The Oliver Community Arts Council’s Fall Art Show and Sale gets better every year.  “An impressive display of artwork” and “Best art show ever” were two of many comments from visitors to the annual 2-day show held over the weekend at the Oliver Community Hall.

Saturday’s opening saw a hundred pieces of artwork in 9 categories displayed.  Guests to the show were treated with art provided by the novice and professional; and the young and old. Many talented artists entered their best art into the show viewed by a crowd of visitors.

As the art lovers mingled, enjoying the artwork, and meeting the artists,  Brock Jackson, morning host of EZ Rock lent his smooth charm as M.C.  in directing the evening opening reception’s festivities. Musical entertainment was provided by the ever popular group, “Jazz Out West” featuring the vocals of Iris Larratt.  Joining her throughout the evening playing crowd favorites, was band members; Jim Wyse, Bob Park and Bob Larratt. The talents of all these wonderful entertainers soothed the crowd well into the evening as everyone anxiously awaited the results of the days voting.

It was a hard choice for the viewers to mark their ballot for the best of each category as noted by 4 tie votes.  In the end, Michael Jordan of Osoyoos, won Best in Show, for his Oil painting, “Thin Ice – Blue Lake”. Se below for all the category winners.

Sunday’s show was a feature of Oliver’s fabulous Festival of the Grape. Legions of wine lovers took the opportunity to break from the heat and come into the cool to view the many talents of our local and area artists. Some impressed enough to take home a purchased piece of original art.

The fundraiser draw replacing the previous silent auction was a big hit.  Everyone wanted to be a winner but there was only one ticket drawn. Shirley Munro, a newcomer to Oliver, won the draw for the wine fridge filled with generously donated bottles of wine from local wineries.

The Oliver Community Arts Council congratulates all the winners and thanks the many volunteers responsible for making this show a huge success.

by Marion Boyd, South Okanagan Concert Society

Known as the ‘Cirque du Soleil’ of classical music, Quartetto Gelato, is variously described as supremely talented, deliciously smart, endlessly creative, refreshingly funny and totally surprising.   Joyful and polished, this high impact quartet proves once again there’s no such thing as highbrow and lowbrow music.   Their performances of classical masterworks, operatic arias, tangos, gypsy and folk songs are presented with pyrotechnics, acrobatics and whatever else inspires them to create music in new and entertaining ways.  Classical in training – eclectic by design!

They will be on stage at the new Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver on  Monday, October 20^th at 7:30 pm. It will be the first concert of the season for the South Okanagan Concert Society.

Four admission flex pass tickets for only $70 are on sale for the series at Beyond Bliss Esthetics in Oliver,  Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos or at the door.  The flex ticket can be used in any combination.  Four can go to one concert, snowbirds can share a ticket or one person can come to all 4 concerts.  A single entrance is $20.

Students 17 and under gain admission free and those needing a ride from Osoyoos can call Maureen at 495 7978 and arrange to come by bus.

Peter DeSotto who started the Quartetto some 20 years ago is a remarkable talent who’s chameleon like abilities allow him to perform on the violin not only as a seasoned classical violinist but also as a dazzling gypsy virtuoso.   On top of that he has a fabulous tenor voice that draws rave reviews.

Peter’s ‘best friend’ is Belarus born, Alexander Sevastian, who launched his professional career in Russia, moved to Canada in 2001 and is a four-time world accordion champion.

For this concert, cellist Lydia Munchinsky will replace Elizabeth McLellan who is expecting a baby any day.   Lydia was performing around the world before she reached her teens and had completed her ARCT in performance for both piano and cello before starting her post secondary studies.   Now living in Toronto, Lydia has premiered solo cello and chamber music works and plays also for music theatre companies.  While not making music or looking after her baby born the same day as Prince George, Lydia enjoys tennis and soccer, painting and making ice cream.

The newest member, Calgary-born Colin Maier, plays oboe, clarinet, English horn, violin, banjo, bass, piano, saxophone, flute, guitar, and mandolin.   He is a professional actor and he is an acrobat, dancer and martial arts expert.  His passion for music and theatre leads to ground breaking performances.

In 1997 Canadian astronaut, Robert Thirsk, took 2 Gelato CDS on the space shuttle Columbia.   This music is really ‘out of this world’!

And speaking of gelato. there will be an open reception for the musicians after the concert at Medici’s Gelateria just a short walk from the theatre.  Come and enjoy!