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Art
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...
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...
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...
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...
HELSTON: Tag, you’re it Vernon
Vernon has a pretty distinct flavour when it comes to street wall art, but a new trend is adding some diversity—wanted or unwanted—to the scene. If you didn’t know, the vast majority of the city’s downtown murals were designed and painted by one extremely talented, motivated and prolific artist. You have her to thank when...
Electronic music festival showcases female talent
KELOWNA – A two-day music and arts festival featuring an all-female lineup is coming back to Kelowna for the second year in a row. The Female Arts and Music Exhibition (FAME) is a collection of female promoters, DJ’s, artists, musicians, technicians and engineers who share a passion for electronic music and art. It takes place...
Young artist takes the paintbrush into her own hands
PENTICTON - There's photographs and paintings hanging from an industrial fence wrapped in lights that stands in a closed off parking lot next to a creek and people mingling with cans of beer in their hands while a three-year-old runs around their legs making people laugh. An old man with a glowing face and small...
IN PHOTOS: Street art of downtown Penticton
PENTICTON - There are a handful of ways to deal with the city's tagging problem, and city officials are looking into them and will hopefully have a decision sooner rather than later as to how the problem can be fixed. In the meantime, here are some photos from around downtown Penticton of murals, graffiti and...
PHOTOS: Tattoo festival back for second year
KELOWNA – The Okanagan’s only tattoo culture and arts show was back in Kelowna over the weekend for the second year in a row. The Okanagan Tattoo Show is becoming an annual event drawing thousands of fans of body modification and tattoo culture to Parkinson Recreation Centre over the weekend. Aside from having some of...
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...
Recycled art gets trashed
KAMLOOPS – An art exhibition at the Arnica Artist Run Centre in Kamloops can draw more attention to a specific art piece or an artist. If an attendee likes a piece enough, he or she can purchase it to hang in their home. It’s not every day an artist trashes an entire installation — but...
Art show stripped from college walls goes up at local gallery
VERNON - A controversial art show pulled from the gallery at Okanagan College in Vernon has a new space to continue the conversation. Local artist Ryan Robson’s evocative female portraits, which were deemed too disturbing for the walls of the college, will be displayed at Gallery Vertigo until the end of the month. The paintings...
EDITOR’S NOTE: The most comprehensive events listings for the Thompson-Okanagan
How far would you travel to see something you really want to see? We bet you would drive at least a couple hours to see a good show at Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre, Prospera Place in Kelowna or the Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops or the Performing Arts Centre in Vernon. We bring you...