Third anniversary celebration at Quail`s Roost Gallery

sagebrushers rustico smThe Oliver Sagebrushers are celebrating the third anniversary of their Quail’s Roost Art Gallery at Rustico Farm and Cellars Winery in Oliver. The weekend will begin with a reception Friday May 24 from 5 – 8 pm, featuring well-known artist and musician Agnes Sutherland. Agnes has been with the art club for almost 50 years and at age 96 is an inspiration to all with her tireless energy devoted to her painting and music.

On the morning of Saturday May 25, the Sagebrushers will be assisting the winery with the Half-Corked Marathon. What a delight to view the costumes, the runners, and the happy faces.

On Sunday May 26, the Sagebrushers will be part of the cancer fundraiser for Chloe Kroeger. Everyone is invited to the Stampede Pancake Breakfast from 9 am to 12 noon.

The Quail’s Roost Gallery will be open during all of these events.

Directions: Drive 6 kms south of Oliver (or 12 kms north of Osoyoos) on Highway 97. Turn west onto Road 16. Turn south onto  Golden Mile Dr. (formerly 123rd Street). Distance from the highway: 0.4 km

Horse logger and painter displays stunning work in May

Mowing with the Bay Team 2010[1]submitted by Steve Staresina, Oliver Art Gallery

Here we are, with the passing of April and the completion of BC Arts and Culture week. Well, the Oliver Art Gallery is proud to push on with the theme by announcing its new Feature Artist for the month of May.

Rod Gould, Horse Logger/Painter will be displaying his many works on our feature walls, from April 30, to May 28th.

Rod, an avid outdoors man, has spent most of his life hunting, fishing, farming and logging with his horses on his 1500 acre wilderness ranch. While he had painted and followed his love of art all along, lately he is finding himself out in the weather slapping paint on canvas more and more.

His paintings are his attempt in expressing his appreciation, of the life he has had the privilege of living and to pay tribute to some of the good and honest horses he has worked with. His paintings speak, of the sparkle of first light on a mountain river, or times past when horses broke the ground and skidded the logs.

Rod occasionally works in watercolour, but mainly he paints in oil. It is the chosen medium of his artistic heroes, like Tom Thomson, Carl Rungius and N.C. Wyeth. He spends a lot of his time painting outdoors, or creating plein air sketches that later become a large studio painting.

Mendicino 2010The Oliver Art Gallery is privileged to have Rod Gould as one of its 20 artists, displaying a variety of mediums and styles from realism to abstract, for the pleasure of all comers. Ceramics and jewelry have also been added as extra variety for a diversity of choice to shoppers.

There is also ongoing art classes offered at the gallery:

Pencil Drawing

Sunday Mornings, – 9:00 – 11:00AM.

Six weeks, starting Sunday May 5, through to June 9th.

Cost; $ 60.00

Artist teacher, – Steve Staresina

Every artist needs to be able to draw before they can paint. Learn the basic drawing techniques, for landscapes, animals and the human body.

Painting – Acrylics for Beginners

Monday Evenings – 6:30 – 9:00PM

Six weeks, Starting Monday, May 6 through June 10.

Cost; $ 60.00

Artist teacher – Steve Staresina

This will be a teaching Class for beginners. You will learn about the supplies, products and techniques. If you wondered if you had it in you to become a painter, this is where you will find out. A list of supplies will be available upon registration.

Portrait Drawing with Pastels

Monday Mornings – 9:00 – 11:30

Two weeks, starting May 13 and 20th.

Cost; $45.00

Artist teacher – Sharon Leonard

This will be a two session lesson, where you will be able to draw a portrait of your choice. Bring your own photograph to work from. (Picture should be clear and show all features, like the eyes).

Drop in to view, Rod Gould’s Art, and the many other beautiful pieces on display.

Oliver Art Gallery

6046 Main Street, Oliver BC

Creative Minds bursting with spring events

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Click on the link below to view the latest arts and culture news in Oliver.

Creative Minds – April 2013

New issues of Creative Minds can be found on our Events page listed above, just under the top banner. The newsletter is issued late in the  third week of each month.

Arts Jam! presents news from all arts in Oliver

 

Arts Jam on Tour

Arts Jam! is the monthly social gathering of the arts council, with the public always invited to attend. Arts groups and businesses share their upcoming events, and the council updates members on items of interest from the Board.

This month, in honour of BC Arts and Culture Week, Arts Jam! goes on tour to the Oliver Regional Library, and is hosted by the Friends of the Oliver Library (FOTOL).  Join us on a special date: TUESDAY April 23 at 9:30 am at the Oliver Library.  Learn what the FOTOL is doing, hear about upcoming open houses and fibre arts conferences from the Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers and Double O Quilters, find out what’s up with the Handbell Ringers, get info on local arts exhibits, and hear an update on how the Sage Valley Voices Concert went. There’s always a lot of news from our 17 member groups and 14 businesses.  Discover who’s doing what.

The arts council Board will share some samples of new logos they are considering. Our friendly little quail is still part of the image, but wow! what a makeover! Your comments welcome. Information on the latest landscaping project will also be announced.

Arts Jam! is always a busy, friendly, newsy gathering, with refreshments provided. Visitors and new members always welcome. Be in the know on Oliver’s lively arts scene!

Arts Jam! is regularly held on the fourth Monday of the month. Next month: Monday May 27 beginning 9:30 am at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre.

Landscaping continues at Quail's Nest beginning April 22

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Contracted landscaping work will be occurring at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre at 5840 Airport Street, beginning the week of April 22 – 26.

PJR Contracting Ltd. has been hired by the Oliver Community Arts Council to remove the chain link fencing and weed trees along the northern perimeter of the property and the remaining fence along the road on the eastern side north of the “Big Blue” Building. In addition they will also be placing, levelling and packing 3/4 crush gravel on the northern end of the property. This is a continuation of the landscaping project begun in the summer of 2012.

The arts council  anticipates that this work will be completed within a maximum of two weeks, weather permitting. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, especially in terms of noise or access. The council  anticipates the latter to be minimal, with work confined to a small area within the  property. Street parking is recommended during the day.

The fence and weed trees have been an ongoing maintenance issue at the arts centre, with the fence preventing removal of weed trees. The outcome will be a neater exterior with less weeding required  for the council and its northern neighbours.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact the Oliver Community Arts Council at OliverCAC @ gmail.com

Thank you to our new Operations team of Betty Lou Trimmer Bahnsen and Bob Parker for their work on this project. Look for more projects later in the year, including painting the exterior of the smaller Studio Building, and some design elements added to the doors of both buildings.

Landscaping continues at Quail’s Nest beginning April 22

Quail's Nest2

Contracted landscaping work will be occurring at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre at 5840 Airport Street, beginning the week of April 22 – 26.

PJR Contracting Ltd. has been hired by the Oliver Community Arts Council to remove the chain link fencing and weed trees along the northern perimeter of the property and the remaining fence along the road on the eastern side north of the “Big Blue” Building. In addition they will also be placing, levelling and packing 3/4 crush gravel on the northern end of the property. This is a continuation of the landscaping project begun in the summer of 2012.

The arts council  anticipates that this work will be completed within a maximum of two weeks, weather permitting. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, especially in terms of noise or access. The council  anticipates the latter to be minimal, with work confined to a small area within the  property. Street parking is recommended during the day.

The fence and weed trees have been an ongoing maintenance issue at the arts centre, with the fence preventing removal of weed trees. The outcome will be a neater exterior with less weeding required  for the council and its northern neighbours.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact the Oliver Community Arts Council at OliverCAC @ gmail.com

Thank you to our new Operations team of Betty Lou Trimmer Bahnsen and Bob Parker for their work on this project. Look for more projects later in the year, including painting the exterior of the smaller Studio Building, and some design elements added to the doors of both buildings.

Top-notch choir from University of Alberta to sing in Oliver

2013-choirJoin the University of Alberta Mixed Chorus in concert as it comes to Oliver on its 69th annual Spring Tour.

University of Alberta Mixed Chorus 69th Spring Tour

with the Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers

Oliver Alliance Church

May  2, 2013

 7:30 pm

Admission $5  Adults  

Students FREE!!

The UAMC is a student run choir that is based at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB. It was founded in 1944 by Gordon Clark, a medical student, who wanted to bring together students who shared his love for music and singing. Sixty nine years later, that tradition continues.

Led by conductor Dr. Robert de Frece, the UAMC is pleased to present a delightful repertoire of choral works ranging from the Baroque to Broadway. Highlighted works include J. S. Bach’s ‘Bist du bei mir’, William Byrd’s ‘O Magnum Mysterium,’ and selections from the musical ‘The Music Man.’

Handbell-Ringers-2011-12Featured with the UAMC are the Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers, who celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. Founded by Dr. Robert de Frece in 1988, the Handbell Ringers have dazzled and entertained audiences with their quick hands and beautiful tones. This group plays one of largest collections of handbells and chimes in Canada. The Handbell Ringers will be playing “Syncopated Clock,” and a specially commissioned arrangement of “Belle of the Ball.” Both pieces were composed by Leroy Anderson whose works were often showcased by the Boston Pops Orchestra.

The UAMC is one of the University’s oldest groups. Each season, its members come together to share a love of music, under the inspirational leadership of Dr. Robert de Frece. For almost 70 years the UAMC has created beautiful music, and shared it with communities like Oliver in the spirit of those who founded the group in 1944.

The Oliver concert is sponsored by the South Okanagan Secondary School Enrichment Fund Society. The SOSS Enrichment Fund Society provides bursaries and scholarships to qualifying graduating students from SOSS going on to post-secondary education. The Society is sponsoring the event by finding billets for 65 performers, hosting a dinner before the concert and taking interested chorus members on a hike.

UPDATE from SOSS!!  

“We were able to arrange for Lisa Ante, the SOSS Music teacher, to involve her Music Futures class in the concert. They are going to sing with the chorus for the final two songs. They will rehearse with the choir in the afternoon and then be given a vocal workshop by the conductor. It should be a great experience for approx 25 students and their teacher. The Youth Ambassadors are going to assist in a coffee and dessert table at intermission.  Students of course will be given free admission.”  from Janet Shannon

For additional information, please reach the U of Alberta contact Nicola Gale at gale at ualberta dot ca or  SOSS Enrichment Fund contact Janet Shannon at larjanshannon at gmail dotcom

Have a favourite art form? See it next week!

week-13BC Arts and Culture Week is a province wide, annual celebration of art during the third week of April. Needing little excuse for a party, Oliver artists in all media delight in showcasing their skills. This spring, several arts groups are in the spotlight.

The week opens with the Oliver Sagebrushers art club presenting Art at the Owl  at the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Guest House. The Sagebrushers are joined by artists from Osoyoos. The opening reception is from 1 -3 pm on Saturday April 20, with a continuing exhibit and sale during the following week. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Drop by the guest house in the afternoons from 12 – 4 pm daily.

The Sage Valley Voices Community Choir is “puttin’ on the Ritz” with a choral concert of Vaudeville, Broadway and Hollywood hits. Not content to be “just” a choir, the ensemble adds colourful costumes and comedic repartee to enliven the performance.  Audiences have a choice of Saturday  April 20 at 7 pm or a matinee on Sunday April 21 at 2:30 at Oliver United Church. Tickets are $10 at the door, and include refreshments after the concert. Food Bank donations are always welcome.

The arts council takes their monthly “Arts Jam” on tour to the Oliver Regional Library on Tuesday April 22 at 9:30 am. The Friends of the Oliver Library will host the event. Arts Jam is a social gathering of many of the council’s 17 groups and 15 businesses. The primary purpose is to exchange current events news from  the local art scene. The public is always invited to catch up on all things arty in Oliver. The council also takes the opportunity to inform the public of its programmes and projects and address the needs of council members.

Oliver’s fabulous fibre artists invite the public to two open houses during BC Arts and Culture Week. The Double O Quilters Guild host theirs on Wednesday April 24 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Oliver Community Centre Hall. Tour displays and demonstrations throughout the hall.

The Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers Guild fling open their doors the following day at the same venue: Thursday April 25 from 10 am to 1 pm. Watch their flurry of activity at a felting bee. They are currently working on a felting project entitled “Crossing Borders”  for the Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds (ANWG). The local guild is felting two large three-dimensional cottages, one Canadian, one American. The cottages will be linked by a “cross-border” clothesline representing the goodwill between the guilds on both sides of the 49th parallel. The Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers plan to enter the  finished product at the ANWG conference in late June.

Visit Paw Prints Studio and Gallery at 212 Carr Crescent in Willowbrook Valley and the Oliver Art Gallery on Main Street, both of whom are also celebrating BC Arts and Culture Week.

The Oliver Community Arts Council is grateful to Arts BC, who funds BC Arts and Culture Week every year with a small grant  to cover joint publicity. We are also grateful to the Province of BC and the BC Arts Council who support the work of Arts BC.

Brr-Ring your ears and a donation to hear the bells

OHRl Time to RingTune in for a lovely spring concert with the Oliver Handbell Ringers. Whether it’s the youth bell choir or the adults, you’ll love their sweet sound. Remember your freewill donation so they can purchase more music and instruments so they can continue to entertain you in the furture!

Double O Quilters will be there — will you?

Quilt BC 2013 local poster

by Marianne Parsons

If the image of a quilt in your mind is something handmade, warm and on a bed, then it’s time for an image upgrade.

Today’s quilts are just as likely to be on the wall as on the bed, and contain paper, synthetics, paint, ink, metal or other substances not noted for their warmth. Quilting the layers together is often done by a computerized sewing machine, sometimes with no human at the wheel.

The world of modern quilt making is light years away from its original form, and filled with new techniques, tools and technology. You will have a chance to see the top quilts in Canada, and get a close look at the secrets to their construction when the Canadian Quilters Association (CQA/ACC), Canada’s only national quilting organization, brings the 32nd National Juried Show (NJS) to Penticton May 16 – 18.

Quilt BC 2013 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre will bring together thousands of quilters from across the nation for the National Juried Show that celebrates the best in contemporary quilt making. After the awards ceremony on Wednesday evening, the NJS will be open to the public from Thursday, May 16 to Saturday, May 18 for 3 jam-packed days.

There are 5 accompanying shows featuring more Canadian quilters: The Fibre Art Network’s “Fibrescapes” exhibit with 30 pieces from across Western Canada; SAQA (Studio Art Quilters Associates) with 40 pieces from among their 3000 members titled “Best of the West”; The Fabricators based in the South Okanagan showing 15 “Elements” pieces; the “Invitational” featuring CQA executive, teachers and the Quilt BC 2013 organizing committee; and a special exhibit celebrating the past 24 winners in the Trend-Tex Challenge.

For 25 years, Trend-Tex Fabrics Sales has donated kits of 5 fabrics from which CQA members create quilt art to be auctioned off during the conference to raise funds for CQA. This year, the theme is “Sunshine and Vines” in honor of Quilt BC 2013 in Penticton. The public is invited to vote for a favorite from among the approximately 100 entries, and to participate in the silent auction of the quilts.

To add to the frenzy, there will be over 50 merchant booths featuring everything a stitcher could desire. There will be the latest in sewing machines, irons, threads, books, rulers and fabrics. Add to that the custom-created fabrics, the burning tools, the beads, ribbons and embellishments, the discharge supplies, dyes, paints and inks, stencils, stamps, foils, kits and other fabric art necessities, and you have a quilters’ paradise.

Access to some exhibit areas will be by admission ticket. The merchant mall and Trend-Tex Challenge areas have free entry, allowing unlimited shopping and voting. Open hours to all areas are Thursday, May 16, 10 – 5:30; Friday, May 17, 10 – 6; Saturday, May 18, 10 – 5.

To find out more about the CQA/ACC or Quilt BC 2013, check out www.canadianquilter.com

Heritage Society announces AGM and Railway guest speaker

OLP.982.168aOliver and District Heritage Society

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday May 1

7 pm

Quail’s Nest Arts Centre,

5840 Airport St., Oliver

Get an update on our Museum Renovations project, volunteer opportunities, and other news.

Our guest speaker is Ian Pooley, an historian and retired teacher. He recently published “Moving Fresh Fruit by Steam Tugboat” in the Okanagan Historical Society 76th Report and “When the Titans Met: Railway Rivalry and Kelowna’s Rise as a Fruit Shipping Centre” in BC Studies Winter 2012/1013. He is currently researching the history of early theatre productions in the Okanagan. Mr. Pooley will be presenting “Doodlebugs and Diesel Tugs: The CNR’s Great Okanagan Railway Invasion”

Only members in good standing may vote at the AGM so please drop by the Archives Monday through Wednesday, 9 am to 4 pm and renew your membership for 2013.

For more info: 250-498-4027 or info@oliverheritage.ca

Sage Valley Voices: Practicing to entertain you

 Story and photos contributed by Marion Boyd

IMG_7006Almost 50 members of the Sage Valley Voices choir are choosing costumes, fine tuning music at numerous rehearsals and even doing some baking for the delicious goodies planned for intermission. The Spring concert, “That’s Entertainment”, will be

performed Saturday, April 20th at 7 pm and again Sunday, April 21st at 2:30 pm at the Oliver United Church. Tickets are $10 at the door and proceeds go to outreach programs here in our community like the soup kitchen.

The entertainment starts with Songs of the 1890s and runs the gamut of favourite show tunes into the 1990s. Think everything from “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man” from

Showboat right through tunes like “Puttin’ On the Ritz”, “The Impossible Dream”, “Moon River”, “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, “Memory” from Cats, and many more.

Photo 1: Morley Carter, Bass, chooses a costume

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Photo 2: Marlene Docherty, Soprano, checking her music with Linda Nunweiler, 2nd Soprano, in background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Alice DeRoche, conductor, approaches the concert with the finesse of a fine lion tamer. Much loved, she is able to use humour and occasionally a big stick to coax latent talent from the masses.

Photo 3: Alice DeRoche, conductor, setting up sound equipment

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sandy Andres, a superb pianist, provides the accompaniment. Nothing seems to faze our Sandy although she is holding her breath more than usual. She is poised to become a first time grandmother perilously close to the performances dates. We are all offering prayers the sweet little babe does not decide to come early!

Every one of you is urged to come out and enjoy “That’s Entertainment” as we usher in another Okanagan Spring.

Photo 4:  Doreen Visser and Kaye-Marie Yuckin, Altos, taking time for a joke