Once again local artists will be featured in local businesses in the Summerland Community Arts Council’s annual Art Walk. Starting this Saturday Aug. 1 and running until Aug. 31 local artists will have works displayed in participating downtown businesses and wineries.
The Art Walk is designed to promote tourism, business and cultural awareness in Summerland.
Our hope is that by organizing a collaboration between local artists and Summerland businesses we can attract more customers and art lovers/buyers to our beautiful town.
Patrons are encouraged to come on this walking tour of the downtown area to re-discover the wonderful shops in our beautiful downtown.
Exercise, art, and shopping all in one, what could be better?
The Featured Artist of the week at the Art Centre for July 31 to Aug. 4 is Shirlie Wilkinson.
Wilkinson was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and moved to British Columbia with her family in 1942.
She graduated from the Vancouver School of Arts and on completion of her course was awarded the Businessmen’s Travel-Study Scholarship that must be used outside of Canada.
In May, 1958 she traveled to the British Isles and Europe and studied art at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London.
During her 18 months abroad she traveled through 21 European countries and spent her time visiting galleries, sketching and painting.
Wilkinson has since enjoyed a career in design and graphics and now in her retirement is once again enjoying painting with watercolours and acrylics. Come watch Wilkinson paint and hear more about her travels.
Wednesdays on the Water will continue this Wednesday, Aug. 5 featuring a local group from West Kelowna called Dark Horse. These six musicians will serenade you with a variety of favourites from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic to Peach Orchard beach to enjoy free weekly music Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
And if one night of music isn’t enough for you this week, the 68th annual Peach Festival in Penticton has daily entertainers from Aug. 5 to 9.
You can find their schedule online at www.peachfest.com.
Summer art classes for kids continue until Aug. 21 at the Art Centre.
There is still space available in the Aug. 10 to 14 classes.
It will be a fun filled week of learning and performing musical theatre excerpts in Musical Theatre for ages seven and up or learn artist techniques using pencils, pens, pastels and paints in From Pencil to Paint for ages 10 and up.
Once Upon a Time is based around popular children’s stories and nursery rhymes. Children will be singing, playing, acting and creating in this class for three- to five-year-olds.
For more classes see our online brochure or drop by the Art Centre. Register soon as classes fill up quickly.
Carmen McDowell is the Summer Art Program coordinator at the Summerland Arts Council.
