Here is a photo of the RipOff artists with their creations just after the bell rang on Saturday signalling the end of this year’s challenge.
Although the iconic painting, “The Scream” by Edvard Munch is considered a depressing picture, the RipOffs did their best to liven it up. Each of the nine artists added an element from the previous nine years challenges: perhaps a dancing girl from Toulouse Lautrec, a cypress by Vincent van Gogh, or a tulip by Geoorgia O’Keeffe. In addition, the current challenge was to add an anachronism – often a reason for the “scream”. For example, a number of artists chose some form of industrialization or climate change in the background as their anachronism. Guest artist, Bethany Handfield with her encaustic talent was a delightful addition.
To celebrate the group’s 10th anniversary, a grand opening reception was held in “big blue”. Guests were surrounded by previous year’s RipOff challenge pieces. Shown together the impressive display gave kudos to the merits of the RipOff’s artistic achievements.
The artists wish to thank the Oliver Community Arts Council for their support in mounting this year’s special anniversary challenge.
Who knows what the group will conjure up for next year. Perhaps something acknowledging Canada’s 150th birthday….any suggestions?
The arts council has moved to form a committee of interested members who will shortlist options for painting all the exterior doors at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre. Interested in having your say on the colour palette and design for the eight doors on site? Contact OliverCAC @ gmail.com
This past winter, two new steel clad rollup doors were installed on the smaller Studio Building on site, primed white. Last fall, two older rollup doors on the Big Blue Building were scraped and primed, ready for painting. Two steel entrance doors had been installed on Big Blue within the last few years. All these doors, plus the two entrance to the Studio Building now need a fresh colour scheme. The Board hopes the resulting design will help to co-ordinate and unify the two buildings on site, helping to identify both buildings as belonging to the arts centre.
Some ideas have already been put forward:
* paint them all white* match the colours to those on the gold, black and white OCAC sign on Big Blue’s north side* include the OCAC quail logo on each door* match all doors to the previous royal purple colour of the Studio building’s bay doors, with gold trim* co-ordinate all doors to the blue of Big Blue* paint a multi-coloured graphic on the doors symbolizing the arts, such as horizontal rows of colourful crayons
The arts council Board has authorized a committee to shortlist three recommended designs, together with their proposed cost for supplies, labour time, and any labour costs. Volunteer now to sit on the committee, or contact the OCAC to add your design suggestion.
Spring Cleanup Friday June 8Saturday June 98 – 12 noonQuail’s Nest Arts Centre5840 Airport Road
Bring your favourite cleaning and gardening tools and wear your favourite cleaning / gardening clothes. Most creative outfit each day wins a prize!
Your choice of jobs awaits you: weeding, pruning, mowing, garbage collecting and dump running and other outside jobs are the highest priority, but indoor window washing, and mopping are also available. Rags, sponges, mop, buckets, cleaning products, garbage bags, and hoses provided. Coffee time treats also provided.
Anyone with a truck or trailer willing to take items to the dump, please drop by in the late morning each day.
Thanks to SOAP Players for pressure washing and cleaning Big Blue on the Sunday!
Members and directors of the South Okanagan Amateur Players (SOAP) are anxiously awaiting information on what will be done to replace the Frank Venables Auditorium following the devastating fire at South Okanagan Secondary School earlier this month. SOAP has regularly used the Venables for productions such as their successful sell-out The Sound of Music (2008) , Neil Simon’s comedy Rumors (pictured at left) in 2010, and last season’s Twelve Angry Jurors and The Odd Couple. All told, Oliver has seen community theatrical productions in the Venables for more than 50 years. What follows is a press release from SOAP in response to the Venables Auditorium fire:
Patrons and the many area residents involved in SOAP productions realize the importance the venue has been to the performing arts in the South Okanagan and as an educational facility for drama students.
“We realize many factors will come into play regarding the future of a performing arts venue in Oliver,” says SOAP President Patrick Turner (pictured above onstage in Rumors) . “We urge all parties involved to work together in the hopes a satisfactory arrangement can be made that will replace the Venables theatre, both as a community-use facility and for drama classes.”
Earlier this year, with the knowledge that the auditorium would be undergoing major renovations, it was decided to seek out other venues in Oliver. The board is pleased to announce it is proceeding with the fall production of The Wild Guys, a Canadian play by Calgarians Andrew Wreggitt and Rebecca Shaw, which will be staged at the Osoyoos Mini-Theatre on Nov. 25 and 26 and at the Oliver Seniors Centre Dec. 2 and 3 with a special matinee performance proposed for Sunday, Dec. 4. Partial proceeds from the production will be earmarked towards a new auditorium in Oliver.
For further information contact Patrick Turner, President
submitted by Marion BoydSouth Okanagan Concert Society
Music, “an outburst of the soul”, cannot be quelled in Oliver. Our lovely auditorium smoulders in ruins but the “Old Lady” is safe and sound. Our somewhat elderly Steinway has been a center piece for dazzling world class pianists over the decades. Angela Hewitt, Jon Kamura Parker, Anton Kuerti and, most recently, Sara Beuchner are just a few who have thrilled us with their mastery of the keyboard. Condolences from many musicians who have played here are rolling in as they get word of the fire. They take heart in the story of the Steinway.
The story goes this way. Knowing the renovations at the Venables Auditorium could not be completed in time for this season’s concert series, the South Okanagan Concert Society made temporary plans to relocate to another venue, the Oliver Alliance Church. But what to do about the Steinway was the question.
A small ‘new piano fund’ had been growing slowly over the years. When it became apparent the Steinway would have to be moved, at the very least, to another part of the school, stored in a secure site with consistent humidity and temperature, tuned a number of times and insured against damage or loss for an extended period while the auditorium was being made ready, the executive decided to seize the moment. This was the time for a new piano.
So a partnership was formed with the Adopt-a-Seat Committee and School District 53. By joining forces and using the expertise of Bob Park an arrangement was made to trade in the old Steinway and buy a gently used Yamaha C3 grand piano.
A beautiful concert instrument , the Yamaha could be delivered upon completion of the auditorium and the storage cost savings were directed against the replacement cost. S.O.A.P. and the Town of Oliver were all in agreement and the plan took place.
So where are we now? The old Steinway is safe in her new home and escaped the ravages of the fire. The new concert piano is on hold and ready to be delivered when a new auditorium is rebuilt. AND we have a series of concerts designed specifically to take advantage of the smaller, more intimate Alliance Church venue to delight us over the winter.
Music is alive in Oliver. You can get flex or single tickets at Beyond Bliss. Imperial Office Pro or at the door and be comfortably seated on Friday, October 28th at the new time of 7:30 pm. Alexander Sevastian, originally from Minsk, Belarus and now a Canadian citizen, will magically turn his accordian into a whole orchestra as he showcases amazing dexterity and musicality. Get your tickets quickly. Citizens of Russian descent in Grand Forks went wild for his Kossak Variations and are expected to gobble up tickets here too. Let’s make this the winter Oliver turns grief into joy through music.
submitted by Heather Whittall, Oliver Community Garden Society
Spring is finally here and we are ready to start growing at the new home of the Oliver Community Garden (the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre). The sheds, beds, barrels and bins have been delivered but now we need your help. We need as many strong, able bodies as we can get to help us move everything into position. Please come and help and bring your friends on…
Sunday May 15th 9 – 11 a.m. Quail’s Nest Arts Centre
We will also still looking for donations of start up materials such as dirt and compost so if you can help us out in that way it will be greatly appreciated!
Garden beds are still available so don’t forget to reserve your garden box for the 2011 growing season by calling or emailing me. We’re setting up fewer boxes this year so space is limited!
Looking forward to growing and gardening with you!
The Oliver Handbell Ringers and the Oliver Community Garden Society are two new groups under the umbrella of the Oliver Community Arts Council.
The Oliver Handbell Ringers, under the direction of Sue Gay have been performing for the last few years. Their concerts have been gaining in excitement as the ensemble has been gaining in skill. The ensemble attains a clear warm sound, with music that can both stimulate and relax. Proceeds from their concerts and donations from the community have gone towards purchasing tuned sets of bells and sheet music.
The ensemble is always looking to train new members. It’s an exciting and non-threatening way to learn music, and gives you a gentle workout in the process. What more could you ask for?
The Oliver Community Garden Society has also recently joined. See the article below (“Arts Council growing relationship”) for more information about this community-spirited organization or check out their website (click on the link at right under “Member Organizations”).
The “umbrella” of the arts council is a unique opportunity for groups and businesses to:
* have a forum for co-operating and networking within the local arts community,
* take advantage of advertising and promotional opportunities (like this one!),
* apply for financial aid, and
* to have a greater voice municipally and provincially to increase awareness of and access funding for arts groups.
And what about you? There’s lots of room under the umbrella! Contact olivercac@gmail for more information about becoming a member or fill out the membership form by clicking the link under the banner above.
Here is a photo of the RipOff artists with their creations just after the bell rang on Saturday signalling the end of this year’s challenge.
