The Lake Country Art Gallery is expanding with the addition of a new space.
Entitled Art House, the new space is located directly south of the existing gallery on Bottom Lake Road.
“The expansion was made possible through the generous financial support of the District of Lake Country, and dedicated members of the community have already stepped forward to bring three new and exciting ventures into being,” said Petrina McNeill, art gallery manager, who with curator Katie Brennan have also helped the space come to life.
“The Lake Country Art Gallery’s Art House is a space that courts innovation, exploration, collaboration and celebration of all of the arts. It is a place for artists and art lovers to come together to make art, talk about art and experience art in all of its forms,” added Brennan.
First in the door is Lucas Glenn, a UBC Okanagan bachelor of fine arts graduate, artist and former practicum student with the Lake Country Art Gallery.
Glenn is spearheading the gallery’s ArtShelf Bookshop and reading room.
“He is bringing his own magic with art and the written word to the bookshelves, which features used books on art, culture, design and architecture,” said Brennan.
Also helping with the new endeavour is artist Karen Coon, who has set up the artist-run gallery gift shop.
Opened in time for the recent Lake Country ArtWalk, many local artists have already had their wares available in the shop. Some of them include Alice Pallet with her innovative and stunning fibre works, scarves and handbags, Maud Besson’s ECCETERRAdesign jewelry line, and small, affordable original art by Lorraine Burns, Trina Ganson, Jolene Mackie, Margaret Kyle and Marlene McPherson.
More artist wares are being added all the time. The gift shop is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Several successful art classes have already been offered in the new dedicated art workshop, including oil painting classes with artist Gillian Rau, and The Art of Words, a three- part workshop with award-winning writer/mentor Darcy Nybo.
New classes are being booked all the time, and will be listed on the Lake Country Art Gallery website.
The Lake Country Art Gallery is hosting a grand opening of the Art House with an Art Trivia Night Friday, Oct 4.
Guests are invited to mix, mingle and tour the new Art House space from 6 to 7 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the party will move back into the main gallery space for a fun-filled, pub-style Art Trivia Night, which will raise funds to purchase chairs, tables and walls for the gallery and Art House. Entry is $10 per person.
“Art knowledge is not necessary, as there will be help in the form of BFA students and teachers for hire by auction to add some more depth to your team,” said Brennan, adding life lines will be available at the end of each round, including $5 internet searches or a $2 art reference book look-up.
More information on the event and the new space is available at the Lake Country Art Gallery at 250-766-1299 or www.lakecountryartgallery.ca.
