Columbia Basin Culture Tour Aug. 10 and 11
By Contributor
Taking place August 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Columbia Basin Culture Tour allows you to explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites during this free, self-guided event. Travel to studios and archives that aren’t normally open, see demonstrations, new exhibitions and collections or meet people behind the scenes. To participate in the tour, simply grab a map, your Culture Tour Directory and go!
Castlegar’s Sculpturewalk is an outdoor exhibit of original sculptures, displayed year-round in downtown Castlegar. Featuring artists from across North America, viewers can vote for their favourite via ballot: The People’s Choice is purchased by the City of Castlegar for the permanent collection. Joining us this year is Jillian Davis who is a painter who received her BFA from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Jillian’s work is bold, contemporary, and often based on concepts or intuitive states.
Opposite the airport in Castlegar, the Doukhobor Discovery Centre is a ‘Traditional’ Village Located on 10 acres of heritage orchard on the edge of the Columbia River, you have much to see and explore. Thousands of artifacts, books, documents, crafts are displayed for your viewing pleasure. ‘Heritage Costumes” is their new display for 2013. This is also the home of the Selkirk Spinners and Weavers Guild. It’s a non-profit organization that has been active in the West Kootenays since 1972. They also feature a lovely gift shop, full of handcrafted work. Just down the road is The Kootenay Gallery of Art, a principal gallery for the visual arts within the West Kootenay region. It provides a professional venue for regional as well as national artists to show and sell their work. A wonderful gift shop on site features the work of over 100 local artists and craftspeople.
Castlegar is also home to Selkirk College where the Gathering Place at Selkirk College provides a welcoming environment for students and community members to come together and celebrate Aboriginal culture. As part of the Columbia Basin Culture Tour, this stop will offer an opportunity to tour the brand new Gathering Place facility and the indigenous plant gardens surrounding the Gathering Place building and tipi.
Guests will be invited to participate in a handwork activity and to view some of the beautiful artwork in the Gathering Place. Some of the artwork at the Gathering Place includes a locally made and hand-painted Grandmother Drum and a custom-made metal shield.
In the Robson area, see Mirja Vahala and her distinctive landscape paintings while visiting her spacious art instruction studio. Discover opportunities to learn how to draw and paint, or to raise your art skills. Browse the studio plus see more artwork at Windborne B&B, where Mirja’s studio is housed. Paintings are available for purchase. Enjoy the beautiful B&B gardens too.
In Salmo at Joe’s Art Gallery you will find a warm welcome from artist Joe Horvath who loves to share the art that he enjoys so much creating. “I paint a variety of subjects. I use a lot of colour. I am a retired man, and love art, and love showing it to people.”
Tour brochures are available at tourist information centres and participating venues. Visit the website at www.cbculturetour.com to view full artist/venue profiles for further details on each location’s activities or register to receive a tour brochure in the mail. For further information, call the CKCA at 1-250-505-5505 or toll free at 1-877-505-7355. The Columbia Basin Culture Tour is generously supported by Columbia Basin Trust funding.
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