With the high cost of gas, being a tourist in your own backyard sounds like a good idea. This year, Art Walk has several new venues and artists in the Creston area, as well as many longtime supporters of this annual event, this year celebrating its 16th continuous season. Colorful brochures, which include a detailed map and hours of operation, are available at all venues and tourism offices.
There are two familiar venues for Art Walk in the Yahk area. There is the Yahk Soap Company with the handcrafted soap of Marlene Mitchell, as well as the rustic birdhouses of Nora McDowell. Just along the highway are the mixed media works of Penny A.P. Anderson at Yahk About Art.
In Erickson is the long established Alfoldy Gallery with the artwork of Elaine and Andy Alfoldy. These artists, with their watercolors, paper batiks, miniatures and cards, have been long time supporters of Art Walk.
Along the Canyon-Lister Road is the gallery of Lika Meers who has a fine display of her tapestries. This gallery is open by appointment only.
Also in Lister is McDowells’ Hilltop Gallery, where James has a fine display of his acrylics and garden sculptures, while Nora has more of her birdhouses on display along with her tea cozies and mixed media art. You can find more of Nora’s rustic bird feeders and garden art on show at the Morris Flowers Garden Centre on Erickson Road in Creston.
Canyon Street in Creston and streets nearby have many venues displaying a wide variety of wonderful artwork by many local artists. Break In Time Caffé has the oil paintings of Pat Yarema, while just down the street Renee’s Mainstreet Diner has the watercolor paintings of Linda Calahan. Beadazzled Beads has a wonderful display of Sandy’s beaded Christmas boxes.
Buffalo Trails Coffee House has a new display of the clay sculptures of Andrea Revoy, one of the many new artists to Art Walk this year. Just off Canyon Street, on 12th Avenue North, is the always exciting display at Pridham Studios, where you can find the pottery and paintings of Nancy and David Pridham, also longtime supporters of Art Walk. Opposite the Pridham Studios is Kingfisher Used Books, where the pastels of Carol Schloss, Art Walk’s featured artist this year, make an interesting display.
Back on Canyon Street is Coffee Creek Café, which recently held the opening event for Art Walk 2011, where another display of James McDowell's acrylics can be seen. Opposite is Pro-to-Call Computer Services, which has a photographic display of Natalie Santano’s works.
Just a few doors down the street is Creston Card and Stationery where you can view the 3 Sisters art show, featuring the acrylics of Paula Ebelher Brauer, Lisa Tessman and Gina Ebelher. Further along Canyon Street is Cresteramics, which has on display work from several local artists.
The Creston Valley Advance has Lori Diane Wikdahl's acrylics on display, while the Royal Bank features the clay and acrylics of noted local artist Sandy Kunze.
Black Bear Books has several local artists on display — Alison Bjorkman's ceramics, Alison Masters’ acrylics and watercolors, and the wood spirit carvings of Harry Miller. The Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce has a wonderful display of the Pacific Northwest carvings of Michael Price along with the drums of drum maker Michael White and the paintings of Julie Draper. On 10th Avenue, Edward Jones has the watercolours of Val Chapman, Vital Health has the photography of father and son, Jim and Howard Smith, and Real Food Café has the watercolors and contemporary art of Audry Orosz.
Natural Lights Gallery on Vancouver Street has the paintings and photography of self-taught artist Geri Buchanan. On Murdoch Street is the Krazy Kat Lady Studio and Gallery, where Margaux Allard has her acrylics, pencil art, jewelry, prints and cards on display.
Out on Northwest Boulevard is Kootenay Candles, which has its usual display of wonderful handcrafted bees wax candles. Off Highway 3, on Crusher Road, Ute Bachinski has her own studio, where she displays her talent with pastels, watercolors and fabric art.
On Indian Road, off Lower Wynndel Road, is the Hirota Gallery, which contains the mixed media paintings of Eileen Hirota and the pottery of Jackson Hirota.
The last Creston area gallery as one heads north on Highway 3A is the Galvanized Art Gallery, a new gallery to Art Walk this year, which features the pottery and paintings of Sandy Kunze and the clay sculptures of Dirk Kunze.
Art Walk continues on in Boswell, Gray Creek and Crawford Bay. Pick up your brochure soon and begin planning an exciting day of exploring the arts in your own neighborhood of British Columbia.