Nicola Valley Community Arts Council

Spring has sprung! And brings along with it, the flowers, beginning colors, birds singing in the morning and the 17th Annual Valley Visual Artists Show and Sale.

The show opens May 6 and runs through the 28th. There will be an Opening Reception on Friday, May 6 from 5-8pm., and special Gallery hours over the Mother’s Day Weekend. There will be live music throughout the weekend, with performances by favorite local musicians.

If you’re still looking for that special something, we may just have it. There will be artwork from small to large and miniature art for under $25. Keep in mind, the show is not just paintings and drawings we will have sculpture and carving and millinery.

For the past few years, the Valley Visual Artists have invited student artists from MSS to display their work in our show over the Mother’s Day weekend as a way to encourage them and give them exposure to other artists. The Valley Visual artists want to help “bring along “ the next generation of artists. We also want to educate and inspire everyone in our community to consider art and to support it.

This year we have changed a few key elements of the show.

This year, the show will open at the Courthouse Gallery, located in the Olde Courthouse Arts Centre at 1840 Nicola Avenue, for the month of May. Thanks to property owners, Dr. Don and Chris MacLeod’s generous consideration; the show will be occupying the complete downstairs floor of the building.

Plein aire painting . . . and demonstrations will occur on the Arts Centre Lawn during the month, weather permitting and artists willing. We are still deciding on the quickdraw.

As always, there will be good music, interesting activities, door prizes and lots of amazing art and artists. So come and be inspired.

The show will run May 6 through 28. There will be an Opening Reception on Friday, May 6 from 6-9pm.
Regular Gallery Hours:
Thursdays 2pm to 8pm and Fridays and Saturdays 10am to 4pm

Special Hours for May 6, 7, 8 are:
Friday 5-8pm
Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

The Logan Lake Arts Council in conjunction with the District of Logan Lake is presenting an Arts Festival July 1, and 2nd at the Recreation Centre.

They are currently looking for any interested artisans interested in participating to sign up for a table. Entry fee is $20 per person plus 10% of sales. The deadline to apply is June 10, 2011.

If you or someone you know is interested fill out a form attached here: Logan Lake Arts Festival July or contact Diane Ross at llac@d3ross.info for more information.

Another great write up about the current show. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Photography show there is still time!

Shutterbugs say always keep your camera ready for photo opportunities | Local Arts & Entertainment | Merritt News, Merritt, BC.

As we are currently in the midst of a Federal Election Campaign here are some useful arts related questions to ask when you are approached at your door by a candidates or canvasser or if you are at an event meeting a candidate.

If elected, how will you advocate for arts for our riding and for Canada?
What is your vision for the arts and culture in our riding?
What measures will your government put in place to ensure and sustain arts and culture’s contribution to our community?
What is your party’s stance on investment in the arts and through the Canada Council for the Arts?

These questions were created by the Canadian Arts Coalition. For more information check out their Action Centre here.

Tomorrow night is the All Candiatates Forum at NVIT and we will be asking at least 1 of these questions to the candiates. Stay tuned for their response.

April show at the Courthouse Gallery, Heidi Koehler and Helmuth Kanduth, Photography
“Close up”

I am not an expert, when it comes to art. I know what I like when I see it, though, and I have to say that the Arts Council has put on some mighty fine shows in the Courthouse Gallery. One of those fine shows is the current exhibit “Photography”, featuring Merritt residents Heidi Koehler and Helmuth Kanduth.

According to Kathi Dahlquist-Gray, curator at the Courthouse Gallery, the show was originally planned to showcase Helmuth’s photographs and paintings. It was his idea to expand and invite Heidi to display her photography alongside his.
As I start my tour through the gallery I can see that it was a good idea to bring those two artists together. Two different styles and approaches make for an array of captivating pictures within a well-balanced art show.

A fierce little hummingbird, a meeting of ducks, picturesque lakes, icy winter mornings…. some of the photographs are so intense that you can feel the atmosphere, the silence. A variety of colors and shapes that only nature can offer and only an artist can capture. Especially with digital photography, an artist has the opportunity to apply filters and color schemes and work with the picture almost like s/he could with canvas. Capture a moment in time and bring out the comical, tragic or simply beautiful.

I have always preferred photography over paintings. While an artist can paint things that don’t exist, a photographer usually captures something very real. While continuing my walk through the exhibit I realize that even though every motif in this room is very real, some of them seem abstract never the less. Nature close-up, creating an abstract picture that gives the mind room to wander and be creative. Truly stimulating!

As I finish up my art gallery adventure I take a few minutes to look at Helmuth’s paintings. His oil paintings have a touch of the surreal. Landscapes, abstracts, a surreal moon flower – after seeing his paintings I can literally feel the connection to some of his photographs. He captures landscapes and even animals in a surreal light and perspective. His photograph of Courtney Lake is just one example.

The show still runs until April 30th during regular gallery hours – don’t miss it!

Recently the Arts Council put out a call for anyone interested in being a guest blogger for our little blog. We wanted to find someone to write about their experience at our Courthouse Gallery. We were lucky enough to get Kerstin Auer, freelance writer and consultant and creator of The Merritt ABC’s blog to write about her recent trip to the current Photography show featuring Heidi Koehler and Helmuth Kanduth. Stay tuned, we’ll be featuring her thoughts on the current show this Friday!

This week is BC’s Arts and Culture Week! It is a week created to celebrate and highlight the vital contribution that arts and culture make in life and learning.  Arts are an important part of the economy as the “ arts and culture sector employs over 63,000 people in communities across BC, with a growth rate three times the provincial average. The film and television industry alone brings in $2.82 billion to our economy. BC artists in all disciplines are recognized internationally as among the best. Each year, our museums, galleries, festivals and performances attract visitors from around the world.” BC Arts and Culture Week Website.

Here are just a few ways to celebrate Arts and Culture week in the Nicola Valley:

- stop by and check out the Photography Exhibition at the Courthouse Art Gallery (Gallery Hrs 4-8pm Thurs, 10-4pm Fri & Sat)

- pick up your copy of the Visual Artists of the Nicola Valley book – swing by the Museum and Archives see images of the past and present

- check out some local author’s books at Country Bug & Books and the Library – decide that this year you’ll celebrate the arts by attending more local events, buy a membership to community organization or volunteer your time

For more information check out the BC Arts and Culture Week website: www.bcartsweek.org

Kersten Auer, a freelance writer and consultant has created a blog all about celebrating Merritt’s 100 years. She’s starting with A and working her way to Z highlighting the many things worth celebrating about Merritt’s Centennial. A of course starts with us The Arts! and Kersten spoke with the women of PRISM about their gallery show and what brought them together. To check out her blog simply go to: http://www.merritt100.typepad.com

A thought provoking new exhibition is set to launch today Friday April 1st. This show is set to run until April 30th featuring to two professional photographers: Heidi Koehler and Helmuth Kanduth.

We hope that you will be able to join us on Friday April 8th for the reception from 6-8pm