The Summer Arts Series is back at the old schoolhouse on Brandon Lane:

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First open mic night with a new (to the PCAC) grand piano! More than 50 people experienced an evening of singing, instrument playing and spoken word performances June 13. Mayor Patrick Van Minsel also sang (Tears in Heaven.) Paula McLaughlin started these open mic nights awhile ago – and recently, she was in contact with a Kelowna family who donated the Heintzman 6-ft grand.

I stopped by the Our SPACE building for a bit:

Of course, The Town Crier (Bruce and LindaLea Klippenstein) were there to welcome the crowd:

….there was also a round of applause for the family who donated the piano (which is 100 years old and was in the family for three generations!)

And the first piano piece played on this first open mic night in the new Our SPACE? Ode to Joy:

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Friday, June 28: Tickets available here, after June 18:

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This is part of Peachland’s summer arts program!

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Fakes and Forgeries! That was the theme for this year’s Peachland Art Group show and sale. I toured around Saturday, May 25. You get a passport, and then you vote for your fave fake/forgery:

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What’s happening at the Peachland Art Gallery? According to the PCAC’s latest newsletter, A Brush with History started Saturday, May 25 with an opening celebration between 1-3 pm. According to newsletter editor Chris Byrd, “artists Kathy Hale, Barb Hanington and Kato Rempel illustrate how “European inspired art forges creative links between tradition and the modern world.”

Throughout June, featured artists will be working in the gallery:

Saturday June 1, 11am-2pm Barb Hannington

Saturday, June 8, 11am-2pm Kathy Hale

Saturday, June 15, 11am-2pm Barb and Kathy together!

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The Peachland Art Group meets every Thursday at the community centre, where they paint and support each other! The group has been brightening this corner at the Peachland Library with a different theme. This one is Abstracts and Fantasy:

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With a great volunteer effort, presentations from local photographers, and a strong Peachland representation, Captured Images, which ended in April, was a success, according to the PCAC’s Chris Byrd. He writes a weekly newsletter for PCAC members – scroll down the PCAC Home page for more info on how to sign up!

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If writing is more your thing, Wayne Power’s Pens in Peachland group meets every Wednesday morning at 9am. For more information, send him an email.

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Did you know, the PCAC annually supports two deserving Peachland students with two $500 bursaries? Due to funding cuts, the PCAC is asking for people to donate to a fund so this program can continue. More info here.

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This year’s HeARTS festival was Feb 12-17. I sat down with organizer Paula McLaughlin who credits an entire team of volunteers and artists for its success:

Last year’s event

“There’s a lot to come and enjoy,” she says. Friday, Feb 16 will see the community centre transformed into an art gallery / wine bar / live music venue, with food from the Blind Angler and even a sip & paint activity. The evening is $15 for PCAC members and $20 for non members.

You can purchase a PCAC membership on their website

The 2024 event featured fun activities for the kids, a lunch, two different painting experiences (a live model and left-handed painting, anyone?) Door prizes, raffles, a poetry competition and of course local art available to purchase. BEEPS and the Okanagan Folk School was there, too! Sorry, no pics – I was in Calgary.

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Comedy, poetry reading, spoken word solos – even the mayor got up to sing during Jan 25’s open mic night. This was started by PCAC member Paula McLaughlin – and more people keep showing up!

“This is our tenth open mic and we just keep on growing and more talent comes and it’s special and unique.”

One of the last performances of the evening – Peachland’s community services director Cory Labrecque on piano, and mayor Patrick Van Minsel singing….Fleetwood Mac!

Want to participate in the next open mic this spring? Email Paula.

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The PCAC’s AGM is planned for Monday, February 19 at 2pm. According to the PCAC newsletter written by Chris Byrd, the group always welcomes new volunteers! Email president Deborah Livingstone if you’d like to get involved. You can also help the PCAC by purchasing an annual membership here.

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From 2023:

Took a drive-by photo during filming: A Case for the Winemaker was set in mid-December at the Peachland Visitor Centre and art gallery.

(BTW, the banner on the visitor centre says “Bless Your Arts Grand Opening”)

More on the movie here

And if you’re wondering about the works of art currently at the gallery? Well, the production company wants it to be part of the movie! The PCAC newsletter notes that all participating Artists of the Okanagan exhibitors have been sent a waiver allowing their art to remain during filming. Artists can also choose to have their work removed.

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…And the latest exhibition at the Peachland Art Gallery! Local artist Susan Haglund’s Nebula and Incandecense were chosen for this show. Look for her pieces + other local artists 10am – 4pm Tuesday to Sundays (after December 16)

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Thursday, Dec 7 it’s a performance from The Starfish Ramblers, a jazz group from Mount Boucherie Secondary. Starting at 5pm, they’ll be performing at the Peachland art gallery. According to the PCAC newsletter (thanks, Chris Byrd!), this is the largest group the gallery has hosted! Your ticket includes dinner (but not gratuity) at the Blind Angler. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased in person at the gallery, or by calling (250) 767-2422.

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The Visitor Centre was also in the Christmas spirit, during Peachland’s Craft Market Nov 25:

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A successful Open Mic night at the Peachland art gallery Thursday, Nov. 16! According to the PCAC newsletter (thanks, Chris Byrd!), it was one of the most successful yet, with 70 people showing up to check out the talent. Comedy, spoken word, duets and more, marked the evening. The next event is planned for January, 2024.

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A very Fall-themed opening at the Peachland art gallery October 14! Linda Lovisa (left) and Annabel Stanley. This show ended Sunday, November 19.

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Check out the fall and winter classes being offered at the Little School House!

A reminder the Peachland Community Arts Council (PCAC) started a writing group and welcomes anyone wanting to participate. Chris Byrd and Wayne Power are taking the lead on this. For more info on Pens in Peachland, plsworkshops@peachlandarts.ca

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PCAC volunteers were part of the Peachland Making Waves Mural Festival over the September long weekend!

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Vivian Parenteau sent in this update from the Aug 17 open mic at the art gallery:

The Peachland art gallery will now be volunteer – run, and they’re looking for your help. Visit their website or call (250) 767-7422 for more info. According to a press release from the PCAC, a longtime grant from the Central Okanagan Foundation has expired, meaning they can no longer pay gallery coordinator Janet Hornseth for her services. On Aug 8, PCAC president Deborah Livingstone sent along the following:

“When the decision was made to restore the 1908 Historic School on Beach Ave. it was good news for the Peachland Arts Council!  Through the Federal and Provincial grant writing process the arts were one of the pillars established along with the Visitor Centre and Boys & Girls Club for possible tenants of the public building.  During the renovation two large alcoves were uncovered when the ceiling was removed.  They had been hidden since the 1940’s.  Ah ha …  a perfect space for an art gallery was revealed.  We moved into the building in October of 2014 and have been exhibiting between nine and ten art shows each year since then.  During the last 9 years we’ve presented 75 unique exhibitions and welcomed over 75,000 visitors through the door.  We’ve earned a professional reputation and are recognized as one of the Okanagan’s most outstanding galleries.  Janet Hornseth is credited with the gallery’s success along with a team of dedicated volunteers.  Janet is well-known in the Valley and her perfectionism and attention to detail have served us well.  As a gallery owner and picture framer by trade, Janet has the “magic exacting eye” that is necessary to showcase each piece to its best advantage.  Painters, sculptors, photographers, potters, and fibre artists have all been exhibited. Variety has been key.  Janet is so well-known and respected in the arts community in the Okanagan valley, artists came to her, eager to present their work.  She really put Peachland on the map establishing one of the very best galleries in the Valley.  

We have had two 3-year operations grants with the Central Okanagan Foundation which funded our gallery coordinator’s part-time wage.  These grants have all been fulfilled and so we regret we can no longer afford to keep this paid position in the gallery.  The Arts Council is excited to announce we are restructuring how we run the gallery and will return to an all-volunteer support system.  We rely heavily on our Civic Grant from the District of Peachland to cover the costs of the space, as well as a BC Gaming Grant, but grants are never guaranteed.  We want to make sure we have other means in place to ensure our gallery’s continuance and success.  It’s impossible to express how grateful we are to have had Janet’s guidance and expertise and we wish to honour her legacy by continuing to run the gallery for many years to come.    

The Art Gallery is only one component of the Arts Council’s programming in Peachland.  We represent 13 umbrella organizations, including a senior choir, gardening club, fibre artists, 4 painting groups, writers, and theatre performers.  We offer an annual HeARTS Festival each year, a Summer Art Program, speaker series, concerts, special events and art workshops in all mediums.   

We have such a vibrant arts community in Peachland.  We invite anyone who might be interested in volunteering their time to help with the transition of the gallery.  Please go to www.peachlandarts.ca for more information on how to join or call 250-767-7422.”

*Editor’s note – I reached out August 8 via email to Janet Hornseth for comment..

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There’s a new, colourful sculpture outside the Peachland Visitor Centre.

Local artists Vicki Molloy and Terry Moore collaborated, and this was unveiled Friday Aug 4:

“People don’t care what they don’t know about – this sculpture is about remembering the salmon,” says Molloy about the significance of this fish – specifically the Kokanee salmon in Peachland’s Deep Creek area.

Lee Humphries from the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance added during a short ceremony, that our local salmon population must be treated with respect.

“It’s important we do everything we can,” she said.

The sculpture can be seen any time – salmon spawning season is in September. One place to watch this is Hardy Falls, at the south end of Peachland.

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This interesting exhibition starts Saturday Aug 5:

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Visit artists at work, in a quaint Little Schoolhouse on a summer’s day:

Here’s the Summer Artists show and sale schedule:

“There are some amazing artists, all summer long,” says the PCAC’s Mary Staudinger.

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Congratulations to Berkeley Stuart! She won the Award of Excellence for Workmanship as a first-time exhibitor at the Canadian Quilters Association juried show in Halifax June 7. Berkeley, a member of the Pincushion Quilt Guild, was recognized with this ribbon – and a $1,000 prize!

Here is her artist’s statement, courtesy the PCAC

“The quilted wall hanging is called Bali Jungle Mystique. The two small wooden masks were purchased by my father-in-law in Bali in 1970.  They were in small square brown wood frames, mounted on red velvet and looked very angry. I released them from that prison and created a jungle for them to live in. I believe their spirits are much happier now! There are lots of layers and 3D elements in the piece.”

“Bali Jungle Mystique” Fibre art by Berkeley Stuart…this is a close-up of one section.

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On June 30, an annual showcase of the Okanagan’s best in original works – the OASIS Okanagan Art Show! This is the tenth year for this event, presented by the Federation of Canadian Artists, Central Okanagan Chapter:

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Did you know there’s a group of about 60 artists in Peachland who meet every week to paint? The Peachland Art Group has amassed quite a collection of acrylics, oils, watercolours and pastels – and it was all arranged in a gallery at the community centre May 27 and 28 from 10am – 4pm! Organizer Paula McLaughlin has this to say:

“Over the past six decades, we have assembled one of the largest collections of art to be displayed for our community and its visitors. The Peachland Community Centre Gymnasium will be transformed to a Gallery with the theme, “A World of Water,” including hundreds of works of art of all styles and mediums, as well as sculptures.

This is also happening May 27 – Gallery director Janet Hornseth has been busy preparing and says 70 students will be at the opening of this exhibit!

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Photos from the May 15 historical panel reveal at the Peachland Historic School – also known as the visitor centre and Peachland art gallery. Read the full story here.

PCAC director Vivian Parenteau took some photos too – thanks for sending them in! Pictured below is (left to right) is Donna Kerbes, Deb Livingston, Matthew Abrey – Graphic Artist, Janet Hornseth and Paula McLaughlin.

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What’s next at the Peachland art gallery? Youth Perspectives, from students at Mount Boucherie Secondary School running May 27 to June 25.

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Two very spring-themed exhibitions at the art gallery earlier this spring:

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Another “outstanding” open mic evening, according to organizer Paula McLaughlin! The next one is planned for June 15, 7pm at the art gallery!

She sent some words and pictures:

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Whether you want to write, draw or paint, the PCAC has a few classes coming up:

Sally Quon and her Pens of Peachland group is welcoming new members on Sundays in April, starting April 5. Daphne Hindmarch’s acrylic classes are back too, but she’s already full. You can be put on a waiting list, though! Email Mary Staudinger for more info.

And Mary herself recently hosted her own class! Watercolour Art with Mary was focussed on fun, informative and intuitive painting, whether you have experience or not.

What else? A drawing workshop with James Elwood is ongoing, with sessions on April 22 and 29. On that final day, weather permitting, artists will work outdoors, at the beach!

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The PCAC recently presented its annual report to council, including 2022 Visitor Centre numbers. They’re planning special displays having to do with the history of the yellow schoolhouse and the Syilx Expansion Exhibit. Historic walking tours will be back, and they’re also looking for volunteers. And their gift shop will have a fresh batch of Peachland-branded merchandise this spring!

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The theatre is back in Peachland! The Peachland Little Theatre is presenting the comedy / farce Every Little Crook and Nanny. It’s going to be a much bigger venue, at the Peachland Community Centre. For years, the Little Theatre’s home has been at 4th St Place, which is now being converted to the temporary home of the food bank and Peachland Wellness Centre.

Tickets are $10 each and are available at Peachland Pharmacy.

What’s the play about? A retired nanny takes on a boarder with a criminal past – who is planning on robbing the bank down the street!

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This exhibit was on display earlier this spring, at the art gallery:

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The PCAC was proud to host an inspiring evening in honour of International Women’s Day March 8. Four guest speakers were invited, and thanks to Janet Hornseth and her team of volunteers, all 130 guests enjoyed themselves (more here):

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Susan Haglund’s Ex-Factor Abstract series was a blast! Three Wednesday afternoons in February were spent in the Peachland Little Schoolhouse, using acrylic paint in a variety of ways:

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Did you know the PCAC has a regular schedule of arts classes? Here’s the latest, as submitted by Mary Staudinger! You can email her with any questions or to register:

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Some highlights from this year’s HeARTS Festival February 7-13. So great to see everything in person again!

Here is more HeARTS Festival coverage

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What’s going on at the art gallery?

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Another open mic night, another success! Thanks to Vivian Parenteau for sending along these pics from the Oct 27 performance. There was quite a variety of entertainment – from musicians and singers to comedians and poets!

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Some classes coming up:

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Some courses that were offered this fall:

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The PCAC hosted an art show on Day 2 of the Mural Festival over the September long weekend:

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Life in Technicolour – a series of oil and pastel paintings reflecting the spirit of a city, runs Sept 3 – Oct 10 at the Peachland Art Gallery. Here’s an idea of what you’ll be looking at (image courtesy the gallery’s FB page)

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On August 18, I met Summerland artist Jenny Lewis. After a career in corporate-land, she picked up a paintbrush – and in her 50s, found a new passion. She has a name for each of these strong women – it’s a series of six, and Jenny is working on the seventh right now.

More of her work:

And Wayne Power – you’ve seen him on this page! He’s working on a painting technique he created called adaptive watercolouring. He starts with a line drawing, adapted from a photograph. He then applies water colours and the look is a reminder of colourized photographs – or a colouring book!

Artists Susan Haglund, Susan Driussi, Millie Winston, Robin Taylor, Diane Duteil, Mariuccia Mary Turnbull and Peggie Collins are some of the other artists who participated earlier in August. For the week of Aug 22 to 28, Judy Nagus, Rhea Dallaire and Sarah Parsons will be the ‘artists in studio’!

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The Summer Arts Program is in full swing, and if you’ve ever wanted to see some talented locals in action, stop by the Peachland Little Schoolhouse on Brandon Lane! Every Wednesday to Saturday from 11-4 p.m. you’ll find painters, sculptors and other crafters – plus many of their work will be for sale! That happens August 27 & 28.

 Thanks, Sharon McPhee for sending along this information!

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Saw this on the Peachland Art Gallery’s Facebook page:

An annual favourite – the OASIS Okanagan Art Show returned earlier this summer:

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Local artist Wayne Power (who was recently elected chairman of Peachland’s newly-formed Arts Advisory Committee) will be hosting another one of his workshops. Here’s his poster:

Watercolours, acrylics, and pastels are the mediums and the workshops are flexible – as in, these are drop-in classes! Here’s some more info

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The Peachland Art Group hosted its 60th art sale May 28 and 29 at the community centre from 10-2. I stopped by Saturday morning:

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Another open mic night May 19 – and another success! Organizer Paula McLaughlin says they just keep getting better.

“Both the audience and the talent just keeps growing! We had a wonderful variety of ages and instruments, solos and ensembles, and even comedy and poetry. Everyone enjoyed the evening, which wrapped up with a banjo and bluegrass duo of myself and Vicki Molloy, a member of our Arts Council.”

Thanks for sharing these pictures!

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Want to take an art class? Wayne Power says he’ll be instructing mini workshops using watercolours, acrylics and pastels with various themes and subjects. From landscapes and lakescapes, to quails, historic photos and yes, even peaches – there’s all sorts of fun things to discover. Better yet, no registration is required! Just show up at the Peachland Little Schoolhouse off Brandon Lane July 27-30!

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Paula McLaughlin has a great idea – open mic nights at the Peachland Art Gallery! Thanks for sending along some photos + words from the April 21 event!

“It was an outpouring of joy – the joy of making and sharing music, and the joy of gathering in such a beautiful venue, to celebrate the arts! We had such a variety of ages and instruments, young and old, teens, piano, guitar, voice, even comedy! And the atmosphere was charged with the emotions within the music along with the energy of the performers. We had this idea in the summer of 2019, when not much was going on, but we went ahead anyway, fully masked, but believing in the potential of this concept. The last two open mics were limited to half capacity in the art gallery, but were such a strong message of the willingness of people to participate both as performers and as audience. Now, we are allowed to have full capacity, and the wheels are in motion. There is already a sign-up list for the next open mic on May 19, when many of these fine musicians are planning to return, along with more comedy and even spoken word/poetry! I am so delighted with how it has evolved, and I am so grateful to the Peachland Community Arts Council for their full support, along with the Peachland Art Gallery, who is providing this ideal venue with the art all around and the excellent acoustics. Hainle Winery is involved as well and we are happy to be able to have their excellent wines to offer for sale, which adds a nice touch to the festive atmosphere!

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Wayne Power’s latest workshop is about exploring your own colour palette. Students are working with a variety of materials this April. Here’s what they’ve done!

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Susan Haglund’s Ex-Factor Abstract Series happened in March! It was a mix of established and semi-professional artists – and me (a painting rookie). It was fun to learn and use different techniques and tools in abstract painting. Here’s what we worked on!

(photo courtesy Peachland Community Arts Council’s website)

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It was the first in-person opening in two years, and on March 19 artist Gabrielle Strong presented an exhibition of ceramics and oil paintings, themed around the weather this time of year. About 75 people took in the opening, enjoying local Hainle wine and of course, Strong’s paintings and ceramics. PCAC president Deb Livingstone said that when she first walked into the gallery, she was brought to tears – Strong’s work reminds her of home:

The art gallery is open Tuesdays through Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Strong is one of only a handful of artists who have been asked to fill the gallery with just her work – so this is worth checking out!

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Some words from Phyllis Papineau, as it appears in a recent PCAC newsletter:

Some Peachlanders, weary of covid, are thinking green – shamrocks on St Patrick’s day (March 17), snow drops and crocuses popping up in gardens, and packages of seeds showing up in stores. The Peachland Visitors Centre is thinking green as well. People are invited to come into the Centre and guess how many sunflower seeds are in the jar on the front desk. The prize is a beautiful plant. As many know, the sunflower is the national flower of the Ukraine. So, everyone participating in the contest will receive a package of sunflower seeds. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see the yards of Peachland and the Valley full of sunflowers in support of Ukraine! The contest ends on March 31. The hours are 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. NOTE: The colours of the Ukrainian flag are blue and yellow. When you mix these two colours, you get GREEN.

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Back in 2011, the Peachland Art Group set up their easels and started painting small 8×8 pictures of Beach Ave businesses ‘en plein aire’. Thirty-four paintings were done in all and each piece is on permanent display at the Visitor Centre. The art group now wants to do something cool – they’re going to add another 34 little paintings to the display. These new ones will be done in sepia tones and will depict scenes covering the same area, during the 1900s. The art group is also planning a show and sale at the Peachland community centre May 28 and 29!

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Want to learn more about the use of colour in a variety of mediums? Check out Wayne Power’s latest class! Send an email here to sign up.

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The official HeARTS poster, designed by Madison More. The HeARTS festival was Feb 8-21, 2022:

Here’s some early HeARTS entries to inspire – from Peachland Elementary! Principal Wendy Briggs sent along the following creations from students. Thanks to Chris Byrd for sending these my way!

The collage on the top left features the four food chiefs of the Okanagan Syilx and is the work of Jacob, Summer, Alex and Avery. Caroline, in Grade 3, created the owl, and the puppets were made by Sawyer (in the red shirt) and Penny, who is in Kindergarten. Well done, everyone!

And here is Wayne Power’s take on family, which is the theme of this years’ HeARTS festival..

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If you’re already thinking ahead to 2023, the gallery is considering exhibition proposals, here’s some more info on that.

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Local artist Wayne Power is really proud of his students, who recently completed his November workshop using a variety of mediums and techniques. Hard to believe many of his students are beginners! You can catch Wayne’s art during the upcoming HeARTS Festival week of activities!

Some art cards Wayne made, featuring more of his students’ work..

Want to sign up for Wayne’s January courses? It’s called Adult Art Series #2 and it starts January 5, and for the following three Wednesday afternoons, you’ll be working on everything from watercolour to acrylic! Student cost is $150, which includes all the supplies you’ll need. If you’re interested, contact plsworkshops@peachlandarts.ca

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Explore an exciting variety of mediums and works from 50 different artists at the Peachland Art Gallery! It’s time for the annual Artists of the Okanagan exhibition, and it’s here until January 23, 2022. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.

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Local singer / artist Paula McLaughlin is planned a special evening at the Peachland Art Gallery Thursday, December 2, with a variety of entertainers. The show was sold out and a big success! Paula tells me she’s hoping this means this could be a regular thing. Stay tuned!

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Fall and winter is when the Peachland Little Schoolhouse on Brandon Lane is home to a series of artist workshops! Roberta Farrelly will be hosting a figure painting series on Mondays – November 22 and 29, and December 6 and 20th. This is open to all adults, but may be best for those with some painting experience. For information or to register plsworkshops@peachlandarts.ca

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Wood Clay and Canvas was an “exciting exhibition of contemporary furniture, large-scale ceramics, and contemporary art.”  John Rousseau, Peter Flanagan, and Joan Skeet were featured artists for the Oct 9 to Nov. 14 exhibition.

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Whether you’re retired, a teenager or eight years old, there’s an art class for you this fall, thanks to the Peachland Community Arts Council. Art instructor Linda Lovisa is teaching a Group of Seven-inspired acrylic workshop, where participants will at the end, be the proud owners of a self-created, distinct painting. It’s open to kids aged eight and up (teens are welcome), and the sessions (Oct. 23 and 30, and Nov. 6 and 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.), cost $175. Interested? Contact Janet at (250) 801-0134, or email pcacgallerycoordinator@gmail.com

This class looks interesting!

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During the month of August, Artists in Studio offered a unique experience at the Peachland art gallery. I met local artists Launna, Julie and Robin. Here is some of their work!

Painted shells, chalk pastels, landscapes and other pieces from artist Launna Vinnedge can be seen at the gallery…

A sketch from Julie Brooks’ notebook – and below, some of her work on the wall..

Artist Robin Taylor had a notebook full of cool sketches, in addition to a variety of other work. Here’s a page!

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Guardians of Eternity, a collection of oil-based works that centre on our forests, wrapped up Oct. 3.  According to the PCAC website these paintings “pay tribute to these magnificent icons of our past and the impact they have on our lives.”

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There’s a summer of art activity at the Little Schoolhouse, and local creators are hoping you’ll register and come visit!  In July, Wayne Power hosted “Art Media Afternoons with Wayne,” where pastel blending, monochromatic landscapes and watercolours were taught. Other local artists lent their expertise throughout the summer – and you can check out their work! For more info, check out this page.

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The 8th annual OASIS exhibition featured works from the Central Okanagan Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists. The show wrapped up July 31.

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Have you always wanted to own a piece of Peachland art? Well, you’ll have a chance July 2, 3 and 4th! There’s going to be a blowout sale of original art – unframed and art cards, as well as lightly-used art supplies. It’s all at the Little Schoolhouse off 4th St., between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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What a beautiful day! Here’s what I found during the PCAC’s Art and Garden tour June 12:

Troika is back – and here is their latest work, just completed! Susan Driussi, Louise McIntosh and Susan Haglund were at the Peachland Wellness Centre.

Hi Wayne! Had the pleasure of running into Mr. Power, at the little schoolhouse.

Peter and Paula McLaughlin were working on macrame and a painting at Bette and Murray Johnston’s house.

I also met Daphne and Peter Flanagan. Their veg garden is great – and so is their unique pottery!

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Have you checked out the latest at the Peachland art gallery? Passionate Brush is all about human expression – it can be a vessel for storytelling, or any other creative interpretation. Just head over to the gallery – it’s open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. While you’re there, you can enter to win a painting from artist Kato Rempel’s small works collection. The next draws take place June 11 and 18! The Passionate Brush exhibit is in Peachland until June 20.

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Really cool idea from the Peachland Historic School Accessible Plaza Society – Local artists worked on their 10×10 canvasses, and now they’re being sold at the Visitor Centre for $150 each! The money goes towards funding for the plaza, plus the artists are supported too. You can check out the display from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Gardeners and local artists alike are sowing the seeds for an event in Peachland that’s coming back this year: The Peachland Art & Garden Tour is planned for Saturday June 12. Barb Opinko and Linda Norden are taking care of the garden part, while the Peachland Community Arts Council is busy organizing artists whose work will be displayed at the gardens chosen for the show.

“There will be great gardens, great artwork as well as great prizes,” Opinko says.

Tickets are $15 and are still available at the Peachland Visitor Centre, Peachland Ace Hardware, the Peachland Wellness Centre, and at Bylands garden centre in West Kelowna. And yes, the event will adhere to all COVID protocols (masks, social distancing, etc).

This year, Opinko says they want to give away a grand prize of a large hanging basket – just like the ones the District of Peachland hangs every year along Beach Ave.

Last summer, Barb and I took a quick tour downtown, and I also visited the garden of one of my subscribers, Susan Van Noortwyk. Beautiful!

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Peachland’s new visitor centre manager says 2020 was actually pretty good, tourism wise. We even had more visitors than our neighbours, Trina Shields recently told councillors.

“We managed to surpass both West Kelowna and Summerland,” she said, noting although numbers are obviously down from 2019, the Peachland Visitor Centre still welcomed 4,449 visitors in 2020.

“And from Jan. 9 to Feb 23, our visitor statistics have increased 74.3%,” Shields says.

The Visitor Centre (which is operated through the Peachland Community Arts Council) has a few fun plans for 2021. They’ll be selling more local art, clothing and other gift shop items, there will be new information panels highlighting both BEEPS and Peachland’s history (and a podcast is in the works too), and depending on the rules in place, a walking history tour is planned, too.

Check out the Visitor Centre’s new website!

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Peachland Community Arts Council President Deborah Livingstone also updated councillors during the same Feb. 23 meeting. With a dozen umbrella groups, 14 directors and about 500 members in all, the PCAC, founded back in 1990, has become a huge creative hive of pretty much any art form you can imagine.

“We have a writing group, a gardening group, a ukulele group, historians and a miniature enthusiasts group,” she said, noting everything is run mainly by volunteers. It takes more than 7,500 volunteer hours in fact, to run all five of the PCAC’s main programs.

When it comes to the art gallery, she says they received more than 20 proposals for exhibitions in 2021, and they’re currently booking into 2022. She says Janet Hornseth deserves a special mention for her work here:

“As always, kudos goes to our art gallery coordinator Janet Hornseth and talented hanging crew. Janet has dedicated herself to the success of our art gallery. She’s done an amazing job setting the stage for many, many years of successful exhibitions,” Livingstone said.

“We’re grateful we can open the doors and offer a creative, welcoming, bright spot in the community.”

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Peachland’s HeARTS Festival turned ten years old this year and artists of all ages got involved, virtually. The Feb 8-13 event ended up showcasing 85 different images, proving how the COVID-related chaos in our world can summon creativity from anyone:

From left to right, starting at the top..

Meredith Miller (Let Your Heart Soar wall hanging)

Paula McLaughlin (macrame wall hanging)

Hannah Knox, age 16 (photography)

Darlene Romanko and her granddaughter Maelle, age 7 (fabric crochet)

Susan Gotfried contributed this Welcome quilt

Hannah Firth, age 8 (drawing)

Linda Schneider made this quilt for her granddaughter, Neve.

Debbie Elliott (pottery)

Susan Haglund (Propagation piece)

PCAC president Deb Livingstone tells me (via email) that Peachland Elementary students also decorated their own paper hearts, which volunteers will hung from ribbons in the Visitor Centre’s boardroom. She says they’ll miss the grand showcase of local art that usually fills the community centre (won’t we all!)

“Hopefully by next year we’ll be back in the swing of things,” she says.

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Volunteer Phyllis Papineau sent me an email recently. They’re kicking off this year’s edition by taking a peek at Peachland’s past. Do you know what year the Little Schoolhouse was built? Or what present-day restaurant was once a gas station? If you don’t, that’s OK – you can go find out! Download and print the quiz here (or pick one up at the Visitor Centre) and go for a walk along the waterfront. You’ll find your answers on different plaques and markers along the lakefront. Entries are due Feb 7! Phyllis says this is something they’re hoping to organize on a regular basis. It’s fun, and, as she points out, even our town’s entrance signs are about our tie to times of old!

“The signs at the north and south entrances say ‘welcome to historic Peachland’, so why not let 2021 be the year to learn about our fabulous past?”

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There’s a new installation at the Peachland Art Gallery. Captured Images is a collection of photographic works from 36 different Okanagan-based photographers. The exhibition runs until March 28. The art gallery (in the Peachland Visitor Centre) is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Image courtesy the PCAC..

There’s landscapes, animals and much more on the walls of the Peachland Art Gallery – they’re the visions of five different (and obviously talented) artists whose work is currently featured on the walls of the Peachland Art Gallery.

The Five Visions art show began Saturday Jan. 9. More than 60 different paintings from BC Artist Guild talents Cherie Sibley W., Dianne Postman, Cecile Derkatch, Suzanne Dansereau and Arlene Currie Plumpton will be featured. You’re welcome to come see their work, but of course keep in mind COVID-related rules are in effect (only ten people at a time are allowed in the gallery area). The art gallery (in the Peachland Visitor Centre) is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Five Visions art show wraps up on Feb. 7.

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Some local artists’ work featured during Artists of the Okanagan: Susan Haglund (top), Jean Allen (left), Jean Brandel, and Susan Driussi (right).

There was a sculptor, a photographer and a couple painters – and they all represented Peachland during Artists of the Okanagan, a showcase of 85 works of art from all over the valley that wrapped up Dec. 23, 2020.

I ran into artist Wayne Power (yes, at a distance), on opening day back in November:

“I really like the variety this show has,” said Wayne, whose work was selected for the exhibit. Other featured Peachland artists were: Berkeley Stuart, Michael Healey, Susan Driussi, Susan Haglund, Jean Allen and Jean Brandel.

Power, by the way, is offering a series of four workshops coming up in February. Each week, he’ll cover a different medium – pencil, acrylics, watercolours and pastels (again with COVID protocol in effect). It’s planned for February and because attendance numbers are very limited, once registration opens you should act fast! I’ll update that info here. All supplies are provided, from watercolours to graphite pencils, chalk pastels and acrylics. By the end of the series, you’ll have your own monochrome piece of art created by…you!

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Here’s a message about the Peachland Community Arts Council, from president Deborah Livingstone

We have a very vibrant arts scene in Peachland!  We have painters, sculptors, fibre artists, singers, actors, photographers, carvers and more.  Add in an active group of volunteers and thousands of hours spent sharing all kinds of art, and you have a very active and exciting Arts Council. We represent 13 umbrella organizations in Peachland, welcoming many members from West Kelowna as well. We proudly represent both communities. We got our start in 1997 as an initiative of the Peachland Economic Development Committee. Today we have over 400 members.

The historic yellow schoolhouse is home to the Peachland Art Gallery, and other PCAC programs.

Housed in the 1908 Historic Yellow Schoolhouse on Beach Ave, the PCAC now operates the provincially-designated Visitor Centre, in the historic yellow schoolhouse is home to the Peachland Art Gallery, and other PCAC programs, in addition to an exceptional Art Gallery.

Every year we contribute $5000 towards a community project. We designed and installed the Remembrance Day Banners for Beach Ave honouring our fallen soldiers in WWI and WWII. We built the information kiosk at the Historic School featuring the story of our resident bats in the attic. We also donated the outdoor children’s musical instruments across from Bliss Bakery.

The mandate of the Peachland Community Arts Council is to stimulate, develop and encourage all the arts as a major contributor to the overall quality of life and economic well-being of Peachland and the Okanagan Valley.

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See April 2 story: Making the best of a strange situation: Introducing Peachland’s 2020 visitor centre manager