Art and wine make a good pair this summer

Art in the Park – Vineyard Trails starts on the Canada Day weekend at Grizzli Winery

Art in the Park is taking its show to local wineries for the second year.

Art in the Park— Vineyard Trails this weekend from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grizzli Winery.

The event evolved from the popular Art in the Park started by West Kelowna artist Louise Lambert 11 years ago.

Last year, Lambert teamed up with local stone sculptor Allan Waidman to take the art show on the road to a number of local wineries.

This year, the Westbank Museum has taken over the event with Lambert’s support.

“Our technical name is the Westbank Museum and Arts and Crafts Society, so we do handle a lot of the history aspect of it, but we also wanted to show that true to our name we are involved in the art community as well,” said Darci Ritchey of the Westbank Museum.” I think arts, culture and history are a really good combination.”

The opening weekend at Grizzli will feature nine artists chosen by a selection committee made up of local professional artists.

There will be a variety of media including acrylics, watercolour, stained glass and carved soapstone.

Guests will be able to browse through the works finding one-of-akind gifts and treasures for their home.

Beary Beary Nite, Lambert’s painting inspired by the joy of icewine and created for Grizzli Winery will be unveiled Canada Day weekend and guests can buy a hand-signed and numbered giclee reproduction of the painting.

The number of locations for this year’s Art in the Park has been reduced to Grizzli and Quails’ Gate wineries because of the construction on Boucherie Road.

“We wanted to try and keep it away from the most affected areas,” said Ritchey. “It is easier for visitors to get to places that are off the detour route.”

At Quails’ Gate the artists will set up by the historic Allison House.

“That drives it home that history and art are meant to be together,” said Ritchey.

While the museum would love to explore bringing Art in the Park – Vineyard Trails to other wineries, Ritchey said for its first year they thought it would be best to keep it simple and start with two locations.

The launch of the 2018 Art in the Park – Vineyard Trails at Grizzli Winery takes place in conjunction with the winery’s Canada Day weekend open house.

Guests can enjoy complimentary tastings of Grizzli’s red and white table wines, fruit wines and icewines paired with gourmet food from the Zen Chef.

There will be live music from 1 to 4 p.m. each day with Cat Wells and Deborah Gold featured Saturday and the Trevor Salloum Jazz Trio Sunday.

Information cards about Art in the Park at Grizzli Winery are available at the Westbank Museum, 2376 Dobbin Rd., and include a $5 discount on purchases at Grizzli Saturday and Sunday.

Access Grizzli Winery at 2550 Boucherie Rd. from Highway 97 using the Hudson Road exit.

This is an all ages event; however, guests must be 19 years or older to sample wines.

Art in the Park – Vineyard Trails will be at Quails’ Gate Winery July 15 and Aug. 12 and will return to Grizzli Winery Aug. 25 and 26.