Penticton’s annual March exhibition extended with Ignite the Arts Festival
Penticton’s creative core is adding some inspired heat to the community with an extension of the art gallery’s annual March exhibition by welcoming the first Ignite the Arts Festival.
This festival has a wide range of activities and exhibitions geared to celebrate the diversity of our beautiful Okanagan as well as facilitate social integration through the arts.
Local venues — including the Penticton Art Gallery, Dream Cafe, Cannery Brewing, Slackwater Brewing, Cleland Community Theatre and Tempest Theatre — are opening their doors to host events every day.
I recommend visiting the gallery website to find a full schedule of daily events at pentictonartgallery.com/ignite-thearts-festival.
Today from 1-4:30 p.m., the art gallery will present “Migration Parade: Holon” that will feature a performance art collaboration with award-winning Lebanese/Canadian dance artist and choreographer Charlie Prince, along with six local dancers.
This performance will repeat daily at the same time and place for the duration of the festival this week.
Another event that piqued my interest is the one-minute play festival at the Tempest Theatre also tonight from 7-9 p.m. It’s a chance for new writers to show off their talent in front of an audience, with a select panel of judges deciding who will make it to the final round and then who will walk away with first, second and third places.
Tickets are $20 through eventbrite.ca or follow the prompts on the website at tempest.ca/on-stage.
Saturday from noon until 1 p.m. at the Dream Cafe, Juno-nominated Kelowna musical group, The Oot n’ Oots are performing. This talented family-focused group is up for Children’s Album of the Year.
The rest of the day is packed with great music, so reserve your seat and enjoy. The whole festival schedule is loaded with ticketed events and free events, including an Art Walk visiting studios and galleries around town from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
As well, a family sculpture-building contest at the Okanagan Lake Park will have Balkan dancers on hand to entertain.
The events schedule also includes belly dancing, Starlight Yoga, drum circles, tap dancing — anything to ‘ignite’ well being and social interaction which is so
important to our mental health.
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In Kelowna there is comedy on Friday night at Dakoda’s Comedy Lounge, 1574 Harvey Ave., with Andrew Crone, named “best local headliner 2020-21.” The evening will also feature three opening acts chosen from Kelowna Comedy’s top ranks. Shows begin at 8:30 p.m. Visit kelownacomedy.ca for more info or reserve your seat for this show by calling 250-860-9500.
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Jazz music lovers can hear the Kinga Heming Trio perform late night at the Salt & Brick on Bernard Ave. Friday from 9-11 p.m. Heming has a beautiful tone to her voice and lifts a standard song into melodic bliss for the listener. A music charge of $10 will be added to the tab, but it all goes to the artist. Book through opentable.ca/r/salt-and-brickkelowna.
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The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is so proud of their youth orchestra and this year’s Youth Composer Reading Sessions will be a highlight of the hard work and inspirations by these high school-aged students, who are given the opportunity to have their compositions performed on stage by a professional orchestra at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre, Saturday from 2:30-5 p.m.
The initial sessions were mentored by a Vancouver-based composer, teacher and flutist through bi-weekly Zoom lessons with a goal for students to create
an original composition.
This type of program is unique in B.C., says OSO Music Director Rosemary Thomson on behalf of co-conductor Dennis Colpitts and herself. “I am in awe of the level of sophistication and expression that our students have created,” she said.
The OSYO Composer Reading Session is open to the public; admission is free, but donations will be welcome at the door.
——— Congratulations to Kelowna band The Cavernous, who have been selected for a record-setting compilation release to help support relief in Ukraine.
“For Peace. Against War. Who is Not?” is a compilation by hundreds of electronic music artists from all over the world to raise money and awareness for the humanitarian disaster caused by the Russian war on Ukraine.
The tune that was selected is called “One Nail” and is from an EP released in October 2021.
This instrumental band has a bevy of sounds and techniques they use while creating and performing their music.
“I grew up in the prairies with so many Ukrainian families around me. They were my friends, neighbours, relatives by marriage. When I saw a chance to help, I jumped on the opportunity. I only wish I could do more,” said Robert McLaren of The Cavernous.
You can see The Cavernous live at Clancy’s Pub in Penticton on Friday, as part of Ignite festival, or at Copper Brewing, 1851 Kirschner Rd. in Kelowna, Saturday at 6 p.m. For information about the recording visit: componentre cordings.bandcamp.com/album/forpeace-against-war-who-is-not-a-compilation-for-the-people-of-ukraine
Bandcamp allows artists to charge whatever they want. The compilation is for sale for $12, but some supporters have paid up to $200.
All proceeds go directly to Vostok SOS and the Red Cross Ukraine.