballet, dance, theatre and jazz.
     
    Audiences will see more than half a dozen short performances featuring award-winning musicians, professionally arranged productions along with some of the Valley’s leading professional performers and directors.
     
    “This is a showcase of some of the incredibly talented performers that will be appearing throughout the fall season at the KCT.  Each performer or group will have 15 minutes to reprise a scene, a musical number, song, or a dance from their upcoming show.  It is a terrific way to sample some of the amazing artists from our region and to check out the many improvements we've made at the Kelowna Community Theatre over the past few years”, says Randy Zahara, Kelowna Community Theatre Manager.
     
    Brimming with events is an infusion of performances that will have you laughing, crying, singing and dancing in your seats!
     
    Tickets for the “see it live” showcase can be won through various contest give aways at the Kelowna Daily Courier, eVent!, K96.3 Classic Rock, Castanet, B103, Power 104, Kelowna Capital News, 103.9 The Juice, and Kelowna.com, or pick up a pair of tickets at Mosaic Books on Bernard, while quantities last.
     
    Welcoming more than 110,000 patrons through its doors annually, the Kelowna Community Theatre celebrates its 47th year of entertaining Kelowna residents. Home to The Kelowna Community Concert Society, Theatre Kelowna Society, The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Kelowna, these organizations delight audiences year round by bringing words to life and evolving music and dance into art forms.  The Theatre has also hosted several national and international acts including Duke Ellington's Band, Prairie Oyster, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Moscow Ballet, Colm Wilkinson, Who's Line is It Anyways, The Proclaimers, Leahy and the Just for Laughs Comedy Tour among several other well known acts. There’s something for everyone at the Kelowna Community Theatre. For more information on the Kelowna Community Theatre visit www.kctlive.ca
     
    02 Sep 2009

    City to host Canadian music awards

    Kelowna will host the 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards from October 14 to 17.
     
    Kelowna was awarded the WCMA spectacle after submitting a bid in June to bring the music award show to the city. City Council unanimously endorsed the WCMA Kelowna Host Committee bid to bring the four-day event to Kelowna and committed $40,000 to the effort.
     
    “This is a great opportunity for residents to watch some of the best musical talent in the country perform and for the local music industry to develop contacts with the artists and industry executives,” says Mayor Sharon Shepherd. “Council was very happy to support the bid and we congratulate the community members who put together the winning bid.”
     
    The event includes a conference, festival and awards show, all of which are open to the public. The festival will showcase local musicians along with performers from British Columbia, Yukon, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Over three nights the festival will feature more than 70 bands playing in venues across the city. The weekend will be capped when the awards are handed out at the WCMA Awards Gala.
     
    “As a key supporter of the bid and the event, the City of Kelowna is looking forward to extending a warm welcome to all of the artists and industry professionals involved in the 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards. It’s a valuable opportunity to showcase our vibrant live music community and give them a chance to grow and learn from the best,” says Sandra Kochan, Cultural Services Manager.
     
    With more than 300 music industry delegates in the city, the WCMAs will also provide a significant economic impact and extend the tourism season. City facilities such as the Kelowna Community Theatre and the Rotary Centre for the Arts will serve as venues, along with a number of private venues.
     
    “We're excited to see the Okanagan music community come together to make this an amazing event,” says Amanda Schweers of the Music B.C. Industry Association and a member of the WCMA Kelowna Host Committee. “We'll have numerous music industry professionals coming to Kelowna from all over western Canada, and this will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the amazing talents of our artists, as well as how hospitable our community can be.”
    26 Aug 2009

    THEATRE KELOWNA PRESENTS The Dirty Thirties

    Theatre Kelowna Society is thrilled to honour the unforgettable era of the thirties during today‚s unprecedented period of economic hard times.  Jeff Samin has created a musical revue with songs and laughs from that amazing time in our history.  Presented cabaret style in the Black Box Theatre, audiences can enjoy food and drink while being entertained by the wonderful and talented Theatre Kelowna performers.  Musical direction is by Sylvia Clerke assisted by Ron Rubadeau on bass.  The actors are Max Lowen, Marika Haspeck, Doug Armet, Jim Baldwin, Rome Donati, Geoff Ingram, Chris Morley, Ewald Bergen, Denise Wolfe, and Allison MacFarlane.
     
    Sept. 24-27, Oct. 1-4, Oct. 8-10
    Evenings: 7:30 PM Thurs.-Sat.
    Matinees: 2 PM Sat. & Sun.
    BLACK BOX THEATRE
    (behind the Kelowna Community Theatre)
    Tickets at TICKETMASTER.CA
    250-860-1470
    Box Office at Town Centre Mall
    And at the Door
    Affordable! $20 Adult; $18 Student/Senior (plus $3 service charge)
    10% Discount for Groups of 10 or more
    Beer, Wine, hot & cold drinks and light snacks for sale.
    Contact: 250-862-8673
    www.theatrekelowna.org
    26 Aug 2009

    Celebration Singers Audition New Members

    Do you love to sing? Are you committed to excellence in vocal performance and want to share that commitment with a talented group of like-minded women? If so, Kelownaís Celebration Singers wants to hear from you.

    The all-women's choir will hold auditions for a limited number of positions on Thursday, September 3 at Christ Lutheran Church at 2091 Gordon Drive in Kelowna. The ability to read music is preferred, but not mandatory.

    Artistic director Sue Skinner will lead the auditions, which get underway at 6:30 pm. For more information or to book a slot, contact 250-868-3984.

    The ladies of Celebration Singers have been entertaining Okanagan audiences for 12 years and traditionally put on two major performances a year.

    26 Aug 2009

    PERCY SCHMEISER ON Genetically Engineered Food

    PERCY SCHMEISER RETURNS TO B.C. - SEPTEMBER 15-20
    Internationally-Renowned Saskatchewan Farmer Continues His Journey of Warning
    Farmers and Eaters of the Risks of Genetically Engineered Food.
     
    It's not often that farmers reach celebrity status and between September 15-20, communities throughout the interior of the province will be welcoming one of the most celebrated farmers in the world - Percy Schmeiser.
     
    Between 1998-2008, Saskatchewan's Percy and Louise Schmeiser have waged a classic David versus Goliath struggle against one of the most influential multinational agricultural corporations - Monsanto.
     
    Their ongoing battles have reached such international recognition, that in December 2007, the Schmeisers became the recipients of the Right Livelihood Award; often referred to as the "alternative Nobel". The award was presented in honour of the Schmeisers' "courage in defending biodiversity and farmers' rights, and challenging the environmental and moral perversity of current interpretations of patent laws".

    Since the mid 1990s, the food supply of Canada has become increasingly dominated by genetically engineered (G.E.) foods. The process of transgenic engineering involves the placement of DNA from one species or kingdom into the cells of another. Such processes do not take place within nature or from conventional breeding and the technology expectedly continues to receive widespread global opposition. Canada remains among a small minority of countries who support such foods and has welcomed G.E. ingredients into our food supply. Canada even goes so far as to aggressively lobby other countries to do the same.
     
    It is estimated that over three quarters of foods on grocery store shelves now contain G.E. ingredients. Most Canadians remain completely unaware of their presence. With the technology having not received any long-term human safety studies, Canadians have become the product of one of the largest human feeding experiments in history. The foods/ingredients that are most often genetically engineered are corn, soy, canola and cottonseed. These crops represent the foundation for most foods consumed today including soft drinks, breakfast cereals, oil-based foods, dairy, meat and eggs among others.
     
    The genetic engineering of the food supply continues to expand. In 2008, G.E. sugar entered the food supply for the first time, and in early 2009, an industry-led campaign was launched to encourage the future introduction of G.E. wheat.
     
    The Schmeiser's visit marks their second to B.C. in the past 14 months. In July 2008, Percy addressed audiences in Castlegar, Vancouver and Vancouver Island, where he urged communities there to protect the local food supply and support efforts to establish G.E. Free Zones (regions that could remain free of genetically engineered plants and trees). Since that visit the municipalities of Nelson, Rossland and Kaslo have all passed policies that oppose the cultivation of such experimental technologies. The groups hosting Percy on this tour will either be continuing their efforts to establish such zones and/or will be introducing the idea.
     
    Farmers' Rights
     
    Among the many environmental and health concerns of G.E. foods, farmers' rights are also of great concern. When a plant is genetically engineered, it can then be patented. Once private ownership of the lifeform is established, the company then owns the plant regardless of where it ends up. This is of significant concern because G.E. plants can freely cross with non-G.E. varieties over long distances. In the Schmeisers' case, Monsanto's RoundUp Ready canola ended up in their fields of non-G.E. canola even though the Schmeisers had never purchased the G.E. seed. The Schmeisers, who had been saving seed for decades, were left to harvest seeds that were now owned by a multinational corporation. It didn't take long before they found themselves in a courtroom with a powerful corporation demanding that they pay the company royalties for having used their patented technologies (seeds).

    This shocking example of the corporate control of our food supply is the clear direction in which our food system is heading.
     
    Following years of legal battles, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled 5-4 in favour of Monsanto in 2004. The decision sent shockwaves to farmers around the world.
     
    The battle continued when another incident between Monsanto and the Schmeisers was sparked in 2005. This time, it was the Schmeisers challenging Monsanto, and this time, the Schmeisers were the victor. In March 2008, Monsanto paid the Schmeisers $660 in an out-of-court settlement. While the sum was small, the message was powerful, and the Schmeisers have since been touring the world sharing their story of this victory.
     
    In July 2008, Percy Schmeiser helped launch the G.E. Free Kootenays campaign at a packed event in Castlegar. The campaign has been successfully working towards the establishment of a region that will remain free of genetically engineered plants and trees. As part of this latest return to B.C., Schmeiser will continue to lend his experience to farmers and eaters and further encourage the establishing of G.E. Free regions throughout the province.
     
    Supporters: Society for a G.E. Free BC, Okanagan Greens Society, Okanagan College, FASNO, Shuswap Seed Savers, G.E. Free Kootenays, Kootenay Food Strategy Society, Deconstructing Dinner, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN), Grand Forks and Boundary Regional Agriculture Society, Creston Food Action Coalition
     
    For more information on the tour, visit www.gefreebc.org
     
    Dates / Venues:

    Vernon
    Saturday, September 19, 2009
    Okanagan College - Lecture Theatre, 7000 College Way, Vernon, B.C.
    7:00pm
    Admission $5

    Kelowna
    Sunday, September 20, 2009
    4th Annual Organic Okanagan Festival
    @ Summerhill Pyramid Winery,
    4870 Chute Lake Road, Kelowna, B.C.
    1:00pm
    Admission $5
    25 Aug 2009

    Kelowna Drum Workshops

    AFRO-CUBAN DRUMMING I
    Wed 7-8 pm,  Sept.23rd-Dec.9th 2009
    12 week course
    Location: Kelowna Drum Studio
    Conga drums provided, No experience required
    Learn basic Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms and popular Latin rhythms.
    Cost: $140 or Drop-in $15/class

    AFRO-CUBAN DRUMMING II
    Wed  8-9 pm, Sept. 23rd-Dec.9th 2009
    12 week course
    Location: Kelowna Drum Studio
    Conga drums provided
    Competency with basic Afro-Cuban drum skills required (Son Clave, Rumba Clave, 6 Bell, Marcha etc.)
    Course will include advanced Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms and popular Latin rhythms.
    Cost: $140 or Drop-in $15/class

    MIDDLE EASTERN DRUM WORKSHOP I
    Saturday, Oct 17, 2009
    Time:TBA
    Location: Okanagan Rhythm Festival, Rotary centre for the Arts
    For drummers/dancers of all level who would like to gain some experience and knowledge of the Doumbek(drum) and Riq(tambourine).
    Cost: $15

    Private or Couple lessons also available in many styles and various drums.(Middle Eastern, Latin, African, Jazz, Rock)
    All fees are non-refundable except for medical reasons.

    For information on any course call Trevor at (250)763-3951 or see www.trevorsalloum.com
    22 Aug 2009

    Call for Kelowna Artists - Learning Through the Arts: Artist Educator

    Learning Through the Arts (LTTA) is an acclaimed education initiative that is transforming classrooms in over 2000 classrooms across Canada and around the world. In this unique program, local artists partner with teachers to deliver the core curriculum through the arts. LTTA lessons keep all students active, interested and involved in the learning process. Created in 1994 as a way to enhance the goals, methods and the culture of education, LTTA is now one of the world's most innovative education programs. For more information, please visit our website at www.ltta.ca

    Artist Criteria (Artist Educator, Salary-Contract Basis):

    Practicing community artist (including but not limited to: drama, music, visual arts, dance, puppetry, media arts/digital technology, creative writing, storytelling, aboriginal) in the community

    Open to viewing their art as it relates to multiple areas of curriculum

    A willingness to work collaboratively with teachers on both short and long term goals

    Ability and willingness to participate in four days of training per year ñ mandatory training dates for Fall 2009 are September 22-25, 2009 (Must be available during the day)

    Dedicated to youth and possessing a commitment to integrated education

    Francophone/Bilingual applicants are especially encouraged to apply

    Please email your resume and cover letter,
    No later than September 8, 2009 to:

    Lori Sherritt-Fleming
    Regional Manager, BC
    Learning Through the Arts
    lori.sherritt@rcmusic.ca
    1-800-414-4077
    Cell:  778-319-6524

    Due to the high volume of applications received we will only be contacting successful applicants for an interview.

    Interviews: September 21st, 2009
    Hollywood Road Educational Services Room 5
    1040 Hollywood Road
    Kelowna, BC
    V1X 4N2


    All selected artists will be required to attend the
    Fall Artist Training sessions: September 22nd-September 25th, 2009
    20 Aug 2009

    Art … GO Party!

    The Gallery is organizing our 2nd GO Party! fundraiser around our opening reception for Vessna Perunovich: Emblems of the Enigma exhibition on Friday August 21, 2009 from 7-10 pm.

    The first GO Party! was such a success, the Gallery has decided to do it again! This will be another great summer evening outside on the Gallery patio and side lawn. The Hugh Parsons Trio will perform n the side lawn (weather permitting of course). They will provide a wide selection of jazz standards, bossa novas, ballads and easy listening music. To introduce their new Fall 2009 Wine Series, UBC Okanagan Continuing Studies will be sharing tips and offering samplings of local cheeses that are best paired with the local wines that will be served. There will also be door prizes, refreshments, a cash bar, and an art-making activity.

    Artist Vessna Perunovich will be in attendance and will be available to chat about her imaginative and powerful installations of work in the gallery. Attendance at the party is open to members and the public, to give everyone an opportunity to participate in this fundraising initiative for the Gallery.

    Tickets are $10 for members, $20 for non-members, and can be purchased at the gallery or by calling 250-762-2226. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser support innovative exhibitions and public programming at the Kelowna Art Gallery.

    Mark your calendars for August 21 and join us for a hot summer evening party on the coolest, new outdoor patio in Kelowna!

    The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, Mondays from 12-4 (summer hours).
    15 Aug 2009

    2010 Large Scale Sculpture Show

    Artists are invited to participate in a large scale sculpture show from July until September of 2010, hosted by the Vernon Community Arts Centre.  There is no limitation on media; wood, clay, glass, stone, metal, paper machÈ or any other media.  The only limitation on size is that it must be able to fit through the front door of the Arts Centre (7í 6î high by 5í 6î wide) and must be able to be moved by the artist without cranes, lifts, etc.  We cannot accommodate machines driving on our beautiful new floor, so sculptures must be moved by hand or with small dollies with pneumatic tires.  The only limitation on subject is that we are a community centre open to the public and children, so some subject matter may not be appropriate.  We reserve the right to reject works based on inappropriate subject matter.

    Due to space issues created by working in large scale, we ask that interested artists contact us with a commitment to the exhibition.  With this, we can anticipate how much exhibition space will be required.  This will also provide us with information for press releases and advertising.  
    More information will be made available as it comes to us.

    Vernon Community Arts Centre
    http://www.vernonarts.ca

    15 Aug 2009

    Hundred Foot Feast

    August 30, 5:00
    at Crannóg Ales
    706 Elson Rd, Sorrento

    Tickets in advance only. Call for reservations: 250-675-6847

    $75 includes all taxes and gratuity

    You've heard of the Hundred Mile Diet? For one night in August, feast on the Hundred Foot Diet.

    On August 30, Crannóg Ales and Stellar Seeds host a midsummer feast at their farm and brewery in Sorrento. Picture long tables set with linen and crystal, outside beneath the cherry trees, surrounded by the gardens from which your dinner came. French meets fresh, in this inspired combination of local food and drink.

    This year's Feast is a five course extravaganza of our own farm-raised food, from lamb to basil, heritage tomatoes and garlic. Our chef this year is Geoffrey Couper of The Corked Cook, an inspired chef dedicated to seasonal food. He teaches in the Culinary Arts department at Okanagan College as well as running his own catering business featuring fine local ingredients. Each course is paired with a fresh ale from Crannóg Ales, including some special cask-conditioned ales made only for this event!

    The art of cooking seasonally is at its peak during tomato season. Our chefs will provide inspiration and delectation for your own seasonal eating, while brewer Brian MacIsaac will explore the art of pairing beer and food. Sophistication and fresh foods are the bywords of this feast, bringing you the very best our farm has to offer.

    This very special dinner is by advance ticket only, $75.00 includes taxes and gratuity, five courses and all the alcohol. Please call Crannóg Ales at 250-675-6847 for reservations. We accept all credit cards, cheques or cash.
    13 Aug 2009

    Ricardo's Cops for Kids Fundraiser Dinner

    Date:   Monday, August 17
    Time:   5pm-close
    Location:   Ricardo's Mediterranean Kitchen, 415 Commonwealth Rd, Kelowna

    Dine out at Ricardo's Mediterranean Kitchen and make a difference! On August 17th, enjoy authentic Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian flare at the Okanagan Valley's hidden treasure. Ricardo's will donate 25% of food sales to Cops for Kids, a charitable foundation providing financial support to children in medical, physical or traumatic crisis in the Southern Interior Region of BC. There will also be a silent auction with some terrific prizes!

    To reserve your table, please call: 250-766-6810

    www.CopsForKids.org

    About Ricardo's Mediterranean Kitchen
    Tucked away on a quiet road just outside Kelowna, BC Ricardo's Mediterranean Kitchen offers gratifying, authentic dishes echoing from the Italian countryside and the Mediterranean basin. From mama’s hand-rolled, homemade meatballs to organic produce grown in the family garden, chef-owner Ricardo Scebba honors his Italian heritage and serves favorite family recipes that offer a true taste of Mediterranean life. The Tuscan-inspired 50-seat room designed by Georgia Award-winner, Tara Trumpetter makes the perfect place to savor Ricardo’s time-honoured taste creations with family, friends and lovers. Since opening in 2001, Ricardo's has won numerous awards including "Best Restaurant", "Best Service", “Best Italian” and "Best Romantic" from Okanagan Life Magazine. Situated in the Holiday Park Resort just 20km north of Kelowna, Ricardo's Mediterranean Kitchen is the Okanagan's best-kept secret. For menus and more info, visit: www.ricardos.ca

    10 Aug 2009

    ARTS FUNDING CUTS CALL FOR SUPPORT

    You likely have heard about the issue of potential cuts to arts funding in BC over the past few weeks.  These double-barreled cuts are centered currently on BC Arts Council annual grants, and Direct Access Funding from the Gaming Branch.  No formal announcements have been made by BC Arts or Gaming: it is anticipated that the September 2 provincial budget may contain information.  

    This letter is coming to you from a task force drawn from concerned central Okanagan arts groups, a list of which is at the end of this email.  We are getting in touch to ensure everyone is aware of these potential cuts and funding freezes and we encourage you and your organization to discuss this issue with your supporters, sponsors, donors, board members, artists and members of your local community.  

    We hope that you will choose to advocate for the arts at this critical time.  Let your concerns be heard in a positive fashion, bringing a message of the strong economic and cultural impact the arts have on our communities and the province.  

    Many provincial arts groups have already expressed their concerns to their MLAs and to other government officials.  Good, up-to-date information is available online at   http://www.allianceforarts.com.

    We ask your support in taking the message of your organization to your local MLA – if at all possible, in a face-to-face meeting, before the House sits again August 25.  Clearly these funding issues affect many arts organizations in the province. To get more information on your local MLA, you can go to  http://www.leg.bc.ca/MLA.

    We feel it is vital to make the business case for continuation of funding - how many dollars does your organization contribute to your local economy; and what the impact is, both financial and cultural on your audiences and artists.  The Alliance for Arts and Culture quantifies the provincial impact of the arts at 80,000 jobs and $5.2 billion annually.  You need to tell your financial and job story.  

    You can also encourage your organization to send a letter, and keep sending letters, talking about the impact of proposed funding cuts on your community by writing to pertinent elected officials.  Office addresses on each elected official’s web pages.
    Arts - Minister Kevin Krueger -  Kevin.kruegermla@leg.bc.ca
    Gaming - Minister Rich Coleman -  rich.colemanmla!@leg.bc.ca
    Premier Gordon Campbell -  premier@gov.bc.ca

    Please forward this email, perhaps with a covering note, to your in-house email list.  We know the government needs to hear from the groups and organizations impacted and they especially need to hear from the community itself - including individuals and businesses - that the arts matter to them.  

    We also ask you to respond to this email - either to the organization which sent it to you - or to  ArtsResponseOkanagan@shaw.ca, so that we can measure the reaction to this information and tell all MLAs and others about the ongoing awareness of this issue among BC Arts groups.

    Thank you - please react within the next two weeks.

    PAK - Professional Performing Arts Alliance of Kelowna: Ballet Kelowna, Chamber Music Kelowna, Community Concerts Kelowna, Okanagan Symphony
    Arts Council of the Central Okanagan
    Rotary Centre for the Arts
    Okanagan Institute

        
     
    10 Aug 2009

    Fall for Art this Season!

    Become a tour guide at the Kelowna Art Gallery

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is currently recruiting volunteer tour guides for its 2009/2010 School Tour Program. Volunteering as a tour guide offers a terrific opportunity to work with the public and expand your knowledge of the visual arts.
    At the Kelowna Art Gallery, tour guides work as volunteers escorting school groups through current exhibitions. You will be required to volunteer approximately two-and-a-half hours per week, plus you will attend exhibition information meetings, held approximately once every six weeks. As a tour guide, you will receive a free membership to the Gallery, selected exhibition catalogues, the opportunity to meet artists and curators, and the chance to attend workshops, artistís talks and opening receptions.
    Training will begin in mid September, and the Gallery will provide all the information necessary to lead exciting and dynamic tours. Your training will include instruction on working with children in a gallery setting, contemporary art, and teaching methods.

    For more information contact Renee Burgess, Head of Public Programming at 250-762-2226 ext 310 or email the gallery at info@kelownaartgallery.com.
    06 Aug 2009

    Back by popular demand: Hot … Art … GO Party!

    The Gallery is organizing our 2nd GO Party! fundraiser around our opening reception for Vessna Perunovich: Emblems of the Enigma exhibition on Friday August 21, 2009 from 7-10 pm.

    The first GO Party! was such a success, the Gallery has decided to do it again! This will be another great summer evening outside on the Gallery patio and side lawn. The Hugh Parsons Trio will perform n the side lawn (weather permitting of course). They will provide a wide selection of jazz standards, bossa novas, ballads and easy listening music. To introduce their new Fall 2009 Wine Series, UBC Okanagan Continuing Studies will be sharing tips and offering samplings of local cheeses that are best paired with the local wines that will be served. There will also be door prizes, refreshments, a cash bar, and an art-making activity.

    Artist Vessna Perunovich will be in attendance and will be available to chat about her imaginative and powerful installations of work in the gallery. Perunovich will give a brief talk at 6:30, and the party starts at 7pm!
    Attendance at the party is open to members and the public, to give everyone an opportunity to participate in this fundraising initiative for the Gallery.

    Tickets are $10 for members, $20 for non-members, and can be purchased at the gallery or by calling 250-762-2226.

    Mark your calendars for August 21 and join us for a hot summer evening party on the coolest, new outdoor patio in Kelowna!
     

    On exhibition at the Kelowna Art Gallery:
    Vessna Perunovich: Emblems of the Enigma
    from August 22 to October 18, 2009

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to present Vessna Perunovich: Emblems of the Enigma

    We are excited to bring the widely varied work of this talented Toronto-based artist to Kelowna. This exhibition was curated by independent curator Donald Brackett, and has been produced by a collaboration among several public galleries in Canada. This is also how we have published the full-colour catalogue that accompanies the exhibition. Perunovich works in drawing and painting as well as video, installation, and performance. Although her work explores deep and emotional themes (such as memory, loss, exile, the home, sexuality, relationships, and death) it is also accessible, seductive and at times even whimsical. Her use of unusual materials is intriguing and inspiring, as is her enthusiasm for the colour red.

    Vessna Perunovich grew up and trained as an artist in the former Yugoslavia and has been working in Canada since 1988.

    Perunovich will be performing I Hug the World and the World Hugs me Back on Saturday, August 22 at 2:00 pm. This free, public performance will take place by the sails on Bernard Avenue.

    The Gallery is organizing our 2nd GO Party! fundraiser as the opening reception for Vessna Perunovich: Emblems of the Enigma on Friday August 21. Perunovich will give a brief talk at 6:30, and the party starts at 7pm!
    For ticket information, call the gallery or visit or web site at www.kelownaartgalery.com.

    This exhibition runs from August 22 to October 18, 2009. The Kelowna Art Gallery, located at 1315 Water Street is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday until 9 pm, Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm, and on Mondays for the summer only, from 12-4.

    Admission to the gallery is $5 for individuals, $4 for students and seniors or $10 for a family. FREE admission on Thursdays from 3 – 9 pm.
    06 Aug 2009

    Afro-Cuban Percussion CD

    BC MUSICIAN RELEASES NEW CD WITH INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHER

    Musician, teacher and best selling author Trevor Salloum has just released his 9th publication with international publisher Mel Bay Publications Inc.
     
    Afro-Cuban Percussion: Play-Along is a valuable recording that provides a clear example of some of the most common popular and folkloric Latin percussion instruments and rhythms. These rhythms are provided in a variety of tempos with looped patterns to enhance learning. A chart with the notation of each rhythm is included in the package.
     
    Afro-Cuban Percussion Play Along was recorded in Kelowna, BC, at the Centre for Arts and Technology (CATO) under the tutelage of Nicolas Morin and Rob Dewar. Tracks were performed by Trevor Salloum (www.trevorsalloum.com). The CD is available internationally through music stores, bookstores and online. $9.99 USD.

    Mel Bay Publications Inc. (http://www.melbay.com) is a leading international print music publisher in Pacific, Missouri. Since 1947 they have been a world leader in music education materials.

    For more information on the release of the CD please contact Trevor Salloum at (250) 763-3951, salloum@shaw.ca or Mel Bay Publications Inc. (800) 863-5229.
    29 Jul 2009

    High School Musical

    Local Actress Returns Home to Play Popular Role - Jaclyn Nestman Thrilled to be Playing Perky Drama Queen

    Ask young girls everywhere what their favorite character in High School Musical is and you may get a surprise. The usual answer of any story would be the ingОnue who falls in love and nabs the man of her dreams. But when it comes to this popular show the villainess often steals the spotlight with her wit, charisma and yes, her fashion sense. It’s no doubt then that when Kelowna native Jaclyn Nestman heard that she’d be playing her dream role of Sharpay Evans she was ecstatic.
    “I feel so honoured to be a part of this production and I must admit I went just a little haywire when I was told I got the role.”

    Nestman graduated from RSS, studied at the Canadian School of Ballet and appeared in over ten local productions before moving to Edmonton where she received a diploma in theatre arts at Grant MacEwan College. She then started landing parts in the Edmonton International Fringe Festival and most recently had a nine month run with Wow Productions performing in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary. She will return to touring this fall shortly after wrapping up with High School Musical.

    “The past few years I have lived in some of the coldest cities in Western Canada, and being able to come back home to Kelowna to do such an energetic show is so exciting!”

    Playing the drama queen with valley girl charm brings extra perks for Nestman as Sharpay is known as the fashion plate of the show sporting sparkly, girly ensembles throughout. A sure highlight for any fashion savvy tween enjoying this summer’s production.

    High School Musical runs August 14 – 22, 2009 at the Kelowna Community Theatre. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
    28 Jul 2009

    Vernon Public Art Gallery Hosts BC Design History Exhibition

    Travelling Exhibition Comes to the Okanagan

    BC Design History Exhibition is a traveling exhibition which includes historic design and applied arts works. The exhibition presentation in the Vernon Public Art Gallery includes five contemporary local designers working in a variety of media. From July 27 to October 15, 2009 several local Vernon artists will be featured in the Gallery: Doug Alcock with his blacksmithing, Maria Carolina Sanchez de Bustamante with her architectural ceramics, Yael Krakowski with her jewellery, Don Martz with his cabinetry/furniture design, and David Wilson with his painted ceremonial drums.

    The exhibition opening is scheduled for Monday, July 27, 2009 at 1 pm with an introduction by Exhibition Co-curator Sam Carter (Emily Carr University) at 12 pm on the same day.

    The Gallery will also hold presentations by the local artists/designers on following days:
    August 11, @ 12 pm ˆ Doug Alcock
    August 25, @ 12 pm ˆ David Wilson
    September 8, @ 12 pm - Don Martz
    September 25, @ 12 pm ˆ Maria Carolina Sanchez de Bustamante

    Co-curator, Sam Carter of Emily Carr University states: "The exhibition explores creativity, form and "look" of individual and mass-produced works of functional design, craft and applied arts in British Columbia from earliest times to present. The exhibition is designed to travel across the Province to museums, galleries, community centres, conferences and special events. Graphic panels explore 30 BC applied arts themes with digital images, authentic artifacts and text. In addition, a number of small three-dimensional works will be included in the exhibition. Regional BC venues will be encouraged to add relevant BC artifacts, old and new from collections or nearby BC designers and craftspeople.

    The exhibition provides an inclusive representation of functional design, craft applied arts from across time and the regions of BC. Certain images, materials and forms reflect flora, fauna, natural resources and beauty of the Province.

    The exhibition includes works created for survival, function, beauty, and range from hand crafted and industrially produced. Works in the exhibitions were designed and produced primarily in BC; some produced outside of BC and others with BC iconic images and forms emblematic of the Province.‰

     

    The BC Design History is in part sponsored by:

    BC150 Years, Emily Carr University of Art +Design, Canadian Heritage, British Columbia Creative Achievement Awards

    For more information, photos, or interviews:

    Contact: Cassandra Redding Phone: 250.545.3137 Email: cassandra@vernonpublicartgallery.com
     
    24 Jul 2009

    Tea with Emily - Starring Christine Pilgrim as Miss Emily Carr

    Saturday, August 8th from 3 to 5pm

    Miss Emily Carr (closely resembling actress Christine Pilgrim) requests the pleasure of your company for high tea at the House of All Sorts (closely resembling Gallery Vertigo) on Saturday, August 8th between 3pm and 5pm.

    Finger sandwiches and sweets of the daintiest sort will be served up by Miss Carr herself as she mills about and chats with her "boarders" (You!).

    (Hot tea with lemon or cream and sugar will be served along with tea sandwiches and cupcakes prepared by the Bumblebee Cupcakery.)

    Fellow artists are especially welcome. Some of Miss Carr‚s work will be on display and the artist will chat about her philosophy of life and and her travels.

    Miss Carr may even be persuaded to divulge a few of the secrets of her art and writing techniques, along with her personal history.

    Because of her close association with Canadian First Nations peoples, she may also share one of the games the Natives played with her.

    There might also follow some discussion on how to avoid heart attacks (Miss Carr recovered from several before she finally succumbed.)

    It would be preferred that, if anyone feels vulnerable to attacks of the heart, that they keep them to the romantic kind (We are hoping that some eligible young people may attend).

    Plan to come on time, or Miss Carr may have hoisted your chair to the ceiling, and then where will you sit?!

    Admission is $10, chair or no chair. Tickets must be purchased in advance from Gallery Vertigo.

    Miss Carr can acommodate a limited number of guests, so please don‚t dilly dally or you shall have no tea.

    I am humbled to be among the many who have played Emily Carr and who have written about her. My only regret is that we'll not be able to get "the elephant" up the stairs for our tea at Gallery Vertigo. The monkey "Woo" is scheduled to make an appearance, however. (Christine Pilgrim)

    An excellent example of Christine Pilgrim's history-based theatre, Tea with Emily promises to both entertain and to illuminate interesting details about the fascinating life and art of BC's most beloved artist. Suitable for all ages, Christine's delightful comic style and interactive approach is sure to enthrall the audience. Imagine yourself as a boarder at Emily's boarding house, the House of All Sorts and join the artist for high tea. (Judith Jurica, Director, Gallery Vertigo.) 250-503-2297

    Gallery Vertigo is a non-profit Artist Run Centre founded in 2002. The centre operates under the auspices of the North Okanagan Artists Alternative, a registered non-profit society. We are located upstairs at Suite #1, 3001 31st Street, downtown Vernon, in the historical Winnipeg Union Bank building across from Nolan's Drugs. Please use the side entrance under Krause Jeweller's awning. Hours of business are from 11:00am-4:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday. For information call Gallery Vertigo @ (250)503-2297 or email: info@galleryvertigo.com. Our website can be found at galleryvertigo.com.
    24 Jul 2009

    CALL FOR ARTISTS - Okanagan Arts Award Sculpture 2010

    The Okanagan Arts Awards is seeking a design for the three-dimensional sculpture that will become the award to be presented to each award recipient.  More information about the awards program can be found on the website at www.okanaganartsawards.com.

    The process is as follows:
    ó  Submit your drawing(s) of the design by August 1, 2009.
    ó  Submissions will be short listed to 3 by August 20, 2009.
    ó  The 3 short listed artists must submit a maquette of the design by September 20, 2009, to be delivered to the Arts Council Office by 2:00 pm.  The maquettes should be about 8" ñ 14" high, and should have a base that is a maximum of 4" in diameter so it will fit onto a specific base.  The maquette can be made out of clay, wood, glass, wax, or other material.
    ó  One maquette will be chosen by September 30, 2009, which will then be used to produce the award sculptures.
    ó  The chosen design will receive an honorarium of $1,000.00.
    ó  Each of the other 2 maquettes will receive $250.00.

    Please include the following in your submission:
        Drawing(s) of your design
        An artist statement that explains your design
        Your contact information
        Information about how your design can be reproduced,
         giving details of processes and costs.
        A self-addressed envelope for the return of your
         material.

    Submissions for this Call are due by August 1, 2009.  They can be delivered, mailed or emailed to Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, #100, 1690 Water Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 8T8.  

    Inquiries: 250-861-4123 or to info@artsco.ca
    24 Jul 2009

    PROFESSIONAL ARTIST SCHOLARSHIPS - INCLUDES TRAINING SUBSIDY AND TUITION

    The En'owkin  Centre is an Indigenous cultural, educational and creative arts institution  located in Penticton, BC, which offers university/college transfer diplomas  and certificate programs.

    Our Centre is comprised of highly qualified  educators who are also professional artists and writers, facilitators and  Indigenous advocates.

    The En'owkin Centre provides a culturally  sensitive learning environment in a nurturing and challenging atmosphere.  

    The En’owkin Centre is a dynamic institution  which puts forth into practice the principles of self-determination and the  validation of cultural aspirations and identity. An Indigenous cultural,  educational, ecological and creative arts organization, the En’owkin Centre  is taking a lead role in the development and implementation of Indigenous  knowledge systems, both at the community and international levels.  

    This program will provide training towards the  career development of professional Indigenous artists including writers,  visual artists, storytellers, drum makers, carvers, weavers, and traditional  performers.

    The focus of this program will be specific to  indigenous world-view and expression in traditional format and concern as  well as in fusion with contemporary forms including storytelling,  performance arts, painting, sculpture, and installation art. Established  Aboriginal artists and mentors will provide professional training to engage  artists in projects, marketing, promotion of works and exhibitions.  

    Upon completion artists will receive a Professional  Indigenous Fine Arts Certificate awarded by the En'owkin  Centre.  
     
    Tracey Kim Bonneau
    Public Relations, En'owkin Centre
    RR#2  Site 50 Comp 8
    Penticton, BC V2A 6J7
    Phone 250 493 7181 Ext 28
    Fax       250 493 5302
    http://www.enowkincentre.ca
    25 Jun 2009

    Summer Programmes at Kelowna Actors Studio

    Kelowna Actors Studio is offering classes in drama, musical theatre, TV & Film, Improv and so much more all summer long!

    Classes start June 29th with one week and two week programmes running until the end of August for ages 7 to 17

    Classes include musical theatre with West Side Story and Mary Poppins, as well as 1/2 day and full day programmes with a variety of activities including
    acting, commercials, tv and film, musical theatre and imrpov games.

    Other classes are Theatrical Triple Treat, Whose Line Is It Anyway - Improv and The Variety Pack.

    Instructors include Randy Leslie, Nathan Flavel, Mark Reinelt, Vivian Hughes, James Long and Carmen Harris.

    Call 250-862-2867 or sign up on our website at www.KelownaActorsStudio.com

    Also coming up is the musical
    THE PRODUCERS
    July 9 to August 2
    Starring Randy Leslie, Chad Abrahamson, Tracy Ross

    The Producers The biggest hit to land on Broadway in years -- taking home a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards -- is "The Producers," Mel Brooks' stage adaptation of his 1968 Oscar-winning movie classic. This madcap tale -- follows a desperate producer and mild-mannered accountant's attempt to make a fortune by producing a surefire bomb --

    Shows: Thursday to Sunday with a Saturday matinee at 1pm
    Dinner  6:30 pm or Dessert Options 8:00 pm available
    Catering by the Greenroom
    Call 250-862-2867 or www.KelownaActorsStudio.com
    20 Jun 2009

    25 YEARS GEERT MAAS SCULPTURE GARDENS AND GALLERY

    June marks the month that Geert and Elly Maas opened their sculpture gardens and gallery to the public 25 years ago in Kelowna, British Columbia.

    The occasion is celebrated by a special exhibition, entitled: “Fusion” featuring new works and commissions in progress, open to the public till October 1, Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October till May by chance or by appointment.

    Location: 250 Reynolds Road, Kelowna.

    Geert and Elly Maas created their first sculpture gardens and gallery in the Netherlands before immigrating to Canada, settling in Kelowna, B.C. 30 years ago in 1979. It took five years to develop the property and create enough art works to open the new sculpture gardens and gallery to the public. Since then the collection has grown steadily featuring well over 350 art works. The indoor and outdoor gallery offer one of the finest collections of bronze sculptures in Canada as well as paintings, prints, wall sculptures, medals, installations and sculptures in a wide variety of materials. The internationally acclaimed tourist attraction draws visitors from around the world attracted to artist Geert Maas’ works.

    Geert Maas’ art has been shown in New York, London, Paris and in prestigious exhibitions in over one dozen countries. His work is admired in public, corporate and private art collections worldwide.

    For a preview please visitwww.geertmaas.org

    19 Jun 2009

    SO, YOU THINK YOU CAN ACT?

    Auditions for 2009/10 Season
    Ages 7 to 77

    Several singing and non-singing roles are available for adults and children of all ages and experience levels.

    Auditions are every five minutes from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Monday, June 8, and Friday, June 12. Children’s auditions are being held on Sunday, June 7 from 1:00 pm to 5 pm. Auditions are at Kelowna Actors Studio, 1379 Ellis Street (across from the Kelowna Public Library).

    All actors are required to prepare a short [one-minute] contemporary monologue. All actors auditioning for musicals are required to prepare 16 bars from the traditional Broadway repertoire, not from the show and sheet music in the correct key for piano accompaniment. Facilities for pre-recorded accompaniments are not available and singing without piano is not permitted. All singers may also be asked to do some basic range and/or musicianship tests. All people auditioning for musicals must also participate in a group movement audition, so comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear are required.

    For more information, including a breakdown of the shows and roles, please visit the Audition Notice page on the Kelowna Actors Studio website at www.KelownaActorsStudio.com. To book an audition, please call Cheryl Berg at the theatre box office at 250 862 2867. Any children’s choirs who are interested in auditioning for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat should contact Randy Leslie directly at rleslie@KelownaActorsStudio.com.                

    Not quite ready for an audition?

    Why not take an ACTING CLASS? ...

    • Engage students artistically and personally!
    • Incite investigation of the world through the creative process!
    • Build confidence and self-awareness!
    • Empower students to reach their creative potential!
    • Provoke critical and objective thinking!
    • Inspire amazing stories and memories!
    • Train students to be triple threat performers!
    • Encourage a fun filled, collaborative, and creative environment!

    MOST CLASSES CULMINATE IN A FINAL PERFORMANCE ON STAGE WITH LIGHTS, PROPS AND COSTUMES!

    Kids' classes and workshops are happening all summer long ... visit our website for more info!

    Rather just watch?... Here’s what audiences are saying about our current production, Lend Me A Tenor, playing Thursdays to Sundays until June 7:

    Loved it! Nate was very funny, the way he skittered around the stage; his mannerisms were hilarious. He was even sexy when he was in costume as Tito with Maggie. And Frank did a very believable job as Tito ... very funny as well, good timing and excellent singing. Nate and Frank really clicked together. I thought Patricia was the perfect Maria ... hilarious as well and so natural. Is she Italian? Everyone else did a great job too. The set was very well done, very professional. And of course the food was delicious. I love the Italian theme. The Greenroom scores again. We loved the 1-minute fast forward version of the entire story at the end. Well done everyone. Thanks for another great performance and a fun night out. Bravo.

    Definitely a hit!

    Thanks to everyone at KAS for a great night out last night! Laughter truly is the best medicine and that was a great escape!

    WOW! what a lot of farcical fun that was! Well done everybody and special Kudos to James .. a great first directorship. As always Nate manages to get just the right amount of silliness and humility... great job! I laughed a lot... just what I needed.

    I think the Actors Studio may have out done themselves!!! Last night was fabulous. You all deserve another standing ovation. Hats off to James – what an incredible job for a directorial debut! Everyone on stage absolutely shone… Patricia has obviously met my Auntie Babe… cause she was her to a tee!

    My mom and I were in stitches thanks to you…

    TO BOOK AN AUDITION, CALL CHERYL AT THE BOX OFFICE: 250 862 2867

    FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CLASSES, AUDITION INFORMATION, OR OUR PRODUCTION, VISIT KelownaActorsStudio.com or call 250 862 2867
    25 May 2009

    Melissa Wilmot and Claudia Chan in local Recitals May 30 and 31

    Melissa Wilmot, violin, and Claudia Chan, piano, perform....
    J.S. Bach ~ Partita #2 in d-minor
    Prokofiev ~ Sonata #1 in f-minor
    Kriesler ~ Recitative and Scherzo
    Aaron Jay Kernis ~ Air
    Eugene Ysaye ~ Sonata for solo violin #2

    Kelowna Violinist, Melissa Wilmot (20) and Ottawa pianist Claudia Chan (19) perform a highly anticipated recital featuring music that is sure to leave audiences moved and exhilarated. This recital marks Melissa's return to Kelowna to perform her first recital since she began studying at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto in September 2008, where Claudia is also a student. This recital will be the sixth violin recital program Melissa has performed in Kelowna, with past performances always receiving rave reviews from critics, media, and audiences.

    Come hear this dynamic duo of two of Canada's highly acclaimed award winning young musicians live in concert.

    Saturday May 30th, 7:30pm
    Sunday May 31st, 7:30pm
    Christ Lutheran Church, Kelowna
    2091 Gordon Dr.
    Admission by Donation, at the door
    13 May 2009

    Live Music Kelowna: Bohemian Cafe


    BOHEMIAN CAFE
    524 Bernard Avenue
    Kelowna, BC V1Y 6P1
    (250) 862-3517

    presents

    June 12 Leah West(Indie Pop trio)
            19 Small Change (Cool Blues Fusion trio)
            26 Yoko (RnB/Blues trio)

    July  3 Devin Roth Trio (Jazz jam session)  
           10 Moni Funk and the Groove Machine (R&B Funk quartet)
           17 Major Mambo (Salsa trio)
           24 Blue City (World Pop trio)
           31 Loni Moger Trio (jazz)

    August 7 Leah West (Indie Pop duo)
              14 Trevor Salloum Trio (jazz)
              21 Yoko (RnB/Blues trio)
              28 Moni Funk and the Groove Machine (R&B Funk quartet)

     
    7-10pm
    Cover charge

    Join us at the Boh for great live entertainment  every Friday throughout the summer
    11 May 2009

    Second Annual Quick Draw "Fun"draiser Event at Penticton Art Gallery

    The Penticton Art Gallery is pleased to once again host  - Quick Draw - a fundraiser for our Creative Kids Summer Art Camp. This event will be held at the Penticton Art Gallery located at 199 Marina Way, Penticton, BC, on Sunday May 3, 2009 starting at 6 pm. Funds raised through this fun event provide meaningful opportunities for education and mentoring in the visual arts for our communityвs youth.

    The Penticton Art Gallery invites you to put the гFunд back into fundraising and come to the gallery on Sunday, May 3rd for our second annual Quick Draw event. Every ticket guarantees the purchaser an original work of art created especially for this event. Over 100 local, national and internationally recognized artists, politicians, writers, musicians, athletes and celebrities have contributed small works of art to Quick Draw.

    All the donated works will be matted and ready for framing and will be available for viewing at the Penticton Art Gallery starting on Tuesday April 28th, along with a complete list of celebrity contributorsв names, to allow the public to view the works. Everyone is invited to come down to the gallery, make a list of your favorites and try to guess the identity of each artist during the week leading up to the event.

    Every ticket holder will be given a number and when their number is drawn they can select any work of their choosing from those donated. The catch ц only once the work is selected will the celebrity artistвs identity be revealed. This is a unique opportunity to acquire an affordable work of art for yourself or a unique gift for that someone special!

    Here is a partial list of some of this years contributors: Stirling Alexander, Paul Almond, Micheal Amirault, Denise Bachman, Randy Bachman, Melissa Bandura, Philippe Beha, Jean Beliveau, Steve Berger, Dave Bidini , Julius Bloomfield, Emily Brown, Joanne Chapman-Smith, Colette Clark, Cherise Clarke, Edward Colley, Richard Condie, Robert Davidson, Jim Davis, William Davis, Jordan Deeks, Joseph Drapell, Jason Dussault, Jamie Eberle, Atom Egoyan, Jeff Everden, Justine Fischer, Frazzy Ford, Julie Fowler, Richard Goodall, Artemis Goudelis, Sandra Gracak, Jason Hachey, Lutz Hautschild, Sindi Hawkins, Teresa Humphrey, Lynn Jackson, Kevin Kane, Trish Klein, Peter Kok, Wanda Koop, Shane Koyczan, Glenn Loates, Gloria MacIntyre, Maki Maruoka, Ricardino Matias, Sarah Mclachlan, Jasper Meiklejohn, Jon Mikl Thor, Aurelie Mindel, Anne Murray, Peter Ord, Josephine Patterson, Graham Peacefull, Friedrich Peter, Scott Plear, Chef Gordon Ramsey, Mike Reno, Maiya Robbie, Red Robinson, Sarah Senecal, Bob Steele, Richard Terfry, Sara Tomlin, Claude Tousignant, Mort Walker, and Jade Yehia.

    As every ticket is guaranteed an original work of art, tickets are therefore limited to the number of works received, so reserve yours early to avoid disappointment. Tickets for this event are only $45 for Gallery Members and $60 for Non-Members. Doors open at 6 pm and the works will be given away through a random draw starting at 7 pm.

    Last yearвs event saw a tremendous amount of support from across the continent with entries from such notes celebrities as:  Sports athletes, Don Cherry, Mike Gartner, Mario Lemieux, George Foreman, Rick Hansen, Mark Tewksbury, Astronaut Dr. Marc Garneau, Billionaire Developer Donald Trump, News Anchor Peter Mansbridge, Politicians: the Honourable StОphane Dion, Former Prime Minister Paul Martin, and Premier Gordon Campbell, Artists and Musicians: Daniel Johnston,  Nancy Sinatra, Robert Murray, ManWoman, Kananginak Pootoogoo, Chris Cran, Ray Sawyer (Dr. Hook), Cartoonists: Emil V. Abrahamian, Lynn Johnston, Bob Krieger, Guiness Book World Record Holder, Russ Byars and over 100 other people of note.

    To reserve tickets, or for more information, please contact Paul Crawford at the Penticton Art Gallery, (250) 493-2928
    20 Apr 2009

    Local Heroes: Film and Filmmakers in Profile

    Wild Blue Yonder

    Okanagan ArtsOkanagan Institute Express
    Local Heroes
    Okanagan Arts
    FILM AND FILMMAKERS IN PROFILE
    » Thursday 23 April 2009 | 5 pm
    » The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue

    An informal afternoon hour showcasing the creative economy. Join us for a "reel" look at the film industry through the eyes Canadian filmmakers Dave McIlvride, Alison Love, Zainab Siddiqui, Jim Elderton, Marc Arellano, Richard Knight and Jiri Bakala.

    » $2 at the door. Refreshments are available at a modest cost.
    » Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE


    The People Behind the Cameras Step into the Spotlight

    Couldn't afford the airfare to Sundance? Not on the inside for that truffles and triple sec opening night extravaganza? No problem. The 12th Okanagan International Film Festival has linked up with the Okanagan Institute for a "reel" look at the industry through the eyes six extraordinary Canadian filmmakers and their films.

    On Thursday, April 23rd at 5 pm the ongoing weekly Okanagan Institute Express series at the Bohemian Café presents Local Heroes: Film and Filmmakers in Profile, featuring an up-close look behind the scenes of the Festival's six films to be screened later that evening - the feature-film Sledhead, followed by a series of exceptional shorts - A Light Obstical, i-2-i, ka na'dean, Coming Home, and A Passion for Form.

    Join us as we get tips on technique, follow inspiration to creation and find out how film making really works. Each one of our guests has a close link to the Okanagan. This region played a role in every film. In some cases, the filmmakers themselves live here, while the stories are of elsewhere. In others, the Okanagan played the role of a backdrop to a larger story. For still others - like Sledhead - it was the inspiration.

    Dave McIlvrideAlison LoveTwo-time Gemini winning director-producer Dave McIlvride and producer Alison Love are the brains behind the documentary Sledhead. It was a visit to Kelowna's 2007 Sledge hockey Challenge that inspired them to film a documentary about a disabled hockey team determined to win.

    Zainab SiddiquZainab Siddiqui, Karachi-born and Canadian educated, will discuss her three-minute documentary A Light Obstical on the perils of crossing the street. Her work will interest anyone who has made it over�Harvey on foot in the summer.

    Jim EldertonJim Elderton, winner of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan's 2000 Media (Film) award, brings major film and television experience to his documentary i-2-i. He will explain how this study of a class of six-graders who relocate to a retirement community has some�non-stereotypical lessons for old and young in Kelowna.

    Marc ArellanoMarc Arellano will discuss his film ka na'dean which explores the notion of Canadian identity. A Kelowna-based poet, filmmaker and educator, Arellano's documentary weaves history, memory and relationships into a narrative of one family's atypical membership in Canada's national family.

    Richard KnightRichard Knight's documentary, Coming Home, follows six people in search of affordable housing. This�should find resonance with an audience in Kelowna, home to some of the world's most expensive and least accessible accommodation.

    Jiri BakalaJiri Bakala will talk about his film A Passion for Form. After an apprenticeship in the Czech Republic broadcasting and filmmaking, followed by a directing career with the CBC, Bakala settled in Kelowna to focus on independent television production and cinematography, narrative film making and music videos. He soon cast his eye to one of the region's most celebrated sculptors.

     

    FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE

    Express
    Local Heroes: Film and Filmmakers in Profile takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 87th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Express 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, community activist Don Elzer, dancer David LaHay, architect Jim Meiklejohn, culinary artist and writer Heidi Noble, broadcaster Marion Barschel and others from a wide range of creative fields.

    A very special event coming up in early May - book your seats today:
    Okanagan Institute
    Culinaria Spring 2009A Celebration of the Culinary Arts
    At Okanagan College Infusions
    Thursday May 7, 5-9pm

    A Stimulating Evening of Entertainment,
    Artisanal Food and Liquid Refreshments

    » For information and tickets, click HERE.



    Okanagan ArtsOkanagan Institute
    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.
    20 Apr 2009

    2 unique CMHA events

    Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:17:21 -0700

    You are invited to 2 unique events that are free and open to the public to raise awareness and understanding about mental illness and what keeps people mentally healthy ...

    A community education forum on understanding and coping with depression.
    This is the first of a “Knowledge is Power” series of quarterly forums open to the public that are intended to discuss specific mental health issues.  The forum will include a DVD presentation and a panel of experts from the treatment, service delivery and personal perspectives.

    Date: Thursday April 30th
    Time: 6 pm -8 pm
    Location: CMHA, 504 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna

    Our 4th annual Artists Among Us art show & sale.
    This show features over 75 outstanding works of art created by 45 local artists and participants of the CMHA ArtWorks Studio. This year’s theme will take you on each artists journey towards recovery through creativity and artistic expression.

    Date: Friday May 8th and Saturday May 9th
    Time: 11 am - 4 pm
    Location: CMHA, 504 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna

    Thank you for your support and we look forward to having you join us for these events.

    Our 4th annual Art Show & Sale “Artists Among Us; Our Journey” will take place on May 8th & 9th, 2009.
    Please visit our website at kelowna.cmha.bc.ca for more info.
    18 Apr 2009

    Survival of the Artist at Gallery Vertigo

    A Professional Development Workshop Series for Artists
    Part 3  - Sunday, April 26th - 10am to 4pm

    Artist Residencies:
    10:00am to noon - Presented by Renay Egami

    NOTE: This is a make-up session for many of you who already registered for this workshop. Others are also welcome to register at this time.

    The focus of this workshop is on artist residency programs in Canada and international opportunities. A variety of different models will be introduced including thematic residencies, arts & industry collaborations, and distraction-free time to focus on oneвs practice in quiet settings. Artist residencies are a great way to cultivate valuable career-networking opportunities globally.

    About Renay Egami
    Renay Egami was born in Vancouver BC and is currently based in Kelowna where she teaches Sculpture at UBC Okanagan. She holds an MFA degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has been a recipient of several awards including from Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, and the Organization of American States. Renayвs practice is primarily based in sculpture & installation and her work has been exhibited in Canada, US, and Japan.

    Digitally Documenting Your Work:
    1pm to 3pm - Presented by Briar Craig

    If the Curriculum Vitae is the first written exposure that people have to you and your accomplishments then the documentation of your work is the first way you can visually introduce people to your creative practice. If the digital image is the first visual glimpse that someone has into your work it is imperative that it is done accurately and presentably. Within the last five or so years the world of art documentation has been turned on its ear. Colour slides once reigned as the most effective way to introduce others to your work but the slide is now considered a relative dinosaur - they have been largely replaced by digital reproductions. We will discuss strategies for setting your camera up and for lighting the work. We will look at how a digital image can be adjusted on the computer after it has been taken and we will look at the various ways a digital image can be formatted and stored.

    About Briar Craig
    Briar Craig was born in Ontario and holds a Masters degree in Visual Arts from the University of Alberta. He teaches in the Creative Studies at UBC Okanagan. Briarвs works have been exhibited throughout Canada, as well as in the United States, Taiwan, Brazil, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Scotland, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Korea, and China. He works in screenprinting, lithography, mixed media drawing, and electronic media.
     
    REGISTRATION INFORMATION
    *Please pre-register at Gallery Vertigo
    Payment is due at time of registration.
    Members: $20.00 for either morning or afternoon session
    Non-Members: $30.00 for either morning or afternoon session (cash or cheque only)
    Membership in the North Okanagan Artists Alternative is $25 per year, $15 for seniors and students
    Call 250-503-2297 for information or email Judith -  judithjurica@galleryvertigo.com

    Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 4pm
    Suite #1(upstairs)-3001-31st Street, Vernon, BC V1T 5H8
    Hope to see you there. Coffee, tea and cookies provided.
    17 Apr 2009

    DANCE ARTISTICO

    Sat. May 2nd at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
    Matinee at 2pm and Evening at 7:30pm

    Its Springtime and with it comes  Dance Artistico – fresh new dances performed by Mission Dance Centre (MDC) students and Mission Dance Company (MD Co.) through choreographer/dancer & teacher, Tanya Bakala.

    The first half of this innovative and inspired parade of dance will be of “Alice in Wonderland” performed by Mission Dance Centre students who have the privilege to dance alongside Mission Dance Company member Sarah Watters  a superb professional dancer and soloist and choreographed by Tanya Bakala.  All students of the Mission Dance Centre will be cast in various roles of characters that meet up and dance with Alice and will also feature MD Co. stars like Nicole Vogt as the queen and MDC Apprentice Rachel Epp as the Cheshire Cat.

    The second half of the show is a showcase of the talent of the Mission Dance Company and the apprentices and junior apprentices of the Mission dance Centre. The second half features guest choreographer Angel Jutzi (contemporary) who has brought in dancer Caitlin Lockwood to interpret her vision.  Melanie Newell (jazz and contemporary), Nicole Vogt (flamenco) and Tanya Bakala (ballet and contemporary) have also created and choreographed movement around there genre of dance. In addition, Sarah Watters will star in the "Queen of the Willis" from the well known ballet "Giselle".

    Tickets go on sale Friday April 17th through Ticketmaster.
    Kelowna Community Theatre
    Reception to follow for all audience members (evening show only)
    Matinee at 2pm and Evening at 7:30pm

    Price: $18 Adults
             $15 Seniors
             $10 Children and students
    Ticketmaster service charges added

    15 Apr 2009

    Love of Wildlife School Ten Years Old

    Love of Wildlife Art School and Studio, proudly celebrates TEN YEARS in business.   What started out ten years ago with only three students, basic supplies and one class per week has now grown to six classes per week, in a fully equipped classroom with enrolment waiting lists.

    Love of Wildlife proudly celebrates ten years in business.  Starting out slowly with only basic supplies in a family room, the company has grown to offer six classes per week, as well as, spring and summer Art Camps in a fully equipped classroom.

    Love of Wildlife located in West Kelowna was founded in 1999 by Deborah Hartloff who previously worked for over fifteen years in administration finance and management but wanted to combine her love of art and children by offering art classes and camps.  Deborah is a self taught published artist.

    The company’s mission statement is offering art classes that are fun, enjoyable and a positive experience for everyone.  In doing so, we treat all children with respect and provide them with the encouragement, inspiration and praise that contribute to self-esteem and confidence.

    An Art Show is held every year for the students the last Saturday of May to show the accomplishments of the young artists work.  This year it will be held at the Lions Community Centre, Saturday, May 30th from noon until 4:00 pm.  It is free and everyone is welcome.

    Another strength is the connection to the community with several hours a month spent volunteering in schools teaching art classes on the Westside.

    Love of Wildlife continues to expand its programs to include teaching still life, as well as, wildlife.

    For additional information visit: www.loveofwildlife.ca

    12 Apr 2009

    Learning through the Arts

    School District 23 is hoping to introduce a Learning Through the Arts curricula in several of the schools in our district.  This is a program whereby children learn about topics as diverse as math and social studies using a variety of arts activities— dance, creative writing, music, visual and media arts.  

    To kick off the process we are staging an Arts Evening at the Kelowna Art Gallery on Thursday, May 14th starting at 7:00 p.m.  The evening will feature the jazz piano stylings of Neil Wong, the raised voices of Glenmore students singing the songs of Africe, and a silent auction of dozens of pieces of local art.  Cost for the evening's entertainment:  $10.  The price includes win and hors d'œuvres.  Tickets can be gotten by contacting Glenmore Elementary at 762-3209.

    We are hoping you will help us advertise this event in the community with coverage on CBC Radio and in local papers and magazines—The Daily Courier, Capital News, eVent Magazine, Okanagan Arts.  Sharon, we are hoping you will be able to spread word of the evening to both students and faculty at UBCO.  Robert, we are hoping you can get the word out at your Thursday evening Okanagan Institute sessions where there always seems to be a strong arts crowd on hand.  One of the goals of the program is to establish an artist-in-residence program by hiring local arts people to share their knowledge and passion with students and staff.  

    All monies raised at the Arts Gala will be used to support Learning Through the Arts activities in School District 23.  For more information on Learning through the Arts, or the Arts Evening and silent auction on May 14th, please contact John McMahon at 250-762-3209.

    07 Apr 2009

    Cool Arts receives funding from ARTSCO and UBC-O

    Cool Arts was awarded $500 by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan in support of costs associated with an upcoming exhibition ñ We Are Artists, to be held at the Kelowna Art Gallery in November 2009.

    Cool Arts received $1750 from VACU (Visual Arts Course Union) at UBC-O Department of Creative and Critical Studies, ten percent of the monies raised from their annual Art On the Line Fundraiser which raises money to help the students with their annual field trip and year end exhibition.

    Cool Arts is dedicated to providing fine arts opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities living in the Central Okanagan. Cool Arts would like to recognize the generosity of students of VACU and the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan. As a not-for-profit society and registered Canadian Charity, Cool Arts relies on donations, sponsorships and grants to run monthly workshops.

    For more information about Cool Arts, visit our web site at www.coolarts.ca or call Sara Lige at 250-768-5548.
    06 Apr 2009

    Magazine Cabaret: Kelowna

    MAGAZINE CABARET: KELOWNA
    Wednesday, April 22 - 7 PM - FREE
    The Bohemian Cafe 524 Bernard Avenue


    In celebration of BC Book & Magazine Week (April 18-25), the BC Association of Magazine Publishers and off-centre magazine present a literary cabaret featuring Adam Lewis Schroeder, Heidi Garnett, Ryan May and Shelley Wood, reading from their work recently published in BC magazines. Hosted by CBC Radio Oneís Jennifer Chrumka.

    Visit www.bcbookandmagazine.com for details.
    31 Mar 2009

    Art in Action 2009

    In the Making
    March 6-June 7, 2009

    The Kelowna Art Gallery is pleased to host our 23rd annual high school art exhibition entitled In the Making, featuring artwork created by local youth. This exhibition features approximately 125 works of art created by students in Kelowna’s public and private schools.

    Art In Action was created by the Education Department of the Kelowna Art Gallery twenty-three years ago, as a venue for teachers to showcase the exemplary art activities taking place in their classrooms. This exhibition offers the community an opportunity to view first-hand unique and often innovative works of art created by Kelowna’s youth and presented in a professional environment.

    For more information call 250-762-2226 or visit www.kelownaartgallery.com

    Kelowna Art Gallery 1315 Water Street Kelowna BC V1Y 9R3

    23 Mar 2009

    The Heart of Homegrown

    Always looking to introduce new and exciting talent to its audiences, the 17th Annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival is pleased to present "The Heart of Homegrown", a special showcase of emerging artists from up and down the Okanagan and from as far afield as the Kootenays.

    Included in the showcase is Salmon Arm's own, Opening Axe, comprised of Bonnie McGrew and Kelsey Ngai. This engaging duo burst onto the Okanagan music scene in 2003 with the release of their debut cd, "Accidental" then went on to win the top prize at the Okanagan Grown Band Competition in 2004. Bonnie and Kelsey spent the next several years acquiring higher education in the field of music as they continued to polish their creativity and songwriting skills.  Their 2008 sophomoric release, "A Few Years Down The Road" is a stunning showcase of their maturity as musicians and writers, rich with gorgeous harmonies and sophisticated guitar work.

    Jacobus Verburg is a local guitarist from Sicamous who draws on the influences of music from all parts of the world, and has spent the past few years exploring gypsy jazz and acoustic music. Joining Jake are two multi-instrumentalists, Darrin Herting and Leon Power who lend their own distinctive influences to give this trio a special twist on gypsy

    The Flock, Arnold, Hopkins Trio was conceived when three friends from the Okanagan, Luke Arnold, Bryn Flock, and Lyle Hopkins, discovered they shared a passion for jazz and improvised music. Since their formation, the trio has been playing throughout the Okanagan, performing with local greats such as Gerry Sholomenko and Flora Ware. The two guitarists accompanied by double bass offer an elegant and intimate perspective on the timeless standards they perform.

    Aspen Switzer's voice will stop you in your tracks. Filled with longing and an ethereal yet grounded quality, it is powerful, subtle, pure and haunting. Her songs at times are both complex and catchy, blending country with jazz, pop with folk, and an occasional hint of bluegrass thrown in. Aspen is accompanied by Jessa Koerber on keyboards and mandolin and Jesse Lee on guitar and bass. This trio blends seamless harmonies for a full and luxurious sound, balancing the charm and warmth of old time music with the contemporary.

    "The Heart of Homegrown" brings together the freshest up-and-coming young performers on the BC music scene. All four acts will appear onstage together, each performing their own twenty minute set, in what is sure to be a highlight of the Festival. Prepare to be impressed by some of BC's most promising young musicians.   
    19 Mar 2009

    Call for Submission: Video Art Mentorship

    Assembly of BC Arts Councils
    Deadline: April 8th, 2009

    Assembly of BC Arts Councils is pleased to announce this community outreach and video art mentorship project, initiated in part to mark the organization’s 30th anniversary. ABCAC invites emerging artists under the age of 30 in the Thompson Okanagan area to submit a proposal for an opportunity to work with an active media arts practitioner in a structured mentorship program.

    This project will provide a nurturing environment for an emerging artist to work one-on-one with a media artist in the Thompson Okanagan area. The successful candidate will participate in a series of meetings with the mentor, and through these, she/he will acquire insight into producing and presenting rigorous video works. Please note the workshop will NOT be an introduction to technical aspects of video production. Rather, the applicants must have prior knowledge of and experience in video production, as well as access to his/her own video production technology.

    This mentorship is meant to give guidance and critical feedback to an emerging media artist in the Thompson Okanagan area and to provide a professional development opportunity. The successful candidate will work on producing a short video piece under 15 minutes under the guidance of the mentor. The finished piece will be considered for a feature presentation at ABCAC’s annual conference taking place May 1-3, 2010 location TBA. CAR/FAC artist fee will be paid for this presentation.

    Thompson Okanagan-based emerging media artists of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

    About Assembly of BC Arts Councils:

    The Assembly was founded in 1979. Its original purpose was to provide advocacy, leadership and support to community and regional arts councils in the province of British Columbia. Since then the Assembly has broadened its vision and mandate to support the central role of arts and arts practices in building community and the unique ways in which arts and culture contribute to a strong, healthy society.

    In partnership with the province's community and regional arts councils, and other arts service organizations, agencies and individuals, we undertake this by providing advocacy, communications and networking, education, training and tools and resources.

    For more information on the organization, please visit <www.assemblybcartscouncils.ca>

    17 Mar 2009

    Gallery Vertigo Presents Lucky #7

    The Seventh Annual NOAA Members Juried Exhibition



    Opening Reception on Saturday, March 21st 7pm to 9pm
     
    This exhibition is designed to celebrate the exciting and varied artistic richness of the Okanagan community. The public is invited to see what artists, writers and performers consider to be their best and most recent work.
     
    All artists, writers, musicians and performers were invited to participate in the North Okanagan Artists Alternative's 7th Annual Juried Exhibition. The result was a deluge of work by the Okanagan's finest and most interesting personalities and art practitioners. The Juror had a difficult, but enjoyable task creating a cohesive exhibition from such a diverse group of works. Come and witness the stunning result and celebrate our community's creative spirit in its countless permutations!
     
    Writers, musicians and performers are sought to read or perform at the opening reception on Saturday, March21st between 7 and 9pm. Please call the gallery @ (250)503-2297 in advance if you would like to be part of the entertainment on opening night.
     
    Opening Reception:
    Saturday, March 21st, 7pm
    Join us for complimentary refreshments and live entertainment.
    Meet the artists.
     
    Exhibition Run:
    Tuesday, March 17 to Thursday, April 9th
     
     
    About Our Juror: Jim Kalnin
     
    Jim Kalnin has been interested in art and the natural world his whole life. After graduating from Vancouver School of Art in the 1960‚s he began teaching film animation at the school. Jim worked for several years between Vancouver, Montreal and Baffin Island as a teacher and animator for the National Film Board. His extended travels across North, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and briefly to Scotland and other locations have sharpened his artist‚s eye and sensibility. Experiencing a variety of cultures has deepened his compassion for the world‚s people and our utter dependence on the land ˆ not only as our means to survival but also as the revealer of Mystery. Jim teaches in the Fine Arts Department at UBC Okanagan (formerly Okanagan University College) and continues to be a prolific artist working with conventional art materials in unconventional ways and with a limitless range of natural and found materials. His art is shown regularly in local, regional and touring exhibitions.
     
    Juror's Talk: Friday, March 20th at 2pm
     
    Our esteemed juror, Jim Kalnin of UBC Okanagan, Department of Creative Studies, will be on hand on  Friday, March 20th to give a juror's talk at 2pm. Whether or not you have work in the show, you are welcome to come in to hear his comments concerning the exhibition. Artists who entered work which was not accepted are encopuraged to bring along the work for feedback.
     
    Lucky Number Seven - Vertigo Gallery, March 17 to  April  9, 2009

    Juror's Comments

    My first thoughts on entering the Vertigo Gallery to select a member's exhibit from the collected entries were, “Good! There is lot of art work here.” And, “Great! It's all over the map.”

    The enthusiastic responses to the call to artists, and the variety of those responses, were welcome signs that visual arts are alive and well in this region. Although I knew I would soon have to make some difficult decisions in assembling the exhibition, I felt confident that the overall expression of the works would reflect the diversity and vitality of the local art scene.

    One characteristic of human nature is that we see the world from an individual perspective, which is coloured by our own experiences, and which reflects our own particular biases. Unfortunately, this applies to art jurors as well. Yet while my own preferences did affect my choices, I found myself relying on something else as well - the relationship of the individual works to each other. While art speaks to us on an individual basis, a room full of drawings, paintings, sculptures, and photos also has a collective voice. Some of the art here was chosen over other, equally interesting pieces because it contributed significantly to the overall expression of this exhibit.

    The diversity shown in these works is a reflection of the vast and varied experiences of the artists involved. The landscapes, portraits and other works in traditional media are enriched by the presence of completely different approaches to art making. Colleen Couves' humorous found object installation of cows adds an agricultural flavour to the combined picture created by regional landscape paintings. Likewise, The strong abstract expressionist paintings here are further enhanced by similar works in coloured cloth and wool. Katalin Gardiner's fiber artwork  “”Unzippered” and Angelika Jaeger's painting “Pink Is Not My Colour” both use non-objective forms and bright colours to create a sense of motion and a range of expressions. The vibrancy of life comes across in different ways, partly because of the medium used. Works that involve both photographic image and text expand the experiences of those who take time to 'read' them in different ways.

    Whether the art you see here delights or challenges you I hope you have time to spend with it all, and find yourself inspired by the creative energy that abounds in this region.

    Jim Kalnin 
    17 Mar 2009

    Footloose

    Okanagan Mission Secondary School is thrilled to present the MissionMainStage production of the award winning 1980’s musical ‘Footloose’ written by Dean Pritchford.  This is the first major musical directed for OKM by Ryan Grenier, Theatre educator, recently recruited from the Lower Mainland. Ryan has partnered with OKM Music Directors Ed Schnellert and Megan Dobbs whose talents have been showcased in multiple music events with students at OKM and in the Kelowna community for years.

    In this lively adolescent-oriented musical, a city kid attempts to adapt to life in an ultra-conservative backwater Midwestern town. Once there he ends up leading the repressed teenagers into a rebellion against the town fathers who have outlawed rock & roll and dancing. This musical is iconic for its’ classic 80s tunes including ‘Let’s hear it for the Boy’, ‘Hero’, and ‘Almost Paradise.’

    This production boasts a cast of over 60 of OKM Secondary’s finest performers who have worked tirelessly over the past several months to bring this professional level show to our community. The production also features high energy choreography, brilliant set design, and whimsical costumes that will take you back to that black hole of fashion known as the 80s!

    Footloose runs from April 14th through 18th and tickets are available starting Wednesday April 1st by phone or at the box office of the Rotary Centre for the Arts (ph. 250-717-5304)

    Don’t miss this opportunity to come out and see this great Broadway show!

    13 Mar 2009

    The Okanagan International Film Festival needs YOU!

    Call for Volunteers for this years Film Festival:
    Pop along on to our next event Sunday 15th March Black Box Theatre from 5pm and lend a hand to set-up for our movie night and find out about being volunteer, volunteer  forms will be available!
     
    Distribution deliver posters, brochures and programs to Kelowna and  municipalities throuout Okanagan Valley locations. Communicate with business owners and ensure promotional materials are maintained in all distribution locations. Access to a vehicle an asset. This is a key role!
    Site Operations work where all the action happens. Assist patrons to the events through information desks, traffic control, collecting tickets and ushering duties. Help the festival by managing information displays, performing head counts, collecting ballots and conducting in-person surveys with audience members. You will be the personal face for all the visitors to the festival.

    Office Assistant helps with administrative duties to keep the festival office running smoothly prior to and during the festival. Duties include: reception, answering phones, promoting the festival and providing information to the public, data entry, photocopying, filing, errands, cleaning, and other general office duties as required. You're flexible and adaptable.

    Hospitallity Assistant helps with special events set-up/take down,food/drink service,running errands, cleaning, and other general duties as required as requested by event cordinator.
     
    Transportation: helps with chauffeur/driving, courier/delivery, transportation coordination.

    Volunteer Year Round
    Volunteers are key to the success of the Festival. Even when the main Festival is over there are lots of activities we require help with. There is our monthly Sunday Night @ the movies, our outdoor film co-presentation events, and of course millions of little things in the office such as data entry. All positions require dependability, a positive attitude, the ability to work independently or with a team. So help support the arts in your community by volunteering with the Festival through out the year. It's a great way to get a new perspective on the film industry and meet hundreds of dynamic people.
    Contact:Katie or Jason
    Okanagan Film Festival Society
    Office: 201-1353 Ellis Street, Kelowna BC, V1Y 1Z9
    Phone/Fax: (250) 868-1003
    www.okanaganfilmfestival.com
    By E-mail: volunteer@okanaganfilmfestival.com 
    07 Mar 2009

    Penticton Art Gallery - Exhibitions - March 13 to May 3

    Main Gallery
    Lyndal Osborne: "Ornamenta"
    Artist Talk ~ Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m.
    Curated by Linda Jansma and Virginia Eichhorn, Ornamenta brings together two significant installations by Edmonton-based artist Lyndal Osborne. An ecology of biodiversity surfaces as a unifying theme between Garden (2005) and Archipelago (2008) ó both underscore Osborneís meticulously detailed craftsmanship with a multitude of treated organic materials. Since her career began four decades ago, Osborneís collection of organic objects has progressively permeated her body of work. Advancing from the straightforward presentation of Tableaux For Transformation (1998), a meditation on collection and nonhierarchical systems of being, Ornamenta strikes the viewer as inherently ecopolitical. Osborne elevates her collection of grapefruit skins, dried sunflower stalks and upturned roots beyond their essence and productive functions, and her rearrangements become an expressive encounter.

    In Garden, a central patch of upturned annual indigenous roots have been treated in bright pinks and greens, colours that for Osborne best represent the growing climate in Australia and Canada. Rendering visible the harvested roots, which have sprouted from seed to plant to death, Osborne invites the viewer to look and think beyond the life of a plant, and appreciate the dead roots as central to the ongoing cycle of growth. Acknowledging her motherís gift and passion for gardening as the direct influence for her own interest, Osborneís real-life gardens are a visual cacophony of healthy, self-sustaining perennials grown wild in rhythmic chaos. Cherishing the plants in life and in death by collecting and incorporating her own dried foliage, Osborneís work affirms that the worth of seeds and roots does not end once the productive function has been completed. The natural cycles of life from seed to root to plant and back to seed have an intrinsic value, a value being threatened by research-driven advances in biotechnology, a field that fascinates Osborne and prompts her to question its accountability within the grand ecological order of nature.

    Expanding beyond the hyperreal urban backyard in Garden, Archipelago simulates sixteen modified cell structures along a metaphoric North Saskatchewan River. Osborne has been interested in the international debate of labeling genetically modified foods ó biotechnology produces research-driven organisms by concentrating and injecting the most productive genes from a diverse variation of organisms into homogenous super seeds. The long-term effects of a single super seed on human consumption have yet to be accounted for in terms of long-term human and ecological health, and Osborne is asking questions now ó how will GMOs adapt to infestation, bush fires, and other ecological cycles that reinvigorate natural diversity. Flowing throughout the exhibition alongside the sixteen altered pods and laboratory apparatus, the North Saskatchewan River shines in contrast as an open-ended life source filled with unaltered biodiversity. Running close to Osborneís own home and acreage, the strength of a healthy river stands as symbol of sustainable ecology that intertwines both art and life.

    The diversity of materials culled from Osborneís own land, and visible throughout Ornamenta, strives for an awareness of our ecological responsibilities to respect natureís self-sustaining rhythms. Osborneís metaphorical gardens and cell pods act as warnings to the irrevocable damage our unheeded technological breakthroughs can bring if we as consumers and as a generation do not become more aware. Disrupting a natural order through the proliferation of GMOs, the concern of biotechnology is not restricted to the single issue between humans and nature, but as demonstrated in Ornamenta, rests between diversity and the earth.** This essay of Lyndal Osborneís exhibition was first published in Galleries West Magazine, Winter/ Spring 2009 issue

    The Project Room
    Aaron Dickinson: Intimate Portraits From Another World: Part One
    Darren Filipenko: Portraits of Aaron as a Vampire
    This exhibition is actually two exhibits in one where one artist reacts to the work of the other and in doing so creates a dialogue which borrows on common interest, personal history and shared experience.

    Aaron Dickinson is a self-taught artist living in Vancouver BC. He trained in video and film making at the Art Institute of Vancouver and his figurative imagery represents characters that are part of a larger fictional narrative and imagined world. This is the first public exhibition his work. In this series, Aaron has drawn on his past inspirations to create a fantastical world set in the future. The many different stories surrounding the lost kingdom involve common themes of love, loss, revenge, greed and redemption.
    "When I was ten years old, I attended a strict private Christian School in Vancouver where most of our lunch breaks were spent chasing girls, playing with G.I. Joes and creating/drawing rival characters that battled to the death. The two most popular characters that battled for paper supremacy were "Kat Kool", a hip cat gangster with earrings, tattoos, and a robot arm and "Psycho Sid", an ex - professional wrestling lizard who wore spandex tights. Each and every day my friends would come up with new, exciting and interesting ways for "Kat Kool" and "Psycho Sid" to maim and kill each other. Although my friendís pictures were simple and to the point, they still managed to evoke a sense of shock and awe that has left a lasting impression on me and to this day they remain my greatest inspiration.
    Saturday morning cartoons along with old school Disney films also played a large role in influencing my style as an artistÖsome of these favourites include:  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sonic the Hedgehog, G.I. Joes, Thundercats, Bonkers, Marsupilami, Ducktales, Batman: The Animated Series, The Jungle Book, Robin Hood, Davey Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier. While attending my last semester of digital film at the Art Institute of Vancouver, Burnaby campus, everyone in my class was given the opportunity to take any class that our college offered for free. I chose to take the life drawing class. The pictures that I drew in this class inspired me to create Intimate Portraits from Another World - Part One. This is the series that Iíve now been working on for the past three years." ~ Aaron Dickinson

    Guest curator, Darren Filipenko is a Penticton based artist who works in a variety of media. He has a BFA from Okanagan University and has attended Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver. He is a three time recipient of the Helen Pitt Scholarship and a winner of the Abraham Rogatnick Scholarship for industrial design. Darren has collaborated on a number of mural projects in Penticton, most notably the mural in the Penticton Aquatic Centre.

    "My intention behind this work was to create something that complemented Aaronís show, Intimate Portraits...Part One.  During the winter of 2005, while Aaron was attending the film and video program at the Art Institute of Vancouver ó long before he started his drawings, he asked me to take this series of photos of him dressed up in a "Vampiresqe" persona.  I had always intended to use the photos in a project of my own but never had an excuse to work with them until I got the opportunity to curate this show of Aaron's drawings.  I liked the idea of including a portrait of the artist in amongst the portraits Aaron created out of his imagination. As subject, this is simply another character created from Aaron's pop-culture-fuelled imagination, however, contextually and formally, it is a portrait of Aaron, and, to some extent myself.   The idea for the photos and their final form ultimately originates from our similar sense of ironic, goofy humour and a love of juxtaposing the ridiculous with the grotesque."   ~ Darren Filipenko

    Toni Onley Gallery
    Recent Donations to the Permanent Collection:
    Muriel Ferley and Bettina Somers
    This exhibition features a selection of works by two artists who have made a significant contribution to the early development of the visual arts in the South Okanagan. The donations came to the gallery in 2008 and give greater context to two artists whose work is already held in our collection. What made these donations unique is that they also included significant ephemera relating to each artist and their careers thereby opening a greater window into their creative process and providing an invaluable record for further study and understanding of their work and their roll in the arts community.

    Education Space  -  Printmaking Studio
    The gallery has two printing presses which, until recently, have remained hidden in the back of the gallery in need of repair.  Both presses are currently being refurbished and will soon be available for those interested in the art of printmaking. The gallery will be hosting free monthly workshops which will feature a printmaking demonstration and instructions on how to correctly use the press. This is mandatory workshop to ensure studio participants are familiar with safe operations of the equipment. Once familiar with the presses, participants are invited to sign up to use the studio resource as gallery time permits. There will be a $10 drop in fee which will go towards the continued care and maintenance of the presses.  Join us for the first free workshop on Saturday, March 14th at 3 p.m.

    Calendar of Events

    March 5, 12, 19 & 26 at 3 p.m.
    Young At Art - Young artists join Glenn Clark on Thursday afternoons for this new after school program. A weekly drop-in geared to the middle school crowd, students will use the Ed Space for drawing, painting and printmaking. Free admission but pre-registration is required.

    March 7 at 1 p.m.
    Exhibition Walk and Talk with Michiko Suzuki
    Join the artist for a tour of her exhibition Flicker of Life.  Admission by donation.

    March 6 at 7:30 p.m.
    First Fridays ~ Open Mic
    Join in an evening of sights and sounds, transforming concepts into realities. Everyone welcome! Free Admission.

    March 8 from 2 ñ 4 p.m.
    Family Sunday ñ Landscape Resist Painting
    Explore the exhibitions then put your creativity to work in the Education Room. All children must be accompanied by an adult for this uninstructed project. Admission by donation.  

    March 8 at 8 p.m.
    Circle of Stones ñ Live Performance with Aaron Goodwin and Jamie Eberle. Free Admission.

    March 13 at 7 p.m.
    Opening reception for all exhibitions.

    March 14 at 1 p.m.
    Exhibition Walk and Talk with Lyndal Osborne
    Join the artist for a tour of her exhibition Ornamenta.  Admission by donation.

    March 14 at 3 p.m.
    Introduction to the Printing Press Workshop
    Join us for this free introduction printmaking workshop with local printmaker Dennis "Ben" Nielsen. Please pre-register by calling 250-493-2928.

    March 15  from 2 - 4 p.m.
    Family Sunday - St. Patrick's Day Project
    Explore the exhibitions and then put your creativity to work.  All children must be accompanied by an adult for this uninstructed project. Admission by donation.  

    March 16 & 30 at 8 p.m.
    Stitch n Bitch - A new program for anyone with an open mind and itchy fingers, Stitch 'n Bitch is an evening dedicated to creating and sharing. Bring your knitting, crocheting, beading, felting, darning, mending, fiber art, macrame, velvet painting, string art or anything else for a chatty crafty fun night. Admission by donation ~ everyone welcome!  

    March 18 & 19 at 7 p.m. at the Pen-Mar Cinema
    Kitchen Stove Film Presentation ~ Iíve Loved You So Long (France - subtitled)Director: Philippe Claudel;Cast: Kirstin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstien, Serge Hazanavicius; Rated 14A
    An emotional debut from director, screenwriter Philippe Claudel, Iíve Loved You So Long is the profoundly moving story of Juliette, a former doctor who has just been released from prison after serving a 15 year sentence and the suspicion, pain, and brittle awkwardness she encounters as she tries to become reacquainted with her family and society.  This is a complex, multi-layered film with each scene reveling and releasing fragments of Julietteís character ó who she was, how she lived and most difficult to comprehend, the crime she committed.
    **** A superbly haunting and redemptive film experience
    **** A searing, engrossing performance of great honesty
    Single Tickets: $10 each  available at the Penticton Art Gallery - 199 Marina Way (250-493-2928)or The Book Shop ñ 242 Main Street (250-492-6661). Limited individual tickets at the door.

    March 21, 28 & April 4  from 12:15 ñ 4:45 p.m.
    Designing and Painting Floor Cloths with Camille Clarke
    Put your creative talents to work in this extensive workshop. Registration limited to 8 students.
    Gallery Members & Students: $125 & supply list / Non-members: $145 & supply list

    March 21 at 1 p.m.
    Exhibition Walk and Talk with Darren Filipenko
    Join the artist/ curator for a tour of the exhibition, Intimate Portraits in the Project Room.  Admission by donation.

    March 22 from 2 - 4 p.m.
    Family Sunday ñ Finger Paint Tree
    Explore the exhibitions and then put your creativity to work.  All children must be accompanied by an adult for this uninstructed project. Admission by donation.  

    March 25 at 1:30 p.m.
    Topics & Tea
    Come and listen to a variety of guest speakers with friends new and old. Explore the exhibitions and enjoy a cup of tea and baked goods courtesy of The Bench Artisan Food Market. Admission by donation ~ everyone welcome.

    March 26 at 7 p.m.
    Live in Concert ~ Jeff Andrew (www.jeffandrew.ca)
    Intimate concert setting in the galleryís Tea Room. Seating limited to 50 people.
    Tickets: $10 Gallery members and students / $15 Non-members

    March 29 from 2 ñ 4 p.m.
    Family Sunday ñ April Foolís Day "Spilled Milk"
    Explore the exhibitions and then put your creativity to work.  All children must be accompanied by an adult for this uninstructed project. Admission by donation.  

    April 3 at 7:30 p.m.
    First Fridays ~ Open Mic
    Join in an evening of sights and sounds, transforming concepts into realities. Everyone welcome! Free Admission.

    April 5  from 2 ñ 4 p.m.
    Family Sunday ñ Easter Egg Holders
    Explore the exhibitions and then put your creativity to work.  All children must be accompanied by an adult for this uninstructed project. Admission by donation.  

    For additional information, please call the gallery
    Penticton Art Gallery
    199 Marina Way, Penticton, B.C.  V2A 1H3
    Tel: (250)493-2928   Fax: (250)493-3992
    agso@shawbiz.ca   www.galleries.bc.ca/agso/
    05 Mar 2009

    Louise Halfe at the Alternator

    03 Mar 2009

    KELOWNA GETS KISSED


    KAS Presents A Controversial and Compelling Musical, Kiss of The Spider Woman
    Kelowna Actors Studio is proud to present the third show of their sixth season with the Broadway smash hit, Kiss of The Spider Woman. The production opens March 26 and runs Thursday to Sunday evenings, with Saturday matinees, until April 19, 2009.

    From the award-winning creators of Chicago and Cabaret, Kiss of the Spiderwoman took Broadway by storm in 1993, garnering the Tony Award for Best Musical, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, as well as acting accolades for most of the leads.

    Based on Manuel Puig's El Beso de la Mujer Arana, Kiss of the Spiderwoman has been translated into 27 languages, adapted into a play and a movie, as well as the award-winning musical including the hit songs Gimme Love, Dressing Them Up and Kiss of the Spider Woman. Audiences will inevitably get caught in the web of explosive music, enthralling dances and witty humour.
     
    Kiss of the Spider Woman spins a captivating web about a compelling friendship between two men who share a claustrophobic jail cell. Based on the novel by Manual Puig, the musical tells the tale of Molina and his cellmate Valentin. In order to help the two survive prison brutality, Molina dreams of the grade B movie star, Aurora the spider woman, and relates stories of her to Valentin.

    Kelowna Actors Studio’s production of Kiss of the Spider Woman is directed and choreographed by Nathan Flavel. It stars Tracy Ross as Aurora, the Spider Woman, Randy Leslie as Molina and Ryan Buehler as Valentine. The cast includes Norene Morrow as Molina’s mother, and Carmen Harris as Valentine’s girlfriend, Marta.  They will be joined on stage by KAS favourites James Long, Brad Hull, Colin Rutherford and Scott Lawler, and newcomers Rick Worrall and Colm O’Reilly. The musical direction is by Neville Bowman and Gwen Plitt, with set design by Nathan Flavel, set décor by Patricia Burns, and props by James Long. Costumes are by Norene Morrow, sound design by Jordan Leboe, set construction by Myles Christensen, hair and make-up by Chelsey Chase and the show is stage managed by Noelle Jefferys, with assistance from Tammy Abrahamson.

    “I am constantly impressed with the calibre of talent we have at KAS,” enthuses director Nathan Flavel. “The singing and acting are all second to none. Tracy Ross is a choreographer's dream! Her dancing is just as good as Chita Rivera, the original Spider Woman. She soars in this role."
     
    An interesting footnote to this presentation is that Randy Leslie, Kelowna Actors Studio’s artistic director, and this production’s Molina, worked on the original preview in Toronto before it premiered on Broadway. “This has been a dream show of mine to produce since we started the company six years ago,” he says.

    “It’s amazing to have Randy in the cast since he was there with the first director Hal Prince, the original Spider Woman Chita Rivera, and the show’s writers, Kander and Ebb during the workshop process. He brings a wealth of insight to his role and our production,” says Flavel. “His Molina is incredibly strong.”

    “Kiss of The Spiderwoman pushes the envelope with adult themes and content,” admits Flavel. “The show may make some people feel a little uncomfortable, but it also makes us think, which is what good theatre does.”

    Kiss of The Spider Woman runs at the Kelowna Actors Studio (1379 Ellis, across from the Public Library) Thursday to Sunday evenings, with a Saturday matinee, from March 26 to April 19, with dinner catered by the Greenroom Bistro, and dessert ticket options available. For further information, or to purchase tickets, visit the on-site box office, call 250 862 2867, or log on to KelownaActorsStudio.com.
    ***
    ***
    Tracy Ross stars as the Spider Woman, Aurora, in Kelowna Actors Studio's production of Kiss of the Spider Woman, which opens March 26.
    Tracy Ross stars as the Spider Woman, Aurora, in Kelowna Actors Studio's production of Kiss of the Spider Woman, which opens March 26.

     

    Kelowna Actors Studio is the only licensed dinner theatre in the Okanagan Valley. Their mandate is to provide quality theatre and education, which showcases and fosters Okanagan talent. Dinner and dessert options are available for all productions. For more information about Kiss of the Spider Woman, the 2009/10 season, or any of the remaining shows this season, please call 250 862 2867 or visit www.KelownaActorsStudio.com.

    03 Mar 2009

    Spring Watercolour Classes

    Learn the skills to create beautiful paintings with this exciting medium. Classes for children, teens and adults; both beginners and intermediate classes.

    Kelowna Location: Opus Framing & Art Supply Store, Ellis St.
    Thursday, April 2 - June 18, 2009
    Adult Beginners 1 - 2:30 p.m.
    Children 7-12 yrs. 3:30-5:00 p.m.
    Course Fee: $185.00
    Art supplies extra

    Winfield Location: Artist Studio
    Tuesday, April 7 - June 23, 2009
    Adult Intermediate 10 - 11:30 a.m.
    Adult Beginners 1-2:30 p.m.
    Adult & Teen Beginners 7:30-9 p.m.
    Children 7-12 yrs. 3:30-5 p.m.
    Course Fee $180.00
    Art supplies extra

    Instuctor: Marlene G. McPherson of M.G.M. Fine Art Studios.
    Marlene was nominated for the 2008 Okanagan Arts Award in Art Education and a selection of her watercolours are featured in the book Beauty isÖ A Collection of Okanagan Art, by C.E. Krueger.
    For more information phone 250-766-3934, email marlene.mcpherson@telus.net or visit www.MyArtClub.Com/Marlene.McPherson
    Teaching Fine Art in the Okanagan since 1993



    03 Mar 2009

    Little Munsch on the Prairie

    Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre is now in rehearsals for its opening show Little Munsch on the Prairie, the hilarious new Canadian work written by Deb Patterson and based on the stories of Robert Munsch (illustrated by Michael Martchenko).

    Little Munsch on the Prairie runs one day only, March 14th, with two matinee performances 11:30am and 2:00pm. Starring Gwen Plitt as the Dithering Wild Turkey, Michelle Hussey as the curious Prairie Dog, and Quinn Bates as the Alpha Toad, this compilation of five Robert Munsch stories is a perfect outing for the whole family.

    “These loveable creatures are sure to make you laugh,” says director Tracy Ross. “Anyone with kids knows and loves Robert Munch’s stories. We invite audiences of all ages to join us for this particularly prairie take on some great classics - The Dark, 50 Below Zero and Pigs - and some new favorites - Show and Tell and I’m so Embarrassed.”

    Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre is a non-profit organization operating out of the Kelowna Actors Studio in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District. Their mandate is to introduce children and youth to the incomparable magic of theatre, to stimulate and liberate the imagination, the intellect and the spirit through creative theatre experiences, and promote theatre as an integral part of the learning process.

    Bumbershoot’s inaugural children’s theatre series brings the page to the stage, with adaptations of favorite storybooks, Little Munsch on the Prairie, If you give a mouse a cookie, The Selfish Giant and Go!Dog Go!. Bumbershoot Young Performers finish the company’s performance season with the colorful musical story of Willy Wonka adapted from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

    Purchase your tickets on-line at www.bumbershoottheatre.com or by calling the box office at 862-2867, or in person at 1379 Ellis Street.

    Children under 2- $4
    Children and students- $12
    Adults- $19

    Subscription rates are available for the entire season and offer great discounts to an amazing season of theatre.  Please check the web site for more information or call the box office at 862-2867.

    For more information on Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre please visit our web site www.bumbershoottheatre.com

    02 Mar 2009

    Opening Reception for the First Okanagan Print Triennial

    Thursday, March 5th from 5-8 PM at the Vernon Public Art Gallery



    For many years Canadian print artists have been considered leaders in the global community of printmaking. Despite its relatively small population and vast land mass, Canada has generated a significant number of world-class university printmaking programs, and has developed many thriving co-operative print studios across the country. A number of these institutions have been formed by artists sharing a common interest in the repeatable image, and in print-based ideologies and technologies. By supporting and fostering the works of others, the Canadian print community has become strong, both nationally and internationally. Hosted by the Vernon Public Art Gallery in 2009, in collaboration with the Kelowna Art Gallery and the Department of Creative Studies, FCSS at the UBC Okanagan, the First Okanagan Print Triennial will be an exhibition featuring the best and most innovative prints and print-based works being made by artists working in Canada. We plan for the second OPT, in 2012, to be open to artists from North, Central, and South America, as well as to Canadians. Subsequently, the Okanagan Print Triennial will be open to print artists from around the world.
     
    25 Feb 2009

    Sheri –D Wilson!

    Wed.  Feb. 25, 7:30 pm, SSC 026—Free Admission, All Welcome!



    Sheri-D Wilson, poet, playwright, performer, has seven collections poetry. Her most recent Autopsy of a Turvy World was launched in 2008.  Re:Zoom (Frontenac House) her sixth collection won the 2006 Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry.  She has published video poems and audio recordings (See link below for a taste!) and performed in festivals across North America, Europe and Africa. She is Artistic Director of The Calgary International Spoken Word Festival and Director of The Spoken Word Program at The Banff Centre.                                                                                                                                   

    Reading sponsored by The Canada Council for the Arts, The Department of Creative Studies at UBCO, and the Okanagan Institute.
    24 Feb 2009

    March 31st Kelowna welcomes Jazz Café at the Black Box.



    Situated at the back of the Kelowna Community Theatre, Jazz Café’ will open its doors once a month to become a venue heralding the old-time speakeasy vibe when jazz music was an expression of creative hope and musicians, as well as jazz lovers, always had a home!

    “Where the gin is cold but the piano’s hot!....and all that jazz”

    International Jazz Singer Anna Jacyszyn has returned to her home town of Kelowna, BC.   After cutting her jazz teeth in London and Shanghai, Anna feels it’s time to fulfill her dream of owning and playing host to this type of environment.  “A jazz café to me”, Says Anna, “is somewhere that you can arrive alone and leave knowing you have a family to go back to the next night.  As a woman I use to frequent Ronnie Scotts, 606 (in London) also JZ, Cotton Club and House of Blues and Jazz (Shanghai). I never felt silly walking into a jazz club and sitting alone…the live music was my company and everyone is there for that reason.  It’s a social place of inspiration where I met my like-minded friends.” Says Anna reminiscing.

     “There are great musicians in the Kelowna area but no true venue to unshackle the creative energy that allows musicians to sharpen their chops and the freedom to loosen up. This is Jazz and I want this for Kelowna”.

     Double Bass Musician and Musical Director, Bernie Addington has assembled the finest musicians around the valley to make up a forte of talent in concert each month.  Featured musicians include Neville Bowman (Piano, Flügelhorn & Vocals), Scot Gamble (Drums & percussion), Craig Thomson (Alto & Tenor saxophone) and an assorted mixture of special guests to add texture and variety to each special night.  As host to Jazz Café, Anna Jacyszyn will also be on hand to sing a few.  “That’s the beauty of being the host; I get to play with the best in town!

     Capacity is limited so memberships are recommended to secure your place each month.  A 6 month membership costs $100.00. This includes guaranteed entry, priority table reservations for members & guests (each guest pays $20.00 at the door). As a founder member of Jazz Café, each successful applicant will receive a membership card along with a hand crafted gift as a token of thanks for supporting the embryonic development of a permanent residence for Jazz Café, in Kelowna.

    Please apply by email to:  fabulousPR@gmail.com or call  250 763-6141

    24 Feb 2009

    Arts Council of the Central Okanagan Announces Winners of the 2009 Okanagan Arts Awards

    The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan announced the winners of the 2009 Okanagan Awards with an awards presentation and showcase on February 14th.  
     
    A mosaic of artistic talent filled Creekside Theatre as the evening unfolded in an artistic display of choreographed dance, music, poetry, theatre, and media presentations.  
     
    An original work created by Kelowna artist Ede Axelson was presented to winners who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and who have made significant contributions to the community, and excellence in the arts. The winners of the 2009 Okanagan Arts Awards are:
    ·      Music - Susan Aylard, Sorrento
    ·      Dance - Ballet Kelowna, Kelowna
    ·      Visual Arts - Jock Hildebrandt, Westbank
    ·      Theatre - Theatre Kelowna, Kelowna
    ·      Literary Arts - Sharon Thesen, Lake Country
    ·      Media Arts - Rick Sagaydan, Kelowna
    ·      Arts Educator – Tina Siddiqui, Kelowna
    ·      Supporter of the Arts – Mary Jo Schnepf, Kelowna
    ·      Lifetime Achievement – Francine Gravel, Kelowna
     
    “The calibre of nominees that were submitted for the Okanagan Arts Awards was quite remarkable.  Each of the individuals demonstrated success in their related fields. and has made significant contribution to the arts in the Okanagan. We are pleased to recognize both the winners and nominees for their success and outstanding support of the arts in the Okanagan,” says Sharon McCoubrey, President of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan.
     
    The Okanagan Arts Awards is presented by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, and is dedicated to enriching the cultural life by supporting the development of individual artists, art groups, and organizations through sponsorship of cultural events, education and promoting all art disciplines in the Okanagan.



    Photo taken by Glenna Turnbull
    Top row: Susan Aylard (music), Jock Hildebrandt (visual arts), David  
    LaHay of Ballet Kelowna (dance)
    Middle row:  Sharon Thesen (literary), Rick Sagayadan (media arts),  
    Andrew Powell and Debby Helf, Theatre Kelowna (theatre),
    Bottom row:  Tina Siddiqui (arts educator), Mary Jo Schnepf (arts  
    supporter), and Francine Gravel (lifetime achievement)
    19 Feb 2009

    BC SHORT FILMS DOMINATE CLERMONT-FERRAND

    Kelowna Animator Wins the Prix du Public (Audience Award)

    Short films produced and directed in British Columbia were the only non-Quebec Canadian films to be selected for this year's prestigious Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival.  The CFSFF, held in Clermont-Ferrand, France for the past 31 years, is the worldís largest short film market and festival - boasting attendances over 137,000, hosting thousands of industry delegates, and representing international films from over 50 countries.  Amongst the 4,783 submitted international films, only 74 were selected for the International Competition and 36 were chosen for the Lab Competition.  Out of 367 Canadian films submitted, only 6 films from Canada were chosen to screen in the festival's esteemed competition.  The only 3 Canadian films not from Quebec were all from BC.  

    Vancouver films, Awkward by Kellie Bentz and Engine 371 by Kevin Langdale were included in the International Competition while Kelowna filmmaker, Jeff Chiba Stearns screened his animated short, Yellow Sticky Notes as part of the Lab Competition. The Lab Competition celebrates films using innovative techniques that push the boundaries of filmmaking. Yellow Sticky Notes was the only Canadian winner at the festival, taking home the Prix du Public (Audience Award) in the Lab Competition. The film was also the only North American film to win an award at the internationally renowned 2009 Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival.  

    "This is the biggest win of my life!" said Jeff Chiba Stearns after receiving the audience juried award.  "Iíve traveled to festivals around the world and the caliber of films at Clermont-Ferrand are the best I have ever seen.  These are the greatest short films in the world and it was humbling to even screen next to them let alone win a major award category.  It was a huge honor just to be accepted to Clermont-Ferrand!"

    Yellow Sticky Notes was animated using over 2300 yellow sticky notes with nothing but a black pen.  The film, that has been described as the world's most labor intensive blog entry, is an animation meditation of Jeff Chiba Stearns' filmmaking journey as his internal reflection on his role as an artist manifests into a discussion about major political and environmental crises.  The film qualified for a Genie in the Best Animated Short category but was not nominated.  

    Even with BC shorts dominating internationally at the film festivals, there was no representation from Western Canada in the short filmmaking categories when the Genies were announced last week - it makes one wonder whoís choosing the nominations at the national level.

    For more information contact Jeff Chiba Stearns directly at 250-215-4733 or email stearnsjeff@hotmail.com 
    18 Feb 2009

    UBC Okanagan’s Minds and Movies adds expert insight to film appreciation

    We all know how to watch movies. But have you ever considered why movies can be so effective?

    The new Friday-evening Minds and Movies Series at UBC Okanagan is intended to build a deeper appreciation for the art of movie-making and the pleasures of movie viewing as participants journey through a selection of motion pictures from around the world.

    Presented by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, the adult, non-credit Minds and Movies Series from Mar. 6 to Apr. 3 offers movie buffs an opportunity to explore a diverse selection of foreign films – English subtitles included – alongside an expert in the cultural field.

    Kicking off the series on Mar. 6 is Robert Belton, Dean of the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies and associate professor of art history, who in three easy lessons will share his expertise on how to truly appreciate a film.

    “When people say they understand a movie, they usually mean that they were able to grasp the plotline and stitch together the various scenes and edits into a coherent narrative – an illusion of a more or less continuous story unfolding in real space and time,” says Belton.

    “Most of us are content with that coherence, but others make a game out of spotting continuity flaws – for example, soft drink labels that change from one brand (Coke) to another (Pepsi) in the shot and counter-shot of a conversation,” Belton says. “These flaws and other observations reveal that movies are not real but constructed.

    “Understanding a movie in a larger sense, then, means coming to terms with its ‘constructedness’, which is a matter of both technical necessities, like editing, and the ways that social relations give context to the meanings of films.”

    In the weeks following Belton’s appreciation class, film lovers will gather to watch the movie magic unfold before their eyes, enjoying films from Japan, France, Spain and Germany. Every class presented by UBC Okanagan faculty will include a brief introduction to the film – accompanied by popcorn – and an open question-and-answer period follows the evening’s flick.

    “Learning more about technical necessities enhances enjoyment because we can now appreciate that this isn’t real – it’s a wonderful piece of art,” says Belton.

    Anyone interested in taking part in the Minds and Movies Series can download a registration form from www.ubc.ca/okanagan/continuingstudies. The course fee for the Mar. 6 Film Appreciation course is $35. The fee for each of the four films is $10 + GST. To reserve a seat, email ccs.ubco@ubc.ca or phone Tia-Maria at 250-807-8177.
    14 Feb 2009

    Petr Cancura's PeopleMusic

    Petr Cancura's PeopleMusic
    Tuesday Feb 24th, 8pm
    St. Michael's Cathedral
    608 Sutherland Avenue,
    Kelowna, BC
    $15 adults, $10 students (The tickets will be available at the door)
    Acclaimed New York group PeopleMusic features Kelowna home grown
    bassist Garth Stevenson

    PeopleMusic came about to capture the fun, sadness and hope of
    life through music. A celebration of Brazil, Africa, the Balkans,
    played with the fearless adventure of new music. The program will
    include original compositions - songs that draw on rhythms of
    Brazil and Africa, melodies of the Balkans and Bluegrass and the
    exploration of jazz.
    Czech-born, Ottawa-raised, New York-based saxophonist Petr
    Cancura, a New Brunswick native now living in New York, Greg
    Ritchie on drums, Kelowna native also living in New York Garth
    Stevenson plays bass, and guitarist/violinist Chris Bartos from
    Montreal rounds out the group with his haunting melodies and
    evocative feel. With the intent to express the emotions of life
    through music, the group's positive energy shines with every note.
    www.petrcancura.com
    12 Feb 2009

    EL MARIACHI – Mariachi Band Tours Okanagan- March 17-21/09

    Ken Smedley & The George Ryga Centre are pleased to present "An Evening In Ol' Mexico" with a "fiesta" of music from EL MARIACHI!   Direct from their recent successful appearance at the prestigious International Festival of Mariachis, in Guadalajara, Mexico, EL MARIACHI is a festive musical ensemble that will literally transport audiences into the warmth and joy of Mexican culture.



    EL MARIACHI is anchored by former Okanagan resident Terence "Diego" Smedley-Kohl(son of Ken Smedley and Dorian Kohl).  Diego was born just south of Guadalajara, in the 500 year old fishing village of Ajijic(ah-hee-heek) , on the shores of Lake Chapala – Mexico's largest inland lake.  As a child, growing up in Mexico(for the first ten years of his life) Diego was greatly influenced by "Mariachi music".  As an adult it is a true thrill for him to perform in a "mariachi band" – EL MARIACHI, and to be a part of the first "Mariachi band to Tour"  the Okanagan!

    TICKETS are available immediately to EL MARIACHI on the following dates:

    Tuesday, March 17 – 8 p.m. – Zion United Church Hall, Armstrong
    Tickets at The Final Touch Framing & Art Gallery – Ph.250-546-1949

    Wednesday, March 18 – Lorenzo's Café, Ashton Creek
    Dinner: 6 p.m.  Show: 8 p.m. Reservations – Ph. 250-838-6700

    Thurs. March 19 – Minstrel Café, Kelowna
    Dinner: 6 p.m.  Show: 8 p.m. – Reservations – Ph. 250-764-2301

    Friday, March 20 – 8 p.m. – Kal Lake Campus Theatre, Vernon
    Tickets at The BookNook – Ph. 250-558-0668

    Saturday, March 21 – 8 p.m. – Centre Stage Theatre, Summerland
    Tickets at The Summerland Bookstore – 250-494-9110  and The Dragon's Den, Penticton – Ph. 250-492-3011
    11 Feb 2009

    Winners of the 2009 Okanagan Arts Awards

    Winners of the 2009 Okanagan Arts Awards
    To Be Unveiled February 14th at Awards Presentation



    The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan will be announcing the winners of the 2009 Okanagan Arts Awards on Saturday, February 14th, 7 pm at Creekside Theatre in Lake Country.
    Culminating in a cultural tapestry of arts and entertainment, the evening will unfold in a colourful display of choreographed dance, theatre, music, poetry and media presentations presented by

    The Spirit of BCTalent Showcase, sponsored by 2010 Legacies Now.
    This is a rare opportunity to be among distinguished artists as they share their life experiences and passion for the arts. Doors open at 6 pm with a wine reception, followed the awards presentation, and concluding with an evening of celebration and dessert reception.
    Get your tickets today! Tickets for the Okanagan Arts Awards are available at Ticketmaster by calling 250.860.1470, Creekside Theatre at 250.860.9390 or at the door. Admission is $25, or $15 for students.

    For more information on the Okanagan Arts Awards visit www.okananganartsawards.com or call
    250.861.4123.
    11 Feb 2009

    Fiesty Canadian Folk at Penticton Art Gallery



    Experience a fresh Canadian folk band with feel-good sound when Lily Come Down takes the stage at 7 pm, on Thursday, February 26, at the Penticton Art Gallery, 199 Marina Way in Penticton.

    Blending intoxicating melodies with fun rhythms and innovative harmonies, Lily Come Down demonstrates the bandТs considerable skill in songwriting and arrangement. Fusing their broad influences, Lily Come Down is a new brand of Fiesty Folk!

    Melissa Bandura and Joanna Chapman-Smith are the sirens of Lily Come Down, seducing the audience with their songsТ poetry, sung with captivating melodies. Blending JoannaТs velvet-smooth voice with MelissaТs sultry cadence, these women bring a depth to their creative lyrics with help from Chris and JustineТs singing knowhow. With Joanna as the Сwarm, dark stoneТ and Melissa as the Сbreezy, fluid windТ, they meet in the middle to meld vocal forces in tight harmony. Both have worked with artists in music, dance, theatre, film, spoken word and visual arts, making these two the very definition of collaborators.

    Writing and performing since 1995, Joanna has explored a wide variety of instruments and musical styles. Her poignant lyrics are evidence of an English Literature background, but her heart and history continually turn to folk. In Lily Come Down, Joanna uses voice, guitar, mandolin and clarinet to blend her diverse influences into the feisty brand of folk that this group personifies. Melissa has a long history of bringing delicate melody to music with her sweet violin solos. A classical-Celtic-gypsy-jazz fiddling background creates her unique sound which is intimate, sensitive, whirling and accented; all in one musical phrase. Melissa moves around JoТs and ChrisТs ever-transforming solos to spread a river of melody above the musicТs intricate chords, thoughtful vocal phrases, and rockinТ rhythm section.

    Justine Fischer is the groove of Lily Come Down, walking the songs forward with her involved bass lines. Her extensive background in jazz, funk, and jam bands brings a new quality to the eclectic brand of folk that Lily Come Down makes. Recently, she began dabbling in vocal harmonies to add a subtle, sweet quality to the Lily sound. But itТs her rhythm play along with KentonТs percussion that sets the fire under the songs.

    Chris Suen is the Сwhiskey-bottle-half-fullТ of Lily Come Down. His practice of old-time music traditions, renaissance choral singing and all stringed instruments from guitar to guzheng (Chinese classical zither) makes this one-of-a-kind banjoist a feisty addition to the band. Surprisingly, he only recently acquired his first banjo, quickly learning the claw-hammer style he now performs with ease. He brings his love of Appalachian music and Сclaw-grassТ to Lily Come Down, pitching in on vocal harmonies and picking his banjo with a re-imagined style thatТs all his own.

    Kenton Wiens is the heartbeat of Lily Come Down. Using drums and cymbals, he adds a mean accompaniment to those sweet melodies and dulcet harmonies. His folk-meets-rock-meets-jazz background brings a defined edge yet sensitivity to his rhythmic impulses.

    Tickets for the February 26th Lily Come Down concert are available at the Penticton Art Gallery; $10 for Gallery members and students, or $15 for non-members. This event will be held in the intimate concert setting of the Tea Room with seating limited to 50, so please reserve yours in advance. To arrange a media interview, reserve tickets, or for more information, please contact Paul Crawford at the Penticton Art Gallery, (250) 493-2928.

    http://www.lilycomedown.com/
    11 Feb 2009

    KELOWNA ACTORS STUDIO ANNOUNCES 2009/10 SEASON

    THEATRE SEASON PROMISES A GOOD STORY AND A WEE BIT OF LUCK O’ THE IRISH
    Kelowna Actors Studio is proud to announce its 2009/10 season with a variety of productions chosen to tell a good story.

    “For centuries, people have been hungry for a good story -- one that captivates, entertains, amuses, or provokes thought,” reflects Randy Leslie, the company’s artistic director. “This season, we promise to deliver theatre that does just that.”
     
    Over the last six seasons, Kelowna Actors Studio has repeatedly broken attendance records and received consistent critical praise. Their seventh season promises to be even bigger and better, at the request of their subscribers, they are returning to a six show format each playing for four weeks, and have added a children's ticket option. The season includes productions that have garnered Tony, Academy, Drama Desk, and Theatre World Awards, all of which explore the art of story telling through theatre.

    The season begins with SAME TIME NEXT YEAR (October 1 to October 25, 2009) by Bernard Slade. One of the most popular romantic comedies of the century, this story remains one of the world's most widely produced plays. As the conservative '50s give way to the tumultuous '60s, world events and private lives are reflected by George and Doris as they grow up and grow older together during their affair one weekend per year.

    In time for the holidays is the classic musical comedy, MAME (November 26 to December 20, 2009). Since the publication of Patrick Dennis' book in 1955, the adventures of Auntie Mame have been retold through play, film, and musicals on Broadway and Hollywood. Filled with a rogue's gallery of memorable characters, MAME has touched the hearts and tickled the funny bones of audiences everywhere. The irresistible score by Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly!) includes the title song, If He Walked Into My Life, We Need A Little Christmas, Open A New Window, Bosom Buddies and many others.

    The Tony Award winning musicals throughout the years have become an integral part of our everyday lives. ON BROADWAY – A MUSICAL REVUE (February 11 to March 7, 2010) relives some of those musical memories performed by your favourite Kelowna Actors Studio stars. Staged by Randy Leslie, this glittering revue features unforgettable gems spotlighting such shows as South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, The Lion King, La Cage Aux Folles, Cabaret, Man of La Mancha, Mama Mia and many, many more.

    In the unique musical thriller, SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (April 1 to 25, 2010), Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler weave the infamous chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece of murderous barber-ism and culinary crime. Sophisticated, macabre, visceral, and uncompromising, Sweeney Todd nevertheless has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with hilarious moments of dark humor.

    THE MIRACLE WORKER (May 20 to June 13, 2010) tells one of the 20th century’s most inspiring stories, revealing the trials and tribulations of Helen Keller and her care-giver, Anne Sullivan, as they forged what would become a 49-year-long friendship. The Miracle Worker is a profoundly moving retelling of the groundbreaking work of two pioneers, and the tender relationship between them.

    Finally, by popular demand, the musical extravaganza, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAM COAT (July 15 to August 8, 2010) returns to the Actors Studio Stage. A blazing cornucopia of musical styles, and featuring such song favorites as Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door, and Go, Go, Go Joseph, this Old Testament romp emerges as both a timely and timeless tale of tragedy and triumph and a dream of a show for the entire family.

    In keeping with the theme, ‘Become a Part of Our Story’, and the lucky number seven reflected in the seventh season, the company is offering a “Luck o’ the Irish” incentive for early season subscription renewal, whereby every season subscription purchased before March 17, 2009 qualifies for a lifetime season membership, including dinner. “We are hoping that a ten year old doesn’t win,” quips Nathan Flavel, the company’s executive producer. “Are there any 100 year old subscribers?” jokes Leslie. For the first time, the company is also offering a “What Happens in Vegas …” referral incentive, with each referral for a new subscription qualifying for a trip for four to Las Vegas.
     
    ***
    ***
    Kelowna Actors Studio's artistic director, Randy Leslie (L) and executive producer, Nathan Flavel (R) announce the 2009/10 season at Opening Night for Lost in Yonkers, Thursday, February 5.
    Kelowna Actors Studio's artistic director, Randy Leslie (L) and executive producer, Nathan Flavel (R) announce the 2009/10 season at Opening Night for Lost in Yonkers, Thursday, February 5.

    Kelowna Actors Studio is the only licensed dinner theatre in the Okanagan Valley. Their mandate is to provide quality theatre and education, which showcases and fosters Okanagan talent. Dinner and dessert options are available for all productions. For more information about the 2009/10 season, or any of the remaining shows this season, please call 250 862 2867 or visit www.KelownaActorsStudio.com.

    ***

    Listings information:

    Kelowna Actors Studio
    1379 Ellis Street (across from the Kelowna Public Library)
    Dinner and dessert options available
    Tickets at the Box Office, call 250 862 2867 or online: www.KelownaActorsStudio.com.

    Remaining 2008/2009 Season
    Lost in Yonkers (now running until March 1, 2009)
    Kiss of The Spiderwoman (March 26 – April 19, 2009)
    Lend Me a Tenor (May 14 – June 7, 2009)
    The Producers (July 9 – August 2, 2009)

    2009/10 Season
    SAME TIME NEXT YEAR (October 1 to October 25, 2009)
    MAME (November 26 to December 20, 2009)
    ON BROADWAY – A MUSICAL REVUE (February 11 to March 7, 2010)
    SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (April 1 to 25, 2010)
    THE MIRACLE WORKER (May 20 to June 13, 2010)
    JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAM COAT (July 15 to August 8, 2010)

    11 Feb 2009

    17th ANNUAL SALMON ARM ROOTS & BLUES FESTIVAL

    Celebrating Together

    August 14-16, 2009 ~ Salmon Arm Fair Grounds

     
    3 Days of Infectious Rhythms 
     and Cultural Exchanges for the Whole Family!
     
    Serena cropped 
     "your black and white needs a little bit of red".......... Serena Ryder.
     
    Straight up advice from the lady herself. Put a little bit of red into this Valentine's Day with Member Weekend Passes to the 17th Annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival. They're a sweetheart of a deal at just $90 per adult weekend pass, $68 for seniors and $55 for youth. Festival passes make a great Valentines Day gift, sure to put a song in the heart of that special someone! 
     
    Little Bit of Red by Serena Ryder 
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F78yp9urz4
     

    '09 CONFIRMED ARTISTS
     Sam Roberts Band
     Johnny Winter
     Serena Ryder
    Bedouin Soundclash
     Elliott BROOD
    Oysterband
    Chad VanGaalen
     The Soul of John Black
     Ana Popovic
     Sherman "Tank" Doucette
     Blind God
    Darondo
    Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
    Tiny Bill Cody
      Samantha Schultz
     David Ross MacDonald
    Six String Nation 
    Souljah Fyah 
    & many more still to be announced!
     
     _________________________________________________________
     
    MAKE THEIR HEARTS SING WITH THE GIFT OF MUSIC!

    Member Earlybird Passes on sale until Feb. 20th  or until they're gone,
     
    .........whichever comes first.
     
    Memberships and member priced tickets can now be bought on-line.
    Members are limited to four earlybird passes with each membership.
    Memberships $10/Year    
     
    Early Bird Member Adults $90 (2000 weekend available).
    Early Bird Member Youth $55 (500 weekend passes).
    Early Bird Member Senior $68 (500 weekend available).
    Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.
     
    For information and tickets,
    or call 250-833-4096.
    10 Feb 2009

    Gallery Vertigo Presents: Free Form Knitting with Janet Armstrong

    Start with a shape (e.g. a square or triangle) and explore the world of free form knitting.  Knitting skills such as increases and decreases, picking up stitches, and short rows are emphasized.  Free form knitting is a perfect use for yarn left over from other projects.  You will use your own scraps as well as sharing (if you wish) unwanted yarns with the group.  There will be a review of colour theory.  Being free form, there are no rules!

    Instructor:  Janet Armstrong
    Date:  Saturday March 7, 2009
    Time:  12:30 ö 4:30 PM
    Place:  Gallery Vertigo
    Cost:  $40.00 plus $5.00 for materials
    Register by February 28.

    Janet Armstrong believes that to be happy in life one must have a passion÷hers is fibre, whether that be yarn, fabric or thread.  In her workshops, she actively cultivates an atmosphere of invigorating creativity, encouraging discovery and invention amongst the participants. Janet coordinated the first Okanagan Knitting Retreat with colleagues Gloria Hanson and Wendy Henderson in 1999÷the 11th retreat is scheduled this May.  Janet has taught at national and international fibre art conferences.  Find out more at www.janetarmstrong.com


    Materials List for Free Form

    *        Optional:  Bring scraps and balls of yarn in lots of colours, fibres, textures, and weights/sizes from your stash. Bring yarns suitable for 6mm needles or finer  (e.g. Aran weight or finer) because bulky and chunky yarns are more difficult to work with. Bring yarns you want to use yourself as well as those (if any) you are willing to share with the group.  This is an opportunity to reduce your stash and use yarns you may not have experienced before. Bringing your own yarn is optional÷materials will be supplied.  The yarn shop is also open around the corner!

    *        NEEDLES and CROCHET HOOKS: Bring a selection of needles and crochet hooks in whatever sizes you have between 2mm to 6mm. Any kind of needle will do but double pointed needles work best.

    *         Your usual knitting kit (small scissors, 2 darning needles (blunt and sharp), tape measure, needle gauge, a few safety pins, pen, pencil.) You will receive a handout.


    Gallery Vertigo. #1 (upstairs) 3001 31st Street, Vernon, BC
    250-503-2297
    www.galleryvertigo.com
    Business Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm
     
    10 Feb 2009

    CHILDREN'S THEATRE LAUNCHES IN KELOWNA



    Once Upon a Time, a fitting beginning to many stories told and so it is the theme for the inaugural season of Kelowna’s newest theatrical addition, Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre Society.
                                      
    January 29th, 2009 launched Kelowna’s first ever Children’s Theatre Company, with Artistic Director Tracy Ross. “I am over the moon to be bringing this amazing project to our community.” says Ross “There is such potential in our young community, and theatre is an excellent way for them to explore and learn not just about theatre but also about life. This program aims to be a vehicle for them to do just that.“

    Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre is dedicated to introducing children and youth to the incomparable magic of theatre.  To stimulate and liberate the imagination, the intellect and the spirit through creative theatre experiences, and promote theatre as an integral part of the learning process.

    Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre is a non-profit organization operating out of the Kelowna Actor’s Studio located at 1379 Ellis Street, in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District.   There are four main components of the theatre company:

    1. Children’s Theatre Series- children’s series consists of four productions in the 2009 season, all geared towards family audiences.  Productions are done in one act and length is between 50-70 minutes.


    2. Bumbershoot Young Performers-a Free program offered to ages 7-18.  Youth audition to participate in this family based production.

    3. School Residency Program- Collaboration with schools to produce and stage a production with their students within one week.  (For public performance)

    4. Educational Theatre- performances of issue-based plays to youth audiences, touring local schools.

    The inaugural children’s theatre series really brings the page to the stage, including adaptations of some of your favorite storybooks, Little Munsch on the Prairie a compilation of 5 Robert Munsch stories, If you give a mouse a cookie, The Selfish Giant and Go!Dog Go!.  Bumbershoot Young Performers close up the season with the colorful musical story of Willy Wonka adapted from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

     

    AUDITION INFORMATION

    Kelowna’s Cultural District’s newest addition, Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre will be holding auditions for its Once upon a time season, February 8th and 15th.

    February 8th, from 9:00am-12:00 we will be auditioning for our Children’s Series, which consists of 4 plays adapted from story books for the stage.  Those auditioning for the Children’s Series must be 15 years or older.  This season:

    Little Munsch on the Prairie (a compilation of 5 Robert Munsch stories)
    If you give a mouse a cookie,
    The Selfish Giant, and
    Go!Dog Go!

    Auditions for our Bumbershoot Young Performers will be held on February 15th from 10:00am-12:00.  Children between the ages of 7-18 are eligible for this free program.  This season the Bumbershoot Young Performers will be staging a musical adaptation of the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka.

    All auditions take place at the Kelowna Actors Studio, located at 1379 Ellis Street.

    To schedule an audition time, or for more information regarding auditions and what to prepare please call 250-862-2867 or visit www.bumbershoottheatre.com.
    04 Feb 2009

    6th annual Wearable Art Gala

    *WHERE*: Alternator: Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave. in Kelowna
    *WHEN:* Saturday, March 14. 2009. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m. After-party starts at 10pm.

    THEATRE TICKETS: $45 ($33 for students) through www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 250-860-1470.
    AFTER-PARTY TICKETS: Free with WAG theatre ticket or $10 at Hemp City (service charge applies), the Alternator, Bella, Leo’s Video, Cream and Liquid Beat.com. After-party tickets go on sale Feb. 14, 2009.


    The Alternators’ *WEARABLE ART GALA* is on the scene once again with this wildly popular fundraising event.  Each year the audience is bigger, the show more finely choreographed and for the first time ever featuring a closing party inspired to bring you even closer to the full fantasy and thrill of WAG.
    The Wearable Art Gala is an artistic exploration of all types of body adornment. This fun and funky adult theatre event is not a fashion show in the traditional sense - it's an artistic exploration of all types of body adornment.

    Last year the WAG set free some 50 artists on stage in a feast of movable art. The performance was punctuated with big Diva entrances and costumes ranged from the beautiful to grotesque. Highlights included a battle dress made from 2000 chopsticks and other unusual designs using jigsaw puzzle pieces, tennis balls, pillows, telephones and balloons filled with pebbles.

    In 2009 we are upping the stakes once again by featuring big choreographed group performances, delectable organic treats and a closing gala party – WAG UNLEASHED! Following the theatre show, WAG performers will mingle with the audience in the Atrium, which will be transformed into a fantasy world.

    Unlike anything else offered by the club scene in Kelowna this space will stimulate the imagination, combining wearable art, environmental design, fire spinning, drumming, DJs and dancing. At midnight Wood & Soo of Vancouver take to the stage with their exciting 4-turntable DJ set.

    The Alternator is Kelowna’s only artist-run centre. This is our major annual fundraiser and all proceeds go to support our operations – bringing innovative exhibitions and special events to Kelowna year-round, while supporting the careers of local emerging artists.

    If you would like to volunteer at the event or become a sponsor please contact the Alternator at (250) 868-2298 or members@alternatorgallery.com. Thank you to our current sponsors including DesignMode.ca, Flydjs.com, Idea Bureau and Off-Centre magazine.

    For information about the Wearable Art Gala – including video from previous galas– visit the Alternator web site at: www.alternatorgallery.com.
    31 Jan 2009

    Digging for the Dirt Beneath Our Feet

    Wild Blue Yonder

    Okanagan ArtsOkanagan Home
    Okanagan Arts
    Digging for Dirt
    Okanagan Arts
    THE EARTH BENEATH OUR FEET
    » Thursday 5 Febuary 2009 | 5 pm
    » The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue

    An informal afternoon hour showcasing people and ideas featured in Okanagan HOME. Join us as Xeriscape gardener Gwen Steele and research scientist Gerry Neilsen explore what lies beneath the surface of the Okanagan valley.

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


    Experts Reveal the Okanagan's Dirty Secrets

    The Okanagan is known as having one of the most fragile eco-systems in the province, but residents and developers alike sometimes aren't aware how much that eco-system affects not only what we build, but how we build it.

    This past fall, commuters travelling Highway 97 took the brunt of Mother Nature's power when construction crews spotted a growing fissure on the mountain side. One false move, and the rock could all come tumbling down.

    So what lies beneath the surface of this beautiful valley, and what do we need to do be aware of in order to maintain it?

    On Thursday, February 5th at 5 pm the ongoing weekly Okanagan Institute Express series at the Bohemian Café presents Digging for Dirt: The Earth Beneath Our Feet at which Xeriscape gardener Gwen Steele and research scientist Gerry Neilsen explore what lies beneath the surface of the Okanagan valley.

    Gwen SteeleGwen Steele is a local expert in xeriscaping - the style of dry land gardening suitable for our region. But she's also an advocate of a new concept in the Pacific Northwest that encourages developers to work with buyers before the house goes in so that the original land can be preserved.

    "In the last few years I've had clients tell me stories of how they purchased a pristine piece of property only to find it damaged from construction. Then they're coming to me asking how to fix it. There is another way."