March 19 was the first annual Appetite for Art in Nelson, a fundraiser pairing art and food in a gallery-style setting.
Appetite for Art showcases Nelson artists and local restaurants and wineries. The pairing of art and food allow for a greater appreciation of both methods of creative expression. With 72 pieces of original art on display, and five unique local food and wine vendors, the gallery style show was a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
“For our first year, we were really excited to start from scratch and see where the Art would take us,” said Gabrielle Plamondon, food and beverage manager for the West Coast Grill. “We had some great restaurants and wineries to join us and an awesome partnership with the Nelson and District Arts Council. We have already begun to plan for expanding the event next year, with even more art and restaurants.”
From Epiphany Cakes’ sweet and delicate desserts to crispy and fruity Blanc de noirs rosé from Baillie-Grohman winery, the vendors did a magnificent job. Chef Ciraj Premanantham paired west coast scallops with “Nest” from Jenifer Hagel, showing the beauty of the art in all its forms.
True to its roots, the West Coast Grill showcased its seafood roots, while the Elegant Touch trio wowed the guests with beautiful and captivating musical arrangement. La Cantina del Centro tempted the taste buds with their ceviche on a crisp tortilla and Skimmerhorn winery’s Devil’s Chair red wine, a classic favourite.
The event is designed to raise money, through ticket sales, for the Nelson and District Art Council in support of their annual Artwalk event. All artwork on display was available for purchase.
“Considering the late start in organizing, there was great collaboration between West Coast Grill and arts council that resulted in a very good first time event,” said arts council president Ron Robinson.
As always, the big winners were artists in Nelson, with the Nelson and Districts Art Council benefitting. This year’s event raised $837.50. Events like these are the result of many hours of hard work of volunteers from the Nelson and District Arts Council and West Coast Grill.
