Attractive, artistic displays on at Spring Fling exhibition

Currently running at the Peachland Art Gallery, the Spring Fling Exhibition features a collection of mixed media wall pieces and life-size sculptures skilfully interwoven with natural Àbres gathered from the woods by local artists Annabel Stanley and Sue Hall.

This is a truly attractive and artistically creative display. The exhibition carries on every day except Mondays, from 9 a.m. until 4 pm until May 21.

******** Steadfastly in the foyer, our Canada 150 Guinness World Record Paint by Number project continues to build itself with your help, square by square until December 23. Please pass by and add your touch to receive your souvenir postcard.

******** The Peachland Players will be back in action starting a week Wednesday, May 10 at 8 p.m. at 4th St. Place with a laugh-out-loud farce called Drinking Habits.

The title is a play on words, of course, with a plot involving wine making nuns in the hidden recesses of a small convent, some intrigue, romance, and lots of laughs. Mothers Day is on the 14th, an excellent reason to treat mom at the theatre with family.

Performances: May 10 to 14 at 8 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14. Tickets, $15 adults and $10 students, are available at Peachland Pharmacy and U.P.S., West Kelowna.

******** Speaking of wine, Oliver has a Wine Capital Art Walk starting next Monday, May 8, running to Thursday, May 11.

This is when Oliver proudly intermixes local art with its businesses in a show of solidarity and where wine Áows over the four days of celebration.

If any northerners stray into the mix all the merrier!

******** Awhile ago, I mentioned A French Experience that had been arranged for a group of artists, photographers, scrapbookers and journal writers who would like to roam the village streets and Àelds of southern France (the Montagnac in the Languedoc region) this September. A Ànal meeting for those artists, writers, etc., who’re going was held yesterday but last I heard there may be still a couple of spots open and that early bookings for the Fall of 2018 were being accepted. If you’re interested have a look at the details online at peachlandarts.ca/ announcements/#France or send an email to: salliejohnson@shaw.ca.

******** Writing enthusiasts, I hope you haven’t forgotten the Ryga 10-Minute Playwriting Contest!

You have until the end of the month remember. Details for the competition during the Ryga Festival in Summerland from Sept. 1 to 4 can be found online at peachlandarts.ca/literary-news/ #Summerland.

What it requires is some form of conÁict, a dialogue, a character or two (yes, even one might do!), and a setting. That’s all it takes. Come on, go for it! You can do it!

******** Music and dance fans in the Valley will have the opportunity to celebrate Canada’s 150th year this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at a special performance of Canadiana Suite: A Sesquicentennial Celebration by Ballet Kelowna in partnership with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.

This is a special tribute to a number of Canadian choreographers, performers, and composers among them Gordon Lightfoot and Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson whose composition, Canadiana Suite, is the concert Ànale.

For South Okanagan residents, a bus tour has been arranged starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 4 from Osoyoos through to Summerland details to be found at kelownaactorsstudio.com/shows/show/ CanadianaBus.

This is both the Kelowna Ballet’s and OSO’s Ànal concert for the season.

******** As the days warm up, some of you cycling enthusiasts will have been preparing your bikes: oiling gears, chains and sprockets or whatever cyclists do. Some perhaps have ventured out already into the hills blossoming with arrowleaf balsamroots.

Then, of course, there are those of you who prefer shanks’s pony to explore the sights.

On Sunday, May 28, you’ll have an opportunity to try one or the other to have Tea at the Top of the Fur Brigade Trail while you absorb a magnificent panoramic view of the Okanagan. You have a choice. You can hike the 7 kilometre return trail from Hardy Falls in Peachland, up through the Saddle to the Fur Brigade lookout, a 300 metre elevation gain, or you can ride the rough road by bike from Priest Camp at Garnett Lake just north of Summerland for an 8 km return journey to the same lookout point, with an 80 metre elevation gain.

Both parties will meet by 1 p.m. at the lookout for bagged lunches and refreshments 400 metres above lake level to learn about the history of the Fur Brigade Trail from historian Dr. David Gregory.

You can download a map and details of the event from peachlandarts.ca/ announcements/#Tea.

The day is organized by The Trail of the Okanagans Committee and all donations from the sale of tea and cookies go towards the redevelopment of the Fur Brigade trail. I have hiked that trail from Hardy up through the Saddle to Garnett Lake and it provides lots of photographic opportunities. Happy hiking!

******** Today, the Kelowna Film Society will be screening the Iranian film The Salesman, winner of the 2017 Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film.

Named in reference to Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman being rehearsed by the two main characters, the Àlm’s theme portrays Iran’s patriarchal attitude towards women and their tendency towards violence.

Film times are 4 and 7 p.m. at the Orchard Plaza Cinema.

******** On Wednesday, May 10 at 7 p.m., the Summerland Film Club will offer Merchant of Doubt, a ride into the conjuring heart of American spin.

The Àlm reveals to us just how mesmerized our world is when products harmful to the environment, and thus to human beings, are sold under the guise of scientiÀc hyperbolic nonsense. These Àlms are free although donations are accepted to cover rentals and overheads.

Enjoy the sunshine.