The Oliver Community Arts Council (OCAC) invites representatives of societies, clubs, charities and other non-profit groups to GO PUBLIC! Learn more about organizing and promoting your group and publicizing your events.

GO PUBLIC! is a set of independent workshops running from January to April. We welcome both our own OCAC members and also anyone representing a non-profit group. All workshops are FREE. Pre-registration is encouraged to secure your seat.

February 23: Get NOTICED! Publicity Design & Writing. Held an event and nobody came? Targeted the wrong audience? Need some impact in your ads? Did you just take the old and tired “grip and grin” photo — again? Where should you direct your advertising dollars? What are the most effective media for advertising? Learn how to make an eye-catching poster or ad, write effective copy, and take an exciting photo to get your event noticed.

March 16: Get ONLINE!: Easy Website Design. Don’t stop with an ad. Get your name out there year-round. Basic tools to create your website using simple platforms. How to manage a site, whether static or updated.

April 27: Get SOCIAL! Social Media Marketing. The trend in publicity is social networking. How do you get the most of Facebook and Instagram. What social platforms do you need? What are less effective? Tips and tricks to boost, extend your reach, engage your targeted audience.

All workshops are Saturdays from 1 – 3 p.m. at the Oliver Regional Library (ORL). Choose any or all to attend. Select different representatives for each if you prefer.
Laptops and tablets are welcome but not required. Opportunity for hands-on learning on site, but a large screen will be used for teaching. Handouts and website links will be provided.

Pre-register for one or more workshops at www.orl.bc.ca/hours-locations/oliver Click on the “view events in calendar format” link near the bottom of the page to register. Or use these handy live links:

February 23: Publicity Design and Writing:

http://orl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=26763&lib=1014&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2019/02/01

March 16: Easy Website Design:

http://orl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=26764&lib=1014&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2019/03/01

April 27: Social Media Marketing:

http://orl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=26765&lib=1014&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2019/04/01

Need assistance to register? Call 250-498-2242 (ORL).

Facilitators Penelope Johnson and JoAnn Turner, both OCAC executive members, have decades of non-profit experience between them:

• Non-profit administration

• Event planning

• Website design and management

• Social media

• Graphic design

• Photography

• Writing for media

Have specific interests or questions? Contact olivercac @ gmail.com

Topics covered can be geared to participant’s interests and questions.  Give us some advance notice and we’ll either include your topics or direct you to an appropriate source. 

As space may become limited, we ask that you restrict your attendance to one or two reps per session.

The Oliver Community Arts Council says THANK YOU to the Sage Valley Voices Community Choir for their generous donation of $1276.74 to our CreateAbility program. These monthly workshops provide art instruction to developmentally and physically challenged adults. The program is in its second full year of workshops, and has proven to be popular and fulfilling for clients, caregivers and instructors alike.

Above, the Sage Valley Voices present the cheque at their Christmas Concert. CreateAbility chair Janet Bednarczyk (left) accepts the cheque from Sue Morhun (right).

With these funds, CreateAbility will run a series of music workshops (“MusicAbility”). Adults with mental and physical disabilities will engage in music, rhythm, and sound as a creative outlet. Joint instruction from staff and students at Oliver Elementary School is planned. This program will be the first of its kind in the south Okanagan. Thanks to the leadership of Lori Martine, choir director and music teacher at OES, the grade 4 students will become the instructors for this special group of adults and their caregivers.

Below, Janet Bednarczyk is shown with Donna Biedler, a supporter of the choir and active participant in the CreateAbility program.

Funds for this project came from proceeds at the mass choir Extravaganza concert in Penticton last November, hosted by the Sage Valley Voices. The choir voted to donate the proceeds to two local charities: Highway to Healing and the Oliver Community Arts Council.

All Oliver Community Arts Council members and visitors are welcome to the OCAC’s Annual General Meeting on Monday February 18 at 9:30 a.m. at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre, 5840 Airport Road.  Memberships may be renewed and purchased at the meeting. Coffee, teas, and refreshments are provided.

The AGM focuses on two main items: a year-end review, including the Treasurer’s report and financial statements for 2018, and the election of the 2019 officers and directors. We appreciate the services of Addventive Bookkeeping for the thorough external review of our books.

Thanks to all members of the departing Board who served during the past year: officers Penelope Johnson (President), Janice Goodman (Vice President), JoAnn Turner (Secretary), Diane Gludovatz (Treasurer), and directors Roberta Barens, Tiffany Beckedorf, Janet Bednarczyk, Andrea Gunnlaugson Furlan, Adrienne Herbert, Bernice Myllyniemi, and Caroline Whyte.

With one exception, all officers and directors have offered to let their names stand for another year. The Board says a fond farewell to Andrea G. Furlan, who is stepping down after her term, in order to focus on a new artistic venture. 

While Andrea’s departure leaves a vacancy, ALL positions are open for nomination. Please consider standing for election. No artistic talent is required. Some familiarity with the arts council and experience on a non-profit board would be helpful. Orientation and training is provided, along with a Board manual.  All those elected will be required to sign their Consent to Act as a Director. For information about nominations, or to nominate someone, email OliverCAC @ gmail.com.

Linger longer! After the AGM, everyone is welcome to stay for refreshments and to share local arts news and views. What OCAC events and projects are planned? What’s buzzing about our business members? What art groups are getting creative? Group and business reps, please bring your latest updates!

Oliver’s Grandmothers for Africa gathered recently at the home of Christina Ruddiman to enjoy a meal together and to hear about Hilary Drummond’s recent trip to Africa. 

Hilary was given a number of pillow case dresses, socks and some shorts for boys to distribute wherever they might be needed.  Although the Stephen Lewis Foundation we support is focused on grass roots community development and not ‘give away’ programs, we do occasionally ask friends going to Africa to distribute these cute dresses made with love locally by women in our community.

Hilary told of her experience.  “We drove down a long, red dust road in the middle of Benin, West Africa, looking for the small village where we were to observe a voodoo celebration.  Our bus parked outside the village as the roads were not meant for driving.  As we approached, curious children gathered and we could hear drumming.

Soon we saw different groups gathered.  Some were on the drums, some were talking and some were involved in ceremony.   As the voodoo ceremony started, our guide approached me and suggested this was a good place to give some dresses.”

“We went into a small building and there were about eight little girls between the ages of 5 and 8 waiting with excitement.  We were able to give each girl a dress and pair of socks,”  Hilary told us.   She added,  “I wasn’t sure what they would do with the socks since none of them had shoes to wear but they were happy to receive them.  They put the dresses on over their shorts and t-shirts and smiled for the camera.”

Hilary told us that she distributed similar clothing in several sites in both Benin and Togo.  Mothers and children clamoured to have them.  The new clothes gave the children something to wear besides simple school uniforms at play time.  School uniforms are treasured and handed down to others in each family.

Hilary and the local Grandmothers found they were soon engrossed in discussions of effective community development work in Africa.   What is the best way to support local institutions and initiates when we want to help? Hilary had some good tips for other travellers.  She recommended that in future donated items such as clothing and school supplies be given to local organizations like the school or an orphanage rather than to individuals. 

The evening ended with camaraderie and stimulating conversation.  If you are interested in the Oliver Grandmothers for Africa and learning more about the 140 community-level organizations and projects in 15 sub-Saharan African countries we help support, give Eunice a call at 250 498-6840 and join us at our monthly meeting.

The Desert Arms band had its inception in April 2015 when guitarists Wes and Ben started working on building a rock band of original music. Harry and Derek joined soon after. Together they bring high energy beats, melodic vocals and heavy riffs that at times remind us of punk rock, prog, metal and blues. In March 2017, Desert Arms released their 3 track self-titled demo.

See them live at the Firehall Brewery this coming Friday February 15 at 7:00 p.m. Entry by donation. Great beer on tap!

NEW WINTER HOURS:
3 – 7 Tuesday – Thursday
2 – 9 Friday & Saturday
Closed Sunday & Monday
We will always stay open later if there are events happening!
6077 Main Street, Lower Level, Oliver, BC

Family Day Celebration Planned

It’s time to celebrate family at the Oliver Museum. On Friday, Feb. 15th from 2 – 6 pm, the Museum will be hosting a free, all-ages Family Day Celebration. This is a one-day event featuring a free half-hour workshop on recording family oral histories, a child-friendly family tree craft and colouring, activities and snacks! Come use our Selfie Station to take some old-fashioned family photos, mark your family’s origins on our world map, and celebrate your family!

Recording the stories of older family members is an important way to preserve memories and experiences for the next generation. Want to learn how it’s done? Come join our family oral history workshop, offered in two separate sessions at 3:30 and 5:00 pm.

Workshop participants will learn how to collect and preserve their family histories using equipment like voice recorders and cameras and will learn how to sign out equipment from our new oral history lending library after the event. Participants in this hands-on session will learn how to set up and run the equipment, how to brainstorm lists of questions and topics, and how to encourage candid and flowing conversation.

Workshops are led by Collections Intern and experienced oral history practitioner Cassandra Colman. Both sessions are child-friendly and include time to practice. Plus these make great family projects and are an excellent way to get quality time with your loved ones. So come out to the Museum on Feb. 15th and have some fun!

This event is supported by the Province of British Columbia. Our thanks to the Province and the BC Museums Association for helping to make the event possible.

Contact:
250-498-4027
info @ oliverheritage.ca
www.oliverheritage.ca

Young, spirited and beautiful, pianists Amelie Fortin and Marie-Christine Poirier, have distinguished themselves with fiery four-hand interpretations, remarkable for their vitality and wit.  Referring to what is happening with their quite spectacular career success under the name Duo Fortin-Poirier, they like to joke that if  ten fingers are good then twenty fingers are better. 

When they arrive on stage at Venables Theatre at 7:30 pm Friday, February 15^th, be prepared to see one grand piano on stage with two pianist and four hands showing off the close affinity between their playing styles and a keen shared sensitivity fueling their ensemble playing.

Of special note, is a new presentation device where a camera captures the pianists fingers on the keyboard and projects it onto a screen at the back of the stage.  No matter where you sit in the audience you can see every nuance on the keyboard and marvel at the speed and dexterity with which all 20 fingers create a blend of hard driving rhythm that has made waves in performance in Quebec and Canada and, more recently, internationally.

The program, entitled “Memoires”  includes piano duo selections from Grieg, Dvorak, Piazzolla, Rachmaninoff and others.

Tickets are on sale at www.venablestheatre.ca or at the box office Tuesdays to Thursdays from 10 to 3 pm.  Thanks to our very generous sponsors, tickets are affordable.  Two or more tickets in advance cost $21/ticket.  A single ticket in advance is $23.  Single tickets at the door are $25.  Children and youth are $2.50.

Amelie and Marie-Christine are also doing a Master Class at the Shatford Centre in Penticton and will have three local duos performing for instruction from 10 am to 12:30 on concert day.  The Master Class is open to the public for auditing.   Also, if you arrive at 6:15 at Venables these local duos will be entertaining on the grand piano in the theatre foyer prior to the concert.

Since their inception in 2005, Duo Fortin-Poirier have garnered many distinctions.  (1^st prize in the Canadian Music Competition;  2^nd prize at the 2013 Concorso Pianistico Internazional Roma;  finalist in 2011 Liszt 200 Chicago International Duo Piano Competition and many more).   Recently the Duo have toured the Maritimes, enjoyed a Prairie debut and toured the western USA.

Do come and enjoy the beautiful new Venables theatre complete with a fine grand piano and accoustics to warm the soul.

Young, spirited and beautiful, pianists Amelie Fortin and Marie-Christine Poirier, have distinguished themselves with fiery four-hand interpretations, remarkable for their vitality and wit.  Referring to what is happening with their quite spectacular career success under the name Duo Fortin-Poirier, they like to joke that if  ten fingers are good then twenty fingers are better.

When they arrive on stage at Venables Theatre at 7:30 pm Friday, February 15th, be prepared to see one grand piano on stage with two pianist and four hands showing off the close affinity between their playing styles and a keen shared sensitivity fueling their ensemble playing.

Of special note, is a new presentation device where a camera captures the pianists fingers on the keyboard and projects it onto a screen at the back of the stage.  No matter where you sit in the audience you can see every nuance on the keyboard and marvel at the speed and dexterity with which all 20 fingers create a blend of hard driving rhythm that has made waves in performance in Quebec and Canada and, more recently, internationally.

The program, entitled “Memoires”  includes piano duo selections from Grieg, Dvorak, Piazzolla, Rachmaninoff and others.

Tickets are on sale at www.venablestheatre.ca or at the box office Tuesdays to Thursdays from 10 to 3 pm.  Thanks to our very generous sponsors, tickets are affordable.  Two or more tickets in advance cost $21/ticket.  A single ticket in advance is $23.  Single tickets at the door are $25.  Children and youth are $2.50.

Amelie and Marie-Christine are also doing a Master Class at the Shatford Centre in Penticton and will have three local duos performing for instruction from 10 am to 12:30 on concert day.  The Master Class is open to the public for auditing.   Also, if you arrive at 6:15 at Venables these local duos will be entertaining on the grand piano in the theatre foyer prior to the concert.

Since their inception in 2005, Duo Fortin-Poirier have garnered many distinctions.  (1st prize in the Canadian Music Competition;  2nd prize at the 2013 Concorso Pianistico Internazional Roma;  finalist in 2011 Liszt 200 Chicago International Duo Piano Competition and many more).   Recently the Duo have toured the Maritimes, enjoyed a Prairie debut and toured the western USA.

Do come and enjoy the beautiful new Venables Theatre complete with a fine grand piano and acoustics to warm the soul.

First Friday at the Okanagan Art Gallery
by Michele Weisz, Osoyoos Times

The Okanagan Art Gallery is tucked away at the end of Main Street and one might walk right by without ever knowing that behind the non-descript storefront lies what gallery advertising director Diane Carter calls “a hidden gem” in Osoyoos.

However, the gallery’s First Friday receptions will give patrons a chance to see what the space is all about.

The gallery originated in Oliver with six painters and one photographer who wanted a permanent space to exhibit their work. It was moved to Osoyoos four years ago and now includes over 25 artists. The gallery has no owner and is run by an executive committee.

The turnover for new artists is slow because space is limited and the artists seldom leave. It’s a rare occurrence when a spot opens up for a new artist and in order to be featured at the gallery, an artist must be invited and voted in by the committee.

The space that houses the gallery used to be an office before it was renovated to showcase the art. Each artist’s work encompasses a wall within one of the many rooms. The rooms are small but bright and inviting and colourful artwork is all around. The mediums employed by the artists vary from photography to oil to acrylic and even fiber pieces. The style of the pieces are eclectic and range from impressionism to mid-century modern.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the gallery are the portraits of each artist. Unlike most galleries which have a small photographic head-shot located below their work, the artists at the Okanagan Art Gallery have each painted their own self-portraits on small canvases which hang beside their work. The artist’s style and personality are expressed in the way that they have chosen to portray themselves and the self-portraits are art themselves.

Gallery advertising director Diane Carter stands in front of one artist’s work at the Okanagan Art Gallery. The gallery is having its second First Friday Reception on Feb. 1. The reception is a chance for the community to meet the artists whose work is exhibited in the gallery, while the artists get the opportunity to answer questions and explain the concept behind their work. (Michele Weisz photo)

Carter said that a lot of people are unaware about the gallery’s existence while others are too intimidated to step inside. She said that throughout the years she has seen many people who look through the glass without entering and decline the invitation to come in, saying that they do not know anything about art.

Artist Wendy Wells Bailey blamed what she calls “snobby” gallery workers for creating “an air that is not encouraging” and perpetuating the myth that only experts can appreciate art.

Carter said the only thing one is required to know about art is whether they “feel an inner connection” with a piece and knowing what they like is “everything there is to know about art.”

In order to bring awareness to the community about the gallery and its artists, and to discredit myths around art, the First Friday receptions event was started. Carter said she and the artists were thrilled at the amazing turnout in November and they hope to replicate the success in February.

“We have some of the best artists in Canada,” she said, and she hopes that people will come meet the talented, professional artists and ask them about their work.

“People always want to know what’s behind the ideas of the artist,” Carter said, and this is their opportunity to find out.

It is also an opportunity for the artists to interact with the community. Bailey said that she loves talking to people about her work. She said that there is a story behind every painting she creates and “understanding the story has more meaning for the painting.”

The Okanagan Art Gallery show Wonderful Winter Paintings and Art begins Feb. 1 and the First Fridays reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wine will be provided by Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery and its proprietor Maria Ferreira will be on hand to answer questions.

Although the gallery is a business like any other, Carter said she and the artists would be delighted for people to come, whether they intend to make a purchase or not.

The mission of QUILTS OF VALOUR – CANADA is to present quilts to ill or injured military members, past and present. At this time, Canada has over 45,000 injured veterans (average age 45). To date, Quilts of Valour – Canada has presented close to 12,000 quilts. The goal is 20,000 by 2020. To support this project, the DOUBLE O QUILTERS GUILD of Oliver will be holding a work bee to create several quilts. The event will take place on Wednesday, January 30 from 9:00 am until noon at the Oliver Community Centre. We will be creating blocks, assembling blocks into quilt tops and layering tops, batting and backing. The Guild has members that come from Penticton to Osoyoos. We are hopeful that these quilts will be given to ill or injured servicemen and women in the South Okanagan.
We would like to take this opportunity to invite the public and Service Organizations in the area to attend. You could view and visit OR you might want to help out. We look forward to seeing you there.