Columbia Basin Culture Tour provides fun and fascination
By Contributor
You may think you know culture here in the Basin, but be prepared to discover something new! The Columbia Basin Culture Tour (CBCT) is a free,self-guided tour showcasing local arts, culture and heritage throughout the region Saturday and Sunday, August 14-15, 2010 from 10 am to 5 pm.
Take a road trip to a different community or discover the treasures in your own backyard. We invite you to visit artist’s studios that are not normally open to the public and stop by that museum or art gallery you have not visited in a while. Meet the artists, shop for fine art and craft, view demonstrations, special exhibitions, interpretive displays, chat with local historians and meet people behind the scenes during this two-day cultural celebration.
The community of Castlegar is featuring a variety of activities. Opposite the airport with panaromic views of the area are two great venues: The Doukhobor Discovery Centre, features over 1,000 artifacts on exhibit and features the members of the Selkirk Spinners and Weavers Guild demonstrating the various techniques of making fabric, from preparing and spinning fibres to yarn, setting up a handloom and weaving cloth. Just down the road is The Kootenay Gallery of Art, a public art gallery featuring exhibitions by regional and national artists and a shop with handcrafted items created by local artists and craftspeople.
Downtown, visit Karla Pearce’s inspiration The Creative Edge Gallery and view Mixed Palettes, a show featuring the artwork of 14 talented Kootenay artists then to the Station Museum with two floors of artifacts, a caboose and Castlegar’s first Provincial Police Station. Just down the road you will find Mirja Vahala at Inspiring Minds Fine Art creates paintings each with a carefully chosen colour scheme intended to enhance the mood of the piece. Next to Beresford Avenue to view the artwork of Wilma Huges, whose mediums of choice are watercolour, acrylic, pastel, coloured pencil and most recently lino cuts.
The Ymir Palace Inn features a diverse art collection, then hit the road to Salmo to visit Joe Horvath and see his beautifully detailed wildlife and landscape artworks, Joe says “I love art, and being around people that also appreciate it.” In Fruitvale you will find Bizzarios Gallery and Deborah Wandler who creates 3-D abstract mixed media collages. Stop in Montrose to visit the Art Shack and Rebecca Leeworthy, long-time resident and artist.
Downtown Trail features Artisan, specializing in quality handcrafted goods made in the Kootenays. Also a must see this year is the Mystic Dream Dancers at the Knights of Pythias Hall. Meet this great group of ladies who gather to dance in the style of Middle Eastern Dancers, who dance as a group and as individuals putting on shows for entertainment and to help raise money for service groups. This year VISAC Gallery and Creative Art Centre and Pottery by Fran have both joined the tour. Fran has been potting for 33 years.
The Rouge Gallery in Rossland features art of 20 local artists who co-operatively run the gallery. Jewellery Artist Anna Clark will be explaining and demonstrating her enamelling techniques at Out of the Cellar. Artists Tricia Rasku, and Sharon Lough will be opening their busy working studios, featuring Tricia’s fibrework and soap making and Sharon’s paintings which are characterized by vibrant colour, painterly texture and expressive line, evoking a sense of atmosphere and emotion.
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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