Quail-antine Challenge invites art

Art challenge awards prizes to those in “Quail-antine”

Oliver’s arts council encourages locals to self-isolate with a creative project called the “Quail-antine” Challenge. The council will award prizes to visual art entries of any medium and skill level, as long as those entries are placed in an area visible to the public. The idea is inspired by the arts council’s logo (a quail) and the springtime behaviour of Oliver’s famous bird.

In springtime, quail practice “quail-antine”. Usually found in large flocks, quail start to pair off, and isolate themselves for nesting time. The arts council encourages local residents to be like the quail: Make a cozy place for a “nest”. Find a buddy to bring you supplies and run errands and check on you if you need it. Make lots of “noise” by phone, email, video so others can hear you even if they aren’t with you. Ka-kawkaw!  Then get busy creating something new, whether picking up a neglected art project or a book or a dusty musical instrument, taking an online class, starting a journal, making a video or taking artistic macro shots of household objects. In other words, “hatch” a few creative “eggs”!  Just because you’re in “Quail-antine” doesn’t mean you can’t exercise your creativity!

The Quail-antine Challenge asks locals to create a quail. One option is to colour the Quail-antine colouring page and post it in a window or door facing the public, or waterproof it and stake it in your front yard so others can see it. For those seeking more of an artistic challenge, create a quail sculpture out of found objects like stones, cutlery, garden implements, or recycled materials. Use up leftover craft supplies like feathers and glitter. Felting, sewing, photographing or painting quail are all welcome. No age or ability restrictions.    

Colouring pages are available here or by emailing OliverCAC @ gmail.com Two colouring pages are available, a simple one for beginners is here:

and one slightly more challenging is here:

To enter for a chance at a prize, take a photo of your artwork showing that it is in a location on your property where the public can view it. Email the photo of your artwork to OliverCAC @ gmail.com with the subject line “I’m Quail-antining!” Feel free to share the story behind your artwork. Enter your finished creation before May 30 to be included.

Prizes will be awarded on May 30 for three $50 gift certificates to one of the arts council’s many business or group members. Each winner may choose from among participating businesses or groups — tickets to a concert or play, food and beverages, arts workshops, health services, and more.  A complete list of those 30-plus members is on the right-hand column.  Gift certificates will be good for one year, expiring in June 2021, to use when life returns to normal.

Show your creativity and solidarity as we all quail-antine!

CANCELLED: Birthday Present to Myself

Acclaimed Nelson dancer-choreographer-storyteller, Hiromoto Ida has now CANCELLED his latest piece, Birthday Present for Myself ​on April 3rd at the Venables Theatre.

Inspired by the subtlety and simplicity of Japanese Noh Theatre through western contemporary dance and music, Hiromoto aims to touch the hearts of audiences; to explore a shared moment through the inner world and emotions of the old man, with the hope that they will be inspired to find unexpected beauty in their own lives.

“I see western culture giving messages of aging and getting old as being a negative element of one’s life” Hiromoto observes. “I grew up with both my grandfather and grandmother in my home. Even when I was small, I could feel something special about them.” By touching on themes of love, transformation and regeneration, Hiromoto hopes the audience will gain a new perspective on aging and the last chapter of their lives.

In addition to dance and theatre, Ida is an accomplished screen actor. His first film debut in 1994, as the lead in the movie Tokyo Cowboy, won the People’s Choice Award at Vancouver International Film Festival.

Ida skillfully merges dance, theatre, classical music and voice to tell the story of an old man, raising a glass of sake to himself in celebration, on what will be his last birthday. Birthday moves beyond ideas of grief and sadness into a deeper awareness of the stages of life and the inevitability of death.

This exceptional performance was to have taken place Friday April 3rd at the Venables Theatre (6100 Gala Street, Oliver) is now CANCELLED. For more information visit www.venablestheatre.ca

Birthday Present for Myself is presented by the Venables Theatre with the support of the Community Presenters Assistance program (of the BC Arts Council and BC Touring Council) as well as The Coast Oliver Hotel.

Fire up your brains

You asked, and you got it, folks! The Firehall Brewery is firing up one more Trivia season before the busy summertime hits. The next 6-week spring season edition kicks off Saturday, March 21st! Hosts Veronica and Ryan will be leading another run, riding the crazy Trivia train!

As per usual, there’ll be weekly prizes, weekly themes with hints dropped in advance on social media, and a Trivia Trophy for the season’s winning team to have their name inscribed onto. Teams can be a max of four people, though feel free to come on your own to play solo or join other stragglers. See you on Saturday, March 21st!

Firehall Brewery, 6077 Main Street, Oliver (downstairs, lower level)

(778) 439-2337
info @ firehallbrewery.com

Reception with art and wine

The Okanagan Art Gallery celebrates MASTERS OF THE OKANAGAN with its First Friday monthly reception, March 6th from 5 – 7 p.m. The show opens at the Okanagan Art Gallery #5 8302 Main Street, Osoyoos BC. The show will feature three of the OAG’s professional artists, Mike Jordan, Larry Hunter and Anne-Marie Harvey. They will be featuring works done in both oil and acrylic.

This March’s Alive after Five First Friday will feature wine presented by Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery. What better way to celebrate Spring. For information, call 604 308-3995. Or you can go to our website at www.okanaganartgallery.ca

“God” has something funny to tell you

Pastel power suit? Check. Pince-nez? Check. Scottish accent? Check. The Lord is in the building.

Canadian comedian Mike Delamont entertains in his one-man show, God is a Scottish Drag Queen. As the Almighty, he shares God’s trade secrets and pokes gentle fun at humankind’s follies. God is the comedian, not the punchline. Come and hear why God has a soft spot for monkeys, apologizes for creating redheads, and shakes his head over circumcision, Justin Bieber, tacky religious theme parks, and Scientology. In Delamont’s show, God is the comedian, not the punchline.

What elevates the comedy is Delamont’s marvelous delivery. He combines the wacky exuberance of Dame Edna and the razor-sharp wit of Eddie Izzard. With glasses perched on the end of his nose, and the commanding presence and accent of Scottish funnyman Billy Connolly, Delamont’s Deity is feisty, candid, and endearing. Such is his divine comedic power that in only minutes you forget you’re watching an ungainly frump of a man in an ugly dress. Decidedly irreverent but not sacrilegious, this is damned funny stuff.

Delamont’s divine talent has been recognized with 22 “Best of the Fest” awards and 3 Canadian Comedy Award nominations for his Adam’s-rib-tickling hilarious shows that have sold out major theatres from coast to coast. Victoria’s Mike Delamont is easily one of the fastest-rising standup comedians in Canada.

God is a Scottish Drag Queen opens at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday March 14 at the Venables Theatre (6100 Gala Street, Oliver). Tickets are $30. For more information visit www.venablestheatre.ca

God is a Scottish Drag Queen is presented by Venables Theatre with the support of the Community Presenters Assistance program (of the BC Arts Council and BC Touring Council) as well as The Coast Oliver Hotel.

Crush Cabin Fever with board games

Cold weather and quiet evenings getting you down? Crush your cabin fever by joining us at the Oliver Museum for a board games night for grown-ups!

On Wednesday March 11th from 6 – 8 pm, bring your friends and head to the museum’s galleries to play, chat, and escape from those winter blues. Play our varied selection of board games or bring your own! Warm drinks and snacks will be provided, and gamers will also have the chance to explore our exhibits after hours. RSVP at the Oliver and District Heritage Society’s Facebook page by March 11th to attend. So, come out, test your luck, and game your winter doldrums away!

Montreal Guitar Trio & earlybirds

What a way to end the season!  The Montreal Guitar Trio, described by the CBC as the hottest guitar ensemble in Canada, will be performing Friday, March 20th at 7:30 pm at Venables Theatre, Oliver.   Presented by the South Okanagan Concert Society,  this Trio is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser and judging by previous performances  a full house is anticipated.

Get your tickets quickly on line at www.venablestheatre.ca or contact the theatre box office Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 to 3 pm at 250-498-1626.  Supported by generous sponsors, tickets are exceptionally affordable.  Two or more tickets in advance are only $21/ticket.  Single Tickets in advance are $23 and at the door if there are any left, $25.  Youth are ‘almost free’ at $2.50 so young people have opportunity to experience really fine live music locally. 

The Montreal Guitar Trio is a “force to be reckoned with”.  For over 20 years, the trio’s virtuosity, rigour, creativity and impressive stage presence has won converts all over the world.   Humour and interacting with the audience go hand in hand with this group in hundreds of concerts in prestigious venues across North America,  Europe, New Zealand and Australia.

The trio is composed of guitarists, Sebastien Dufour, Glenn Levesque and Marc Morin performing on Bruno Boutin guitars.   They first met as classical music students at the University of Montreal.  This year they are marking the 20th anniversary of their first live concert.   That conservatory background hasn’t stopped them from tackling flamenco and tango, nuances of Indian and Arabic music, hits from Queen and Rush or even Emio Marricone’s music for spaghetti westerns! As a trio, they have released six albums and won an Opus award for concert of the year in the Jazz & World Music category.  In January 2017 the trio launched its 7th album “Danzas” in Montreal.  It pays tribute to the great composers of Spanish music such as Paco de Lucia and Manuel de Falla.

Even more interesting, is the sextet that has emerged when the Montreal Guitar Trio combined with the California Guitar Trio some ten years ago.  Now each group performs as individual trios but approximately half their gigs are as a sextet together.   This has invigorated both groups and speeds past classical oriented guitar acts to embrace a wider contemporary repertoire and unexpected approaches.  A new album “In a New Landscape” was created together and has recently been released.

You can expect an exceptional concert when you arrive at the Venables Theatre March 20th.  Don’t forget next year’s SOCS series will be revealed and early bird tickets available for sale in the theatre foyer.