Nicola Valley Community Arts Council

The Nicola Valley Community Arts Council and the Courthouse Gallery are excited to announce the July Show featuring local artist, Andrea Rogers.  The show begins on July 2^st and will run through July 31^st.  There will be a reception on July 9 from 6-8 and is open to the public.

Originally from Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, Mrs. Rogers moved to Canada, July 1, 1948 and after living in Prince George, Kelowna, New Westminster, Rosedale, she landed in Merritt in 1955.  She has left a legacy of her artistic endeavors with the City of Merritt.  She created the remarkable quilt that hangs in City Hall, taught piano for 44-years, has designed and sewn many dresses for weddings, graduations, and other special occasions, and has produced some truly amazing pieces of art.

Mrs. Rogers’ arts training began after high school, when she moved to Amsterdam, and consisted of belonging to a peer group who got together to share their knowledge and interests in art.  So, she is self-taught in painting and drawing.  Mrs. Rogers studied piano at the Amsterdam Royal Conservatory of Music with the option to play concerts or to teach.  As luck would have it, she chose to teach piano, composition, and theory in Merritt.

Mrs. Rogers has been a member of the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council and the Valley Visual Artists.  As a member of the Friends of the Courthouse, she helped to save the building that is now known as “The Olde Courthouse Arts Centre,” located at 1840 Nicola Avenue; home of the Courthouse Gallery, the Valley Visual Artists, and Linda’s Dance Studio, and the Courthouse Dance Society.

The July show will be spotlighting the quilts, needlework, drawings, and paintings of Mrs. Rogers, through the years.  This promises to be a varied and exciting show.

Gallery hours are:  Thursday 4-8pm Friday and Saturday 10am to 4pm.   For further information you can call the gallery at 250-378-6515 and leave a message, or you can email Kathi at:  artsy@ocis.net or klassicalart7@hotmail.com Admission to the Gallery is free.Come see this exciting show and thank you for supporting your local arts.