Nicola Valley Community Arts Council

The January show for the Courthouse Gallery will feature the drawing students of MK Dahlquist-Gray. The students come from a variety of backgrounds and range in age from 14 to 77. The artwork will primarily entail animal, birds, and people portraits. For the subject matter, and are done in: pencil, charcoal, pastel, and pen and ink. The eight (8) participating students are: Roger Ball, Noah Bergman, Heather Burnham, Kathy Grant, Diane Lavoie, Kathy Johns, Debbie Towers, Linda Nunn

Reception will be held January 6th from 6-8pm stop by and meet the artists. The gallery is located in the Olde Courthouse Arts Centre at 1840 Nicola Avenue, Merritt. Admittance is always free. The gallery is owned and operated by the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council.

FMI call Kathi at (250) 378-6515 or email: kathi.courthouse.gallery@gmail.com

This Monday, Come have your Christmas party with the Nylons! The Concert will feature cabaret style show will food & drinks.

Attendees can purchase individual seats or full tables of eight.

Tickets are available Black’s Pharmacy, Baillie House, and at the door. Tables can be reserved by calling 250-378-6266 or 250-378-4153.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Merritt Civic Centre.

For more information on The Nylons check out this weeks Merritt News or click here

No better way to say Happy Holidays to your best friend, a gift for a colleague, teacher, friend or family member – you’re looking for a way to say something unique and memorable.

Your funds will directly support local community events like the Community Concert Series and Community Art Shows as well as provide much needed funds to keep creativity alive in the Valley. With your support we can do so much more to enhance local arts. Or if you prefer you can always purchase a membership which will give a year long membership to the Arts Council.

In return for your donation you will receive a tax receipt for your donation and a card, letter or e-card will be sent to the recipient informing them of a donation made in their name.

Simply fill out Holiday Donation Form and we will mail you a receipt.

The October show featuring work by Cassandra (Cass) Dolen will have an ecological theme exploring man’s affect on the environment. In a style that reminiscent of Thompson of the Group of Seven, Cass has created a show that is sure to appeal to the public for her intuitive outlook on man’s affect on the environment. In paintings that generate movement and emotional investment, Cass’s paintings are sure to create discussion with the viewers that see her work. There will be a reception for the show October 7th at 6pm. The show opens October 7th and runs to Nov 5th.

Cass began painting at a young age with the encouragement of her mother and grandmother. Seh credits their encouragement of her mother and grandmother. She credits their encouragement with making it possible for her to always paint. Her mother even took her to Europe at the age of 12 to see the gran art centres there.

As with all artists, she borrows styles and colour combinations from other well known and established artists. Cass is completely self-taught and her favourite medium is walnut oil. She paints on commission and her sales have be strictly, word of mouth.

As one of the artists featured in a book, published by the Nicola Valley Arts Council in 2009, she joins a prestigious group of local artists whose art transcends the valley, provincial and international boundaries.

The Courthouse Gallery is open Thursdays from 4-8pm and Friday, Saturday from 10 am- 4pm. for information about the shows or classes at the gallery call: 250-378-6515 or email kathi.courthouse.gallery@gmail.com.

We are happy to announce that our Anime Show is up and ready to go! The show opens Friday, August 26 and runs through Saturday, September 24. There will be a variety of new and well established artists presenting their best Anime Artwork.

Gallery hours are Thursday 4-8pm; Friday & Saturday, from 10am to 4pm.

In addition to the show, the Valley Visual Artists will have an arrary of work on display to be auctioned off in order to raise money for new flooring and lights at the gallery, as well as for the VVA educational fund. These pieces will be auctioned in October.

More information on our upcoming Anime Art Show. News article from the Merritt Herald.

Merritt Herald – Anime exhibit opens doors to diverse local art.

The Nicola Valley Arts Council and Community Concert Committee is happy to announce the line up for the 2011/12 Community Concert Series. As always, tickets can be purchased as a pass or individually for each show. Performances will begin at 7:30pm.

Here is the line up:

October 21, 2011 – Langley Ukuleles
The Langley Ukuleles started out at the Langley School District and began with performances in their community for seniors, school groups, and clubs. As their repertoire expanded and the skill level developed they received invitations to perform at music educators’ conferences and in communities through out Western Canada. The performance will be held at the Crossroads Community Church.

December 12, 2011- The Nylons
The Nylons formed in 1979 and have 17 albums to date with the latest being Skin Tight, set to release this year. The group performs an eclectic mix of jazz standards, pop classics and original music.
Performance will be held at the Merritt Civic Centre

Feb 24, 2012
Joe TrioSince
The Joe Trio was formed in 1989, the trio is consists of a classically trained violin-cello-piano threesome. They have presented hundreds of concerts throughout Canada and the United States.
Performance will be held at the Merritt Civic Centre.

April 13, 2012
Ed Peekeekoot
Ed Peekeekoot is a popular and well know Cree singer, songwriter, entertainer, and performer. He has been nominated for several BC Country Music Association awards.
Performance will be held at the Merritt Civic Centre

If you’re curious to know a bit more about one of the photographers that will be featured in the July show check out the article in the Merritt News.

Teen photographer’s professional debut this Friday | Local Arts & Entertainment | Merritt News, Merritt, BC.

July marks the celebration of Merritt’s Centennial and with that there are many festivities and events planned. The Arts Council has two special events planed. The first being the upcoming July show featuring two young photographers from Merritt Secondary, Emma Beat and Dale Allen. Emma, a current student at the MSS and Dale, a recent graduate, will present work that is significant to the Centennial Celebrations being held. Along with these historical and cultural photographs, they will present other photographic topics. The show will run from July 8-30th.

A reception will be held on July 8 from 6-8pm at the Courthouse Art Gallery.

Our second event is being held at the Civic Centre and will feature a wide array of visual arts pieces focusing on the history and beauty of the Nicola Valley.

We hope that you will join us in celebrating Merritt’s 100th!

Since our inception we have used the iconic Arts Council umbrella as a symbol of the work that the Arts Council undertakes. We have enjoyed all that our logo, designed by local artis Doug Strand in 1982, has offered us we feel that with all the new and exciting changes we are bringing in the next few years now is the time for a new logo.

We are currently looking for a new logo, something that is new and fresh and of course, gratis. We are looking for a logo that is as dynamic in black and white, as it is in colour.
If your logo is chosen, you will be acknowledged as the designer in a news release, on the website, and our Facebook site.

If you are interested in submitting a design the deadline to apply is September 1, 2011. The new logo will be introduced and implemented in 2012.
For any questions you may have, contact Kathi at the gallery: 250-378-6515 or email: kathi.courthouse.gallery@gmail.com

In addition to a new logo, our name will also be changing. Though officially we will still be known as the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council, we will be doing business as, Nicola Valley Arts Council (NVAC). This separates us better from the North Vancouver Community Arts Council who uses NVCAC, the same way we do.