The Columbia Basin Culture Tour allows the public to explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites during a free, self-guided event. The tour runs August 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can travel to studios and archives that aren’t normally open, see demonstrations, new exhibitions and collections or meet people behind the scenes. To participate in the tour, simply grab a map, your culture tour directory and go.
In Nelson’s Rosemont area visit Tea Preville, a member of the FCA, to view her knife-painting landscapes in oil.
Carol Reynolds creates paintings of Nelson; her home and unending inspiration. She will have many paintings on display, as well as the return of the popular “bargain deck”.
Also on Munro Street are Richard Dudley and Robert Dudley. Painting has been a lifelong passion for Richard and since retiring he has devoted a sustained effort towards painting landscapes. Robert creates functional and decorative accessories for the home and person.
Andrea Gardner’s studio is also close by, where you can view her recent tree and forest paintings, figure drawings and works in progress. During the tour, Andrea will be providing the opportunity to experiment with acrylic paints and try inking and printing a linoleum print.
Visit Kim Horroks Ceramics, located on Hoover Street, where Kim works with clay full time and loves the outdoor life the Kootenay region offers, and which helps her to return to the studio to produce inspired work.
As you make your way downtown stop and visit Charissa Alain-Lilly who uses natural materials such as silverberry seeds, porcupine quills, pearls, semi-precious stones, and antler horn in her artwork and crafts that include jewelry and mittens.
Stop by the Selkirk College – Kootenay Studio Arts (KSA) campus, located downtown in a heritage stone building. Faculty will be giving a guided tour at 10:30 a.m. each day or you can explore the working studios throughout the event.
KSA programming features small class sizes, working artists as instructors and after-hours studio access.
Visit artist Vivi Harder in her Baker Street studio to see her paintings and discuss the work personally, or simply to observe and ponder them. As an abstract painter, she is interested in expressing the human spirit through a minimalist and formalist approach, creating a playful dialogue with color, texture and compositional juxtapositions.
Touchstones Nelson: Museum of Art and History is a combination of art gallery, museum and archives, with a shop featuring locally handcrafted work.
Displayed in Gallery A is work by well-known long-time Nelson area resident and KSA instructor Courtney Andersen; in Gallery B is Sons of Freedom Doukhobors: Photographs from the Stevens Studio Collection.
Oxygen Art Centre is pleased to present new work by Victoria artist Megan Dickie: an installation including video and sculpture entitled Spin Off. The video references the format of video games; flat, multi-leveled obstacle courses, built from large scale absurd sculptures, that are traversed by a character (the artist) who continually fails and reattempts the challenges.
Visit four great studios in Fairview before you head over to the North Shore. Peter Bockner is a furniture maker and wood carver who has been living and working in his craft for 45 years. His work includes dining tables, chairs, entry doors, meditation furniture and architectural and decorative carvings.
Ron Robinson is a conceptual artist working mainly in mixed media, he will guide you through his home studio/gallery.
Kalika Bowlby is a contemporary potter making a complete line of tableware. Kalika makes each piece from concept to completion, with lots of work available to choose from.
At Erica Konrad’s straw bale home and art studio, situated lakeside in Nelson, Erica will be working on paintings to demonstrate the encaustic process. Small and large abstract art work (on wood and paper) will be featured.
Travel along the North Shore for the small ferry ride to five charming locations in Harrop/Proctor.
Kingsland Farm is set amidst the alpaca environment, gardens and the cedar trees used for basketry bark. From cedar and pine needle basketry to felted alpaca garments, they are truly locally self-sufficient in their use of materials. Also on display at Kingsland Farm is Molly’s Landing where Brenda Pirie will give you a glimpse of her whimsical and realistic needle-felted animals.
In Proctor, visit Susie Salmons at Hedgehog Haven Nursery to view her mosaic art that includes functional and decorative pieces for the home and garden using recycled china, stained glass and other found objects. Find artist Terry Huva and ceramic artist Michele Dupas at the Procter Schoolhouse. Terry’s work involves water, boats, people and place, where abstraction, arresting colour combos, strong light and dark shadows meet. Michele’s hand-built clay creations are functional and/or sculptural. Michele’s work tends to be playful and her newest exploration involves nerdy monster teapots and plates.
Just one kilometre past Balfour are artists Karen Hornby and Heather Hutchinson. Hornby creates abstract mixed media works inspired by nature.
Hutchinson is a painter, a dancer, actor and performance artist, and it is movement that informs her paintings. Heather says that for her “painting begins with just a colour and a concept.
Take the ferry to visit the Artisans of Crawford Bay, a group of talented and diverse craft artists, all within easy walking distance of each other. Stop at the studios to watch them work, ask questions, and learn a little about their crafts.
Brochures are available at tourist information centres and the venues. Visit www.cbculturetour.com.
