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Art
Vernon art project asks, Who are you?
VERNON - Queer, real, stereotyped. Victorious over victimization. Fragile and fighting back. These are some of the words and phrases you’ll find painted alphabetically on large boards as part of a project called Respect Lives Here, sponsored by the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan. Participants from the Vernon Women’s Transition House, Vernon District...
How the Vernon Art Gallery is solving space problems with steel boxes
VERNON - A unique attraction is taking shape downtown Vernon. Five massive container boxes arrived in the empty lot across from Cenotaph Park Monday morning. In two weeks time, the steel boxes will house a major international art show. “It’s fairly unique,” Vernon Public Art Gallery executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant says. “I myself haven’t...
Okanagan window painter bringing a little cheer to city streets
VERNON - Bernie DiDiT—the cartoonist behind window paintings all the way from Armstrong to Keremeos—likes to make people smile. The quirky 60-year-old loves bringing a little cheer to city storefronts during events like the Armstrong IPE, Vernon Winter Carnival and May long weekend in Keremeos. “When someone comes along and says wow, that’s cool—that pat...
Young artist adds visual impact to city park
KAMLOOPS - A recent high school graduate is beautifying the city one concrete barrier or utility box at a time. Haley Hughes has volunteered her time and talent to help add colour and life to the more mundane objects at Riverside Park, the objects often targeted by graffiti tags. The 18-year-old just graduated this year...
A famous Vernon mural was vandalized, then this happened
"IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE ACT OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT TO DISCOVER HER CLEANING THE MURAL" VERNON - Without being asked or paid, a young artist took it upon herself to undo the damage a vandal did to one of Vernon’s heritage murals. Marie-Anna Michaud, 19, saw a post by muralist Michelle Loughery on Facebook Monday morning....
$60K public art contract up for bid
KELOWNA – A new public art project worth $60,000 will soon be commissioned to honour and inspire women recovering from addictions. The artwork will be installed adjacent to a major public space planned for outside the Karis Supportive Housing Project that is expected to be completed next year. According to Urban planner Pat McCormick, the...
Iconic Vernon mural hit by vandals
VERNON - It’s an iconic mural many have stopped to gaze at over the past 15 years, but Monday, something else was turning heads. The mural, which depicts a locomotive traveling over a trestle bridge, was vandalized with a series of obscene words, printed at the bottom of this article with viewer discretion advised. Michelle...
Chronic water leaks plague Vernon art gallery
VERNON - Like shoveling snow and scraping down windshields, preparing for leaks has become a vexing winter tradition at the Vernon Public Art Gallery. A large snow storm Wednesday left the gallery with multiple leaks to deal with. “It’s an ongoing issue with the building,” executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant says. “We have chronic leakage...
UBCO hosts WFN art forum Friday
KELOWNA – A public forum examining the impact Westbank First Nations art has had on the revitalized downtown is taking place at the Alternator Centre this Friday. The hour long forum, part of a monthly series called Alterknowledge that looks at social issues in the Okanagan, is organized by faculty at UBCO in partnership with the...
Latest WFN art honours veterans of all backgrounds
WEST KELOWNA – A new sculpture by renowned First Nation artist Smoker Marchand was unveiled in West Kelowna Tuesday. Marchand says the steel monument, which depicts three warriors in full battle dress, represents veterans of all backgrounds who have served in the military. “I wanted to show a strong Indian man. I wanted to show...
Shane Koyczan has done it again, this time for the environment
PENTICTON - Spoken word poet Shane Koyczan leads us through another universe with his latest piece of work. The Okanagan native and The Short Story Long has released his latest speaking word poem, titled, “Shoulders,” that features a short video and Koyczan’s narration. His smooth, deep, fluid voice takes the listener on a journey and...
Bear repair to cost $40k
KELOWNA – A public art work in downtown Kelowna is undergoing repair work caused by residents and tourists who can’t seem to look without touching. Bear is a six metre sculpture next to Stuart Park on Water Street. According to building services manager Martin Johansen, stone pavers at the base have been broken repeatedly since...
Will Vernon have to turn away exhibitors from its own international art show?
VERNON - An international art show—the likes of which has never been seen before in the Okanagan—is coming to Vernon, but organizers don’t know where they’re going to put it. The Okanagan Print Triennial was launched by the Vernon Public Art Gallery, the Kelowna Art Gallery and UBC Okanagan in Vernon in 2009 as a...
Search is on for missing art
VERNON – While organizers of the Riot on the Roof fundraiser for the Vernon Art Gallery aren’t using the word ‘stolen’ they do say some works of art from the event has been ‘moved.’ The art was created for the walls at the Vernon Parkade during the Aug. 23 event. “We are trying to find...
Get your fill of culture this weekend
KAMLOOPS - Arts, museums, photography, theatre and music are among the 15 free activities already planned for this weekend as part of the 5th anniversary of Culture Days in Kamloops. From free admission to hands-on workshops and ukuleles to hoop dancing, there will be many activities to help everyone create, celebrate and participate in the...