Art overflows at upcoming show

Overflowing with creativity, Oliver’s 35th annual Fall Art Show and Sale welcomes art lovers this coming weekend. The multimedia arts event includes photography, fibre art, three-dimensional art, watercolours, oils, acrylics, mixed / other media, and two categories for youth. In the competitive portion, a flood of 113 works have been entered. This year, the theme is “Go with the Flow”. In addition, three special exhibits are featured.

The Fall Art Show and Sale spans two days, Saturday September 29 (3 – 9 p.m.) and Sunday September 30 (12 – 5 p.m.), at the Oliver Community Centre, 6359 Park Drive. The event shares the same weekend at the same venue as the Cask and Keg and Festival of the Grape. Admission is by donation, with a draw to win a tempting wine fridge or a work of art.

Saturday’s visitors can vote for their favourite in each media category, and for overall “Best Interpretation of the Theme”. As excitement bubbles up for the awards show, the classy quartet Jazz Out West keeps the evening flowing smoothly. The live music and dessert reception begin at 7 p.m.

Twenty-eight winners will be presented with their quail trophies beginning at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Honorable mentions will also recognize meritorious work.

Sunday’s admission is through a Festival of the Grape ticket only. Patrons of the grape who visit the Community Centre will discover artistic creativity flowing, not just wine. The popular wine fridge draw continues. Stroll the exhibit and find the award-winning artwork, marked with rosettes.

Many works of art are for sale both days. The show attracts participation from established professionals and gifted newcomers alike. It is also a chance to meet the artists, and learn a little about their work.

In addition to the art competition, both days also feature special displays by local artists. CreateAbility, a program dedicated to making art accessible, will exhibit work by diversely-abled adults. The RipOff Artists are ten talented artists, each working in their own medium, dedicated to “ripping off” a dead artist’s work in their own style. This year, the RipOffs recreate the colourful “Three People Singing” by indigenous Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo. A tribute to John Salsnek, a renowned Willowbrook painter who passed away last year, will also be mounted.

The Fall Art Show and Sale is an annual presentation by the Oliver Community Arts Council.

Welcome Maker Place & Dianne Gibson

New business member Dianne Gibson has one of the most colourful shops in town, laden with fabrics, notions, and full of her own colourful personality! Visit Maker Place (Sewing Studio and Art Classes) at

101 6272 Station Street
Oliver, British Columbia
(250) 498-6696
Check out her page here:
Right now her shop features the work of fibre artist Terry Irvine:

Stretch with Andrea!

Doulandie Massage Specialist, Andrea Furlan instructs:
Parent and Child Stretch
Flexibility, strength, boundaries, body awareness
September 25 – November 27
January 8 – March 19
Tuesdays 3 – 3:45 p.m.
$45 / season
Gentle Stretch
Non-strenuous relaxing stretching movements for posture
September 24- December 3
Mondays 9:30 -10:30 a.m.
$70 /season or $10 drop in
Oliver Community Centre
Register:  www.oliverrecreation.ca
Information: Txt Andrea: 604-842-5050  or  www.doulandie.com

Rekindle the flame: hot singers of the 70s

You know the songs: Whether Neil Diamond’s  Sweet Caroline and Cracklin’ Rosie or Rod Stewart’s Maggie May and Baby Jane they sang the songs ladies loved to hear. Rod’s It’s a Heartache and Neil’s Love on the Rocks consoled the guys when love was not always easy. These icons ruled the airwaves, playing the soundtrack to the lives of many baby boomers.

Relive those classic hits at these two concerts. Say “Hello Again, Hello” to Nearly Neil. Find “new Reason to Believe” with Rod and the Mods.

Special pricing when you attend both concerts.

Visit www.venablestheatre.ca to buy your tickets.

Art from all ages still welcome at Fall Art Show & Sale

Artists of all ages, including children and youth, are encouraged to enter works in any visual medium in the upcoming Fall Art Show & Sale. While entry forms have been pouring in at a record rate, late entries will continue to be accepted as space and time permit. Teen artists, fibre artists and any three-dimensional art are especially encouraged as those media entries are still low. Entry forms and guidelines are available here:

FASS 2018 Entry Form

FASS 2018 Terms and Guidelines

or picking up a hard copy at the Oliver Visitor Centre.

The Oliver Community Arts Council mounts the popular event on Saturday September 29 and Sunday September 30 at the Oliver Community Centre. The popular arts event includes the multimedia art competition, public voting, sales, exhibits and demos by featured artists, live entertainment, a dessert reception, and exciting draws, including a wine fridge.

Visual artists in all media are invited to enter. Trophies are awarded in nine categories: Photography, Fibre Arts, Oils, Acrylics, Watercolours, Three-Dimensional Arts, Mixed/Other Media, and two youth categories based on age. Past winners have included newcomers and returning artists, locals and not-so-locals, whether beginners, hobbyists or professional artists. Public voting ensures the competition is friendly and full of surprises.

This year, the Fall Art Show & Sale has a theme: “Go with the Flow”. While no artwork is ever rejected for not following the theme, it can serve to inspire artists to create something new. “Go with the Flow” allows for many interpretations across arts media: technique, subject matter, literal or metaphorical. To motivate artists to follow the theme, the public also votes for an overall winner “Best Interpretation of the Theme”.

Get some inspiration here:  Go with the Flow Inspiration

Artwork may also be advertised for sale: locals and tourists alike frequently purchase pieces, including children’s artwork. Being part of a major exhibit and sale can be rewarding especially for youth and artists new to the experience. Work can be recent or old, but must not have appeared before in any previous Fall Art Show & Sale. Artists may submit one or two pieces.

No artwork needs to be submitted in advance of the art show, just the entry form and fee, leaving extra time for artists to put finishing touches on their work. There is no jurying although artwork should be suitable for a family-friendly event.

Entry fees are $25 for non-members, $20 and $15 for arts council members, $10 per piece for teens, and free for children (limited to one work apiece).

To ensure your entry is considered, please give us a heads up on your intent to enter: OliverCAC @ gmail.com or 250-498-0183 as soon as possible, and a space will be held for your beautiful work.

Come sing with us!

Come sing with us!
Sage Valley Voices Community Choir
welcomes new members: men, women, teens
No audition required.
Director: Lori Martine
Rehearsals every Monday evening
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Oliver United Church, 358 Okanagan Avenue, Oliver
Contact olivercac @ gmail.com to be put in touch with a choir member for more information or just come to one of the early practices. Begins Monday September 10, rehearsing for the Christmas Concert. The spring concert rehearsals begin in January.

Concerts to raise your spirits

Music is better even than lemon meringue pie to raise the spirits and lift the heart as the light fades with the approach of winter. This year the South Okanagan Concert Society invites you to come into the opulence of the beautiful Venables Theatre and share four delightful Friday evenings with others who love to embrace music too.

It all starts on October 12th when the Marc Atkinson Trio performs at 7:30 p.m. Atkinson, composer and JUNO nominated musician, plays a fiery but elegant guitar style with the casual ‘good time feel’ of Canada’s West Coast. The trio is melodically captivating and technically awe inspiring. The addition of violinist Cameron Wilson who is also a composer and arranger known to orchestras, ensembles and soloists across Canada and the U.S.A. will add to the excitement.

Tickets are on sale now at www.venablestheatre.ca or at the theatre box office, Tuesdays to Thursdays from 10 to 3 pm. Book early and choose the best seats at the best price. Two or more tickets in advance are $21/ticket. Single ticket in advance is $23. Single ticket at the door is $25. Children and Youth are only $2.50/ticket. Bus transportation or more information call Janet at 250 495 6487.

Friday, November 16th brings us Double Double Duo. Each duo member is a ‘double threat’ on two instruments: Kornel Wolak (clarinet/piano) and Michael Bridge (accordion/piano). Classically trained international soloists, they use comedy, virtuosity and musical sensitivity to bring classical showpieces, sensitive jazz ballads and fiery folk music alive.

Friday, February 15th we enter the new year when Duo Fortin-Poirier entertain with 4 hands on one piano. These two outgoing and talented women have garnered a long list of distinctions since their inception in 2005. Their albums, Vingt doigts et un piano (2013) and Memoires (2017) are broadcast regularly on Espace Musique and Radio-classique. Their smiles and fast moving fingers light up a concert hall!

Friday, March 29th an amazing concert will close yet another satisfying South Okanagan Concert Society season of music. O-CELLI, an original and dynamic 8 cellists share their passion for the extraordinary richness of their instruments. No, you did not make a mistake. It does say 8 (eight!) cellos on stage. Five different nationalities are represented. The group has performed in their adopted city of Brussels, played throughout Europe and toured eastern Canada in 2017. This performance at Venables Theatre is an absolute “don’t miss”!!!

Tickets for all concerts are on sale now. Get dates secured with your friends and prepare for some extraordinary musical experiences – world music on the local stage.

Surfaces Mixed Media: so much to choose from

This local arts group was started in 2016 to offer artists a platform to explore different techniques for creating surface design in a variety of media (fabric, paper, wood, glass, cork). The group was structured loosely with fixed meeting times (Thursday afternoons) on a weekly basis. There were no membership fees instead a drop-in fee of $5.00/session was charged. Various topics and techniques were covered with individuals leading the group. Some weeks were open with no fixed plans and some sessions were organized in advance with supply lists / preparatory tasks circulated. Studio space was rented in advance from the Oliver Community Arts Council and Surfaces became a member group.

In 2017-2018 there was a desire to have more full-day studio time so once a month the studio space was rented out for a full day (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.). A face-book page was created with a place where photos and ideas could be shared.

Current PlansCurrently the group is large and quite diverse. For the 2018-2019 season we are proposing splitting the group in two: Surfaces – Textiles and Surfaces – Mixed Media.

For the Surfaces – Textiles group meetings will occur twice a month on Thursday afternoons from 1-4:00 p.m.. The focus will be on surface design on fabric using a variety of techniques including dyeing, stamping, screen and discharge printing, eco-printing, felting, beading, hand and machine stitching. Fabric will be used to create works which explore contemporary art quilting techniques. Each session will include time for feedback and critique on works in progress. Some sessions will include instruction (with rotating leaders for the group). If there is interest a full day workshop can be planned possibly on a weekend. For contact information on this part of the Surfaces – Textile Group contact Janet at: bedn9783 @ telus.net (work pictured above and at left) The first meeting of fall season for Surfaces – Textiles will be Thursday Sept. 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre (the smaller Studio Building), 5840 Airport Road, Oliver.

For the Surfaces – Mixed Media Group meetings will occur on alternating Thursday afternoons from the Surfaces – Textile Group from 1-4:00 p.m. also at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre (the smaller Studio Building). This group will be exploring a variety of Media such as bookbinding, alcohol inks, glass mosaics, cork designs, jewellery making, acrylic pouring and others. The route the group take will be determined by the interest and passion of the members.
The date of first meeting of Surfaces – Mixed Media Group TBA. For more information contact:

Aline Bostrom: doddersca @ yahoo.com or

Roxanne Anderson : Apricotcottagestudio @ gmail.com

Audition! because it’s wonderful

AUDITIONS SET FOR IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Dates have been set for auditions for SOAP Theatre’s fall production of It’s A Wonderful Life – A Life Radio Play.

Director Trevor Leigh will be looking for an ensemble cast of three males and two females that will bring a few dozen characters to the stage in early December.

Open auditions take place on Sunday, September 9 at 6:30 pm in the Big Blue Building at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre, 5840 Airport Street in Oliver and on Monday, September 10 at 6:30 pm in the board room above the Osoyoos Art Gallery, 8713 Main Street, Osoyoos.

This beloved holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. It will be presented in Osoyoos Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 as part of the Osoyoos Christmas Lite-up Festival and then be at Venables Theatre in Oliver the following weekend.
More information on the production as well as other SOAP plans for this season can be viewed at www.soplayers.ca. Questions on the auditions can also be directed to Leigh at ftleigh @ mac.com.