An event that many Okanagan-based artists consider the art show of the year is less than a month away.
The volunteers who organize Lake Country’s annual ArtWalk are in the midst of making the final preparations for the two-day show that will take place Sept. 10 and 11 at the Lake Country Community Complex.
ArtWalk is put on as a themed event with this year’s motif being “Eye Tunes.”
Sharon McCoubrey, chairwoman for the show, said the theme has challenged organizers with a creative exercise in contrasting the differences between art forms that are experienced visually versus aurally.
In keeping with the theme, Greg Metz has been invited to attend the show as the featured artist. Much of Metz’s sculpture is inspired by music and represents visual interpretations of it. A sample of his work can be found in Creekside Park behind the IGA, where his metalwork sculpture of kokanee and herons sits.
Local luthiers and piano manufacturers will also be onsite demonstrating their craft.
Instruments in various stages of completion will be on display, while their creators will work in front of audiences to show the intricacies that go into making an instrument.
“We’ve found over the years that for a lot of people one of the most interesting things that ArtWalk offers is the chance for people to see the work that actually goes into creating a piece of art,” said McCoubrey.
The instruments won’t be the only opportunity to see art in action.
Painters will perform by listening to music and painting to it. McCoubrey says it’s going to be interesting to see how different painters portray the music.
Even the decorations for ArtWalk will tie into the Eye Tunes theme.
Large portraits of 24 of history’s most famous composers are in the midst of being painted, enormous banners depicting musical notation are being finished, and broken pianos are being given new life as pieces of decorated art.
Each of the 300 artists with work featured in the juried show are also invited to create one additional piece of work to be displayed in a theme gallery.
The gallery is displayed prominently at ArtWalk and after the weekend, it moves as a collection over to the Lake Country Art Gallery where it will stay for several weeks.
However, not everything at ArtWalk is necessarily theme-related. Some showcases and activities have been so well received in the past that they are back by popular demand once again.
“The paint-off is always a big draw,” said McCoubrey.
“A group of artists paints the same subject for a set time—15 minutes or so—and each painter interprets the subject in his or her own way.”
The interactive part of ArtWalk has always attracted a large number of participants and there will be plenty of opportunities for individuals to exercise their artistic talents.
Acrylic painting, stone carving and live model drawing are a few of the activities being planned, said McCoubrey, adding ArtWalk strives to generate public interest in the arts. Efforts are made to make the show accessible to everyone no matter their previous experience with art.
Art is important for everyone because it helps to enable personal growth through creative thinking and diversifying interests. said McCoubrey.
ArtWalk runs Sept. 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $2 per person. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating unusable musical instruments for decorative purposes can contact McCoubrey at 250-766-4406.
