Peachland Art Gallery hosting fibre art exhibition

This September, we welcome back all arts enthusiasts, as we do our fabulous Fabricators, who are visiting the Peachland Art Gallery for the third year and opened on Saturday with GATHERINGS, an exhibition of contemporary Àbre art.

Centered in Oliver, members of the Fabricators range throughout B.C. and have such a rich, imaginative, diversity of works they’ve become an annual hit. The exhibition showcases 27 wallhanging Àbre art works as well as a collection of 15 fibre art sculptures of three-dimensional houses. You’ll be eager to view the Fabricators’ latest creativity until the end of the month.

A photo album of Saturday's opening can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/PeachlandArtGallery.

******** A reminder that we are back to winter hours. The Gallery is closed on Mondays, open Tuesdays to Saturdays (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and on Sundays (10 a.m. to 4 p.m). For those who missed the Art in the Park exhibition, it has moved on to the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna until Sept. 28.

******** The Canada 150, Paint by Number, Guinness World Record project is nearing completion with over 5238 squares completed and only about 800 to go to Ànish the painting.

What a remarkable accomplishment a feat now attainable thanks to the patriotic spirit of Canadians from across our land, those venturous visitors to the south and from abroad, and our tireless volunteers who have spent hours putting in the effort! Each are now proud owners of a souvenir card of their accomplishment. The Ànal push is on to Àll in the last of the squares - mostly sky and water. Bravo!

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Saturday adult workshops continue this fall at the Peachland 1898 Little Schoolhouse on Brandon Lane, starting with Lisa Hewitt’s abstract painting ‘Fearless’ on Sept, 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 pm.

Hewitt has developed a series of workshops for new and emerging artists entitled Fearless, where she teaches the fundamentals of abstract and mixed media. Working with acrylics, inks, texture mediums and collage, she creates non-representational mixed media works. These days, she is adding ink drawings on top of her abstracted backgrounds.

Hewitt is a member of The Federation of Canadian Artists and Kelowna Pallet Club, and is one of the Founding members of On the Edge Collective. A full schedule of other workshops can be found at peachlandarts.ca/adult-workshops. You can register with Sharon at themcphees@telus.net or by phone at 250-767-6556.

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As part of its continuing Peachland Art Gallery Lecture Series the PCAC has invited on Thursday, Sept. 21, (7 to 9 p.m.) The Central Okanagan Local Immigration Partnership (COLIP) to screen the Syrian Àlm Taaloo Zorouna: Visits with our Syrian Neighbours. Taaloo zorouna means come visit with us.

Join the COLIP, KCR Community Resource and Peachland Community Arts Council for the screening of this Àlm about the Syrian families in our community. The video film was produced in partnership with the Refugee Response Team - Thompson Okanagan and Kootenays, the ECO Art Incubator and the University of British Columbia Okanagan Creative & Critical Studies Department.

Mayor Cindy Fortin will open the post-discussion followed by Denise Kenney, project coordinator. Doreen Rosvold will provide an update on the Syrian families in the Central Okanagan. Finally, Dilsora Fozilova, a graduate research and teaching assistant at UBCO, will share her amazing journey from Syria to Canada. Refreshments will be provided. A limit of 50 tickets will be available from this Wednesday, Sept. 6 for pickup at the gallery. Don’t leave it too late.

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The Peachland Little Theatre, which I assume is a new title for those who were once the Peachland Players, will be holding auditions for their upcoming season this Sunday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 4th Street Place in Peachland. All ages from 6 years and up are welcome with openings for actors, props, stage setting and prompters. Explore the side of you that always wanted to be on stage under the lights among a fun-loving cast. For more information, contact Patricia Ducree, producer, at 250-808-3710 or Chad Coutts, director, at 250-808-9276.

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This year’s Sip ’N Paint series at the Beach Avenue Cafe in Peachland (open to both artists and novices) was so popular that there is a lot of interest in carrying on, and a couple of other restaurants in town who would like to be included have been approached. Shelley Sweeney would like to welcome any artist who’d like to lead a session. Email her at shelleysweeney@shaw.ca or call her cell at 250-212-2025.

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At the Summerland Arts Centre until Sept. 23, master photographer Merle Somerville is holding his exhibition to.pog.ra.phy- Arranging Nature in Western Canada.

This is a unique show displaying twelve new art pieces on canvas that have never been printed previously. The Exhibit features images from many areas throughout British Columbia and a few from Alberta, plus some of Somerville’s favourites of our beautiful Okanagan. His fine art prints are available in standard and custom sizes using archival pigment printed onto 100 per cent cotton rag paper or matte canvas. Canvas limited editions are signed and accompanied by a certiÀcate of authenticity. Somerville is a valued PCAC member, his works often on display at the Peachland Art Gallery.

******** Students are coming into West Kelowna’s New Moon Gallery and registering for Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon classes where there are still a few openings available. Classes at the gallery are designed with you in mind.

Classes are small, which means you are getting individual coaching. Instructor /owner Linda Lovisa encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and guides you in directions you may not have thought to try. There is also an after-school program (one of the best in the Valley) with classes for different ages from September to June. Call the gallery at 778-797-0791 to register.

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This weekend, Sept. 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., plan to visit Colour Me Canada, the Lake Country ArtWalk in Winfield, the Interior's largest arts festival. Every September, the Lake Country Community Complex transforms into a festival of creativity attracting more than 7,000 attendees and featuring a display of visual and performing arts from over 300 Okanagan artists, including hands-on children’s activities, live artist demonstrations, workshops, a live art auction and a delicious menu of food and beverages.

Several of our local artists and fine art photographers, including myself, will have work displayed there.

For those artists who have been preparing an entry to Oliver's Fall Art Show & Sale or FASS at the end of the month, a reminder that entry forms must be received by this Friday, Sept. 8. Submit your form and fee before that date for a chance to win back your entry fee in an early bird draw. Winners will also receive a quail trophy with bases made from wood salvaged prior to the destructive fire at the historic Venables Theatre in 2011.

Artwork itself need not be completed by Friday. Artwork is delivered to the venue on the morning of the show, Sat., Sept. 30.

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The Kelowna Film Society opens its season at the Orchard Plaza Cinema with an English comedy Their Finest this Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 4 and 7 p.m. The Àlm is a tongue-in-cheek romantic comedy set during Britain’s dark days of 1940.

The British excel at making fun of themselves, picking holes in their armour such as hinting at (in a parody of a propaganda war documentary) the under-appreciated contributions women make to the war effort in a male dominated world of Àlm and war. This Àlm should draw crowds. Get there early.

Christopher Byrd is the PCAC’s director and webmaster. Visit the PCAC online at: peachlandarts.ca