The Community Arts Council of Creston invites all to join in the celebration of B.C.’s Arts and Culture Week, April 21-27, by taking in one or more of the local events planned by the arts council. An opening wine and cheese with a large art display and sale will take place at the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce on April 21 from 7-9 p.m. Music will be supplied by Rick Potyok, Julie Matthews and Velle Weitman. The art show will remain on display throughout the week at the chamber during office hours.
Also on display at this Art Show will be the entries in the contest celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Creston-Salmo highway. Viewers will be able to vote for their favourite piece of artwork.
On April 22, at the Valley Mudders Studio on Northwest Boulevard, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Andrea Revoy will be holding a workshop on making a hanging tile or medallion. These will be fired and then placed on display at the art show at the chamber as a community art project.
A different kind of workshop will take place on April 23 when Jen Hart will lead participants through the wonderful world of Zentangles. It is an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Almost anyone can use it to create beautiful images. It increases focus and creativity, and provides artistic satisfaction, along with an increased sense of personal well-being. Hart will lead two workshops: one from 1-3 p.m. for adults and a second from 4:30-6:30 p.m. for youth. Snacks will be available. Both workshops take place at the chamber of commerce. With Zentangles, anything is possible, one stroke at a time.
Everyone has talent. It lies below ordinary mind in a deep pool of creativity. When we sit still, let go the busyness of daily life and then write without conditioned thought, words that arise from the roots of the imagination land on our page. This is the stuff of poetry. This is writing practice. This workshop in writing practice and poetry will be lead by Kuya Minogue at the Creston Zendo (824 Regina St.) from 7-9 p.m. April 24. Participants should bring a notebook and two fast pens.
Also on April 24, the Creston Art Club is having a meet the artists session. This will be held during the club’s regular painting day. Everyone is invited to drop by the St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church hall between 9:30 and 11 a.m. to meet local artists and to see a variety of work in various stages of completion.
The event planned for April 25, is a contemporary dance session with instructor Simon Lazarchuk from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at 1329 Northwest Blvd. Those wishing to take this workshop should contact Lazarchuk at 250-428-8853. The workshop will be paced for the more “mature” bodies — no previous experience is required. A variety of movement techniques will be explored, offering the participants a movement vocabulary to work with. Bring slippers, non-skid socks and loose, comfortable clothing.
Two events are planned for April 26. During the day, most of the artisans will be open in Crawford Bay and Riondel. Throughout the day, various demonstrations will be taking place, usually when Art Week participants show up. For those not wanting to drive, carpooling is available — meet at the chamber of commerce parking lot at 11 a.m.
In the evening, a session titled Travel Posters at the Night Gallery will be presented by Alison Masters in the Prince Charles Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by cash donation or a food bank item.
To close out the week, Jan Potyok has organized A Taste of Creston. This is an ethnic food event to be held next to the chamber of commerce. This year’s theme is “ethnic eats”, so preference is being given to menu items that have an ethnic flavor and should encourage creative menu choices. Further information is available at atasteofcreston@gmail.com. This tasty event will be the closing of Arts and Culture Week in Creston.
BC Arts and Culture Week is presented through the joint effort of Arts BC and ArtStarts in Schools, thanks to the support of the province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council and the BC and Yukon Community News-paper Association, and is organized in Creston by the Community Arts Council of Creston.
—COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL OF CRESTON