Oliver’s art community opens its doors wide to welcome the public to an open house celebration. The bay doors roll up at Oliver’s Quail’s Nest Arts Centre for their spring open house on Sunday May 19th between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors will find art exhibits, demonstrations, and sales of handicraft. Adding to the festive atmosphere will be live music, hot food, children’s art activities, and door prizes. Admission is free.
Information booths will introduce visitors to many local artists, upcoming arts events, and ways to become active in the arts community. The Double O Quilters and Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers display their fibre arts talents. The Sage Valley Voices hosts a bake sale to raise funds for their community choir and attract new singers. The Oliver Sagebrushers exhibit their latest paintings. Kreutopia Arts demonstrates and sells vibrant wax paintings.
SOAP Theatre invites the public into Big Blue: their rehearsal space, costume warehouse and set building workshop. Visit in the morning for a tour, or drop in between 1-3 p.m. during SOAP’s open auditions for their fall production, The Play that Goes Wrong. Theatre buffs can listen in on the audition process, or try out for a role. The slapstick “play-within-a-play” follows the hilarious misadventures of a hapless troupe of actors who lurch from one onstage disaster to another. Stage shy? SOAP also welcomes newcomers to their backstage crew.
During the middle of the day, folk-rock duo Badgentina (aka Stephen and Lisa Toon) cover classics from the 70s and 80s from Neil Young to Sting, and may surprise the audience with some original “toons”.
A large marquee provides the perfect location to rock out to the music, eat a tasty meal from Bo Betty’s food truck, or indulge in a little crafting. Children’s activities include quail-themed craft projects, colouring pages, and some quirky quail dress-up opportunities at the photo booth. Big “kids” are welcome to dress up too.
The arts council will be promoting their upcoming programs and events. Learn more about the summer Music in the Park, the Fall Art Show and Sale, and CreateAbility. Handbills, entry forms, and memberships will be available. Enter the draw for door prizes. Those interested in renting the arts centre can tour the site’s amenities and view a large-screen slideshow of past activities.
All artists are members of the Oliver Community Arts Council, the organizers behind this colourful event. The arts council will promote their own programs and events, including CreateAbility, Music in the Park, and the Fall Art Show and Sale. Handbills, entry forms, and memberships will be available. Door prizes include home decor, handicrafts, and accessories.
The Quail’s Nest Open House welcomes the public to see what art is hatching at 5840 Airport Street, Oliver. Follow the signs for public parking on the north side of Big Blue. For more information, visit OliverArtsCouncil.org.
