Tag Archives: Christmas
Christmas Arts Jam toasts 2011
It’s a no-host gathering, so potluck nibbles are encouraged. Bring a few squares or veggies to share. Tea, coffee and mulled cider provided.
This is not a business meeting but a “news-and-views” forum for the membership and visitors. A great way to connect with arts-minded folks and find out what’s going on in the local arts. Share some highlights of recent performances and gallery shows. Announce your upcoming arts events. Bring a calendar to keep track of dates for 2012. Celebrate the successes of 2011 with us! Cheers!
Christmas Spirit Guaranteed!
Down Home Christmas with Sage Valley Voices
You can also “sample” the choir in performance at Oliver’s downtown LightUp celebration on the evening of Friday December 2 and at the Community Christmas Concert on December 4 at 2:30 p.m. on the Oliver Alliance Church stage. But you’ll want to get the full show “Down Home” on December 10 & 11 at Oliver United Church (see poster for details).
The choir is hunting for a new director to carry on the tradition. Are you interested? Find out more by contacting the arts council and we’ll pass your inquiry along olivercac @ gmail.com Don’t let “A Down Home Christmas” be their last concert! These folks are just having way to much fun to stop!
Oliver Arts and Crafts Sale – November 25 & 26
What is Christmas without Oliver’s biggest seasonal shopping event?
Come “window” shopping — there’s so much to see! But you’ll want to bring your wallet because you’re guaranteed to find something you love! The yummy soups, sandwiches and desserts available from the kitchen alone are worth the visit!
Oliver Arts and Crafts Sale – November 25 & 26
What is Christmas without Oliver’s biggest seasonal shopping event?
Come “window” shopping — there’s so much to see! But you’ll want to bring your wallet because you’re guaranteed to find something you love! The yummy soups, sandwiches and desserts available from the kitchen alone are worth the visit!
Sleighbells and Song … and Snow
Choirs from the Oliver Elementary and Seventh Day Adventist Schools, the Desert Airs Men’s Chorus and the Advent/Valley Quartet charmed the crowd in the first set. The children’s bright faces and bright voices were an instant hit and a great opener to the show. Some clever choreography, cheerful lyrics, and good rhythms combined to make for a highly entertaining start to the evening. The Desert Airs impressed with their tuneful a cappella harmonies and crisp musical delivery – and their crisp white shirts. Handsome outfits, gentlemen! This is a very polished men’s choir who need to have their very own concert — soon, we hope! The mixed quartet from the Adventist and Valley Congregational churches served as a good counterpoint with some reflective music. Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming and Rise Up Shepherd were especially moving.
The second set featured seasonal music from the Penticton Concert Band. The band began with an audience sing-along led by soprano Madison Johnson. This young lady has a powerful confident voice that did not need any added amplification. It was a treat to hear a young person sing in full voice from abdomen, lungs, and head. No swooping notes, breathy whispering, or pop diva imitations for her. Brava, Miss Johnson!
The Penticton Concert Band gave an accomplished, rousing performance with good balanced sound from all sections, cohesive playing, and excellent attention to direction. Their repertoire spanned several centuries of Christmas music and showed off styles varying from Gregorian and Baroque to jazz and pop. Although any band’s volume could easily overwhelm listeners in an indoor venue — risking amplifying a wrong note, missed cue, or jangly ending — the Penticton Concert Band proved to be very well-rehearsed and easy to listen to, under the competent direction of conductor Gerald Nadeau.
The Oliver Community Arts Council welcomes suggestions for future community Christmas concerts. Contact olivercac@gmail.com
Have a review of an arts council event or member group performance? Submit it to olivercac@gmail.com
Winter Fantasy: A Dickensian Christmas Chorale
Winter Fantasy
a medley of favourite Christmas music Saturday December 11 7:00 p.m. Sunday December 12 2:30 p.m. Oliver United Church $8.00 Admission includes post-concert Reception downstairs Food Bank Donations Welcome!This is a fun-loving group of singers that loves to entertain in costume. You can expect a varied program, with lots of humour and sparkle .
Looking for more Christmas music? See below for information on “Sleighbells and Song”, a concert featuring children’s choirs, the a cappella Desert Airs men’s chorus, and the Penticton Concert Band on Tuesday December 7. You can catch both performances for less than a $20 bill! Where else could you find a deal like that?
Doorways to Christmas
Instead of our regular 1st Sunday of the month Showcase, we’re having twice the fun!
The Art of John Salsnek visits Hester Creek Estate Winery Sunday December 5-12th inclusive with an exhibition and specials on classic favourites and all the newest releases.
One of us will be there Saturday and Sundays 10-4 and weekdays 1-4, Hester Creek staff will also be more than pleased to show you around and help you find your Christmas favourites for a gift and for you!
AND
Our Paw Prints Gallery is open winter hours:
Monday and Tuesdays by appointment Wednesdays through Sundays 10am – 7pmWe can do your gift wrapping and shipping, too. Shop from your laptop or by phone.
Season’s Greetings from Stephanie and John Salsnek
Paw Prints Studio & Gallery The Art of John Salsnek www.ArtofJohnSalsnek.com 1.888.256.3600 locally 250-498-4732Surfing in December!? Catch the Wave to these Sites
Have you visited some of our member group websites? A new one has just been created for the Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers.
http://southokanaganslowfibrefestival.weebly.com/
It features the Slow Fibre Festival, but has a section devoted to the Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers. Great sheep photos!
Two more member groups with their own websites:
Federation of Canadian Artists: http://southokanaganslowfibrefestival.weebly.com/
Oliver and District Heritage Society: http://www.olivermuseum.ca/
Pick up some great gift ideas from our business members too. They are listed under the blogroll at right.
Check out the 19th Hole B&B http://www.19thholebandb.com/ and Oliver House B&B http://home.cablerocket.com/~oliverhouse/ and ask for some “getaway” gift certificates.
Paw Prints Studio and Gallery http://artofjohnsalsnek.com/, Handworks Gallery http://www.handworksgalleryonline.ca/, and Twin Lakes Encaustic http://www.encaustic.ca/ have some terrific local and BC art. Many items for gift giving in all budgets.
Nothing says Christmas like jewelry. Nature’s Elements Jewelry has some fantastic photos of their designs. http://natureselementsjewelry.webs.com/ Absolutely sparkling! There’s also some cool steampunk jewelry for teens in your life.
At Lauralee’s Treasure Cellar http://www.sochamber.ca/retail/shopping/artists_and_art_supplies/listing_367.html you will find beads and notions to make your own jewelry or to give as gifts to the crafter in your life.
Digipic Productions (Russell Work) has the perfect Oliver landscape prints for sale. Put the Okanagan on your wall. http://www.russellwork.com/photography/
Robot Leather Shop has awesome masks, belts, purses, and other leather items. Check them out on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=192442397351
Don’t see yourself advertised here? Become a business or non-profit group member! Fill out the membership form listed under the banner above, or contact olivercac@gmail.com for information.
Sleighbells and Song with Penticton Concert Band
Nothing says Christmas like a brass fanfare, children’s voices… and sleighbells. The popular Penticton Concert Band returns to Oliver as the headline act in a musical extravaganza “Sleighbells and Song” on Tuesday December 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Frank Venables Auditorium.
Conductor Gerald Nadeau returns with his brass and woodwinds ensemble to put everyone in the spirit. Their repertoire spans the centuries with arrangements of traditional carols to the stirring Christmas Overture to the jazzy Santa Does Dixie.
Joining in the celebration are several local choral groups. The audience will be tempted to hum along with the children’s choir from the Seventh-Day Adventist School as they sing the toe-tapping spirituals Mary Had a Baby and Go Tell it on the Mountain, and chime in on Bells in the Steeple.
The Desert Airs, a local men’s a cappella group, will harmonize on Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, and Angels We Have Heard on High. A mixed quartet from the Adventist and Alliance churches perform My Sheep Were Grazing, Lo How a Rose and Rise up Shepherds and Follow.
There will be an opportunity for the audience to sing along with the brass and woodwinds on a couple of popular winter songs.
Host Stephanie Salsnek adds her trademark sparkle and banter to liven up the evening.
Tickets are $10 adults and $5 students, and are available at Handworks Gallery and Sundance Video on Main Street Oliver. The event is presented by the Oliver Community Arts Council.
For more information, photos, reviews and concert dates check out the prencticton concert band website at http://www.pentictonconcertband.ca/
Want to join the band in 2011? info@pentictonconcertband.ca
Good for the Mind, Good for the Soul, Good for the Tummy
Speaker Lynn Popoff will give a presentation on her trip to the Swaziland Grandmothers Gathering. This group raises funds to assist the Grannies in Africa who are raising their grandchildren with limited resources, after their own children were lost to HIV/AIDS. Refreshments will follow the presentation.
Annual Christmas Coffee Morning Tuesday, December 21st 10:00 a.m. Oliver Library 35641 93rd St.
Please join the Friends of the Oliver Library for Christmas Carolling with piano, keyboard, and saxoph0ne accompaniment. Holiday treats and coffee will be provided. Lots of fellowship and good cheer. FREE
Want more information? Contact olivercac@gmail.com or call the library at (250) 498-2242
Something Under the Tree for You!
You sure don’t want to miss this popular kick-off to Christmas gift-giving. Expect quality hand-crafted items including clothing, linens, preserves, jewelry, leather goods, children’s toys, personal care items, home decor, artwork, and much more! You’ll have Christmas all wrapped up at this one-stop shopping event.