If you love quilts, Oliver’s Quilts and Beyond show is the quilt-essential place to be. The event runs on April 14 and 15, 2023 at the Oliver Community Centre, 6359 Park Drive.

The Double O Quilters have hosted this quilting show every three years and drawing hundreds of people from all over the province for the last 30 years.

The two-day show includes demonstrations, a silent auction on several quilted artworks and other products, public voting, and sales of quilting supplies. There are also refreshments served in the “cafe” area.

This year Quilts and Beyond includes a special challenge section for participating artists. This year the theme is “Rainbow”, with contributed works including various interpretations in colour, form, and abstract interpretations. The finished works will be a surprise, both to other guild members as well as the public. These Rainbow Challenge entries have their own voting and special awards.

Quilts range in size from enormous king-size bedspreads to small banners, table toppers, linens, and accessories. Everyone can enjoy the colour palettes and patterns without needing to be a quilter or sewer. Artistic talent abounds, with some national and international award winners entering the show.

Admission is by donation. As an extra incentive for donating, every visitor will receive a small felted heart with a message on them a souvenir.

Among the many quilters that will be in attendance at the show will be Colleen Baptiste who works in human resources at the Osoyoos Indian Band teaching homemaking and life skills. In her free time she enjoys trying out new creative quilting skills.

She joined the Double O Quilters 25 years ago, and ever since she has been creating quilted comforts for her three children, two grandchildren and friends.

About 15 years ago, she created a block representing the Okanagan Nation for the internationally acclaimed Quilt of Belonging, and she has been making the annual SOSS Grad Award quilt from the Guild for the last 14 years. She particularly enjoys the camaraderie of the guild.

Quilts & Beyond will take place Friday, April 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oliver Community Hall on Park Drive. Entry to the event is by donation.

It’s a frenzy of fibre in April and May! Celebrate the Fibre Arts: spinning, weaving, knitting, felting and natural dyeing on display over the next two months as the Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers Guild mount two shows in local South Okanagan venues.

See tapestry, fibre paintings, rag rugs, woven shawls, knitted and felted handicrafts, and more!

Oliver Public Library (April 1 – 26, see library hours)

Osoyoos Art Gallery (April 29 – May 20, Tues – Sat 10 – 3)

Funding from the Oliver Community Arts Council is gratefully acknowledged.

The Sage Valley Voices perform the repertoire of the old-fashioned “glee club” at their upcoming concert. These bright, hummable tunes with slick harmonies are well-suited to spring. Join them on Saturday April 22 at 7 p.m. or Sunday April 23 at 2:30 p.m. onstage at Park Drive Church, 6570 Park Drive. Admission is just $15. Children 12 and under are free.

Early birds get the worm .. . and the art. The Fall Art Show & Sale (FASS) comes early this year, following the lead of Oliver’s Fall Festival Weekend. The exhibit is Saturday September 23 – Sunday September 24, 2023 at the Oliver Community Centre, concurrent with the Cask & Keg and Festival of the Grape. (Why the permanent move to the third week of September? See the end of this article.)

The two-day art show includes a competition in nine categories, public voting, exhibits and demos, entertainment, reception, awards show, and door prizes. Because the Falll Festival attracts many tourists, artists have opportunity for art sales and exposure.

Visual artists in all media and of all ages may enter up to two works. Media categories include photography, fibre arts, oils, acrylics, watercolours, three-dimensional, and mixed / other media. Two categories for youth, Emerging Artists (13 -18 yrs) and Budding Artists (12 and under), invite entries in any visual medium. Gifted senior students may choose to enter a specific adult medium category. Awards are given in each category. Fibre arts includes (but is not limited to) quilting, weaving, needlework, tapestry, and fashion design. Three-dimensional includes sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, metalwork, glasswork, and other craftwork that is best viewed from all angles and / or would be best displayed on a plinth (pedestal).

The art show has no theme this year, simply “Artist Choice”, encouraging you best work. In addition to awards in each category, one award is presented for “Best in Show”.

Entry forms must be received by Friday, September 1. Art work is not required until September 23, giving artists three extra weeks to create. Late acceptance of a form may be permitted, but only if notice is given before deadline. Early entries are entered into an early bird draw. Youth entries receive an extension of one week (Friday September 8).

Arts council membership is not required but does reduce the entry fee for adult submissions. Emerging Artist submissions are $10. The fee is waived for Budding Artists but numbers are limited. Membership forms are available HERE.

FASS entry forms are available below, and on the entry form page HERE . Click the Download button to save and then fill out the form. More information is available via OliverCAC@gmail.com. Forms will be available at the Oliver Visitors Information Centre on Station Street, Oliver, BC. Entries are accepted by mail, by scan and e-transfer, and at the Visitors Centre (sealed envelopes ONLY).

The festival weekend has moved its dates permanently to the third weekend of September in order to give honour to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (with Indigenous Peoples), which falls on September 30. This later date would often coincide with preparations for the festival weekend. It is felt that better respect can be paid by moving festivities to an earlier week, leaving the September 30 available for work crews, volunteers, participants and attendees to pay respects.