The Eagle Valley Arts Council (EVAC) is looking for artists interested in taking part in a fine arts cooperative in Sicamous.
Painters, potters, glass workers, photographers, jewelry makers and others from the Shuswap who might be interested in participating in displaying and/or selling their work through a co-operative are encouraged to contact the arts council.
“We have a few artists who are doing some art shows around the area this year and we just thought, we don’t have anything in Sicamous where they can actually show their art,” said EVAC president Kim Hyde, explaining how the idea for a local artists co-op arose. “Although the Red Barn is the arts centre for Sicamous, and run by EVAC, we can’t set up a full-time gallery in there because of all the other member groups that use it for their arts classes and so on.”
Hyde stresses that the co-op would be for works of fine art, as opposed to artisan work, as EVAC doesn’t want to take away from the artisan shop in the community.
“This is really in the preliminary stages and that’s why we’ve put out a call to artists to see if there’s interest there,” said Hyde.
Artists wishing to submit expressions of interest may contact Hyde at 250-833-8085, or by email at kimahyde@gmail.com.
Workshops
In other arts news, award-winning watercolour artist Graham Flatt will be providing two workshops at the Red Barn Arts Centre. An acrylics workshop is scheduled to take place May 27 to 29, with an artist talk and slideshow presentation on the Sunday starting at 7 p.m., and the workshops on Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A watercolour workshop will take place June 11 to 13, with an artist talk and slideshow presentation starting at 7 p.m. on Sunday, and the workshops on Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Considered one of the world’s top western waterolourists, Flatt’s paintings have been chosen to represent Canada in several international competitions and exhibitions.
Flatt’s biography states, “He has been teaching workshops for over 20 years and is affectionately known as the ‘Monty Python of Watercolour.’”
“He is refreshing in his approach to ‘breaking the rules’ of watercolour and embracing the students’ individual process in his popular workshops. Flatt is a very bold, direct painter with an emphasis on strong design elements. Working with a limited palette, Flatt maintains a delicate balance between passion and design.”
Space in the workshops is limited and people are encouraged to book in advance. The cost for each workshop is $100 for EVAC members and $150 for non-members. A 50 per cent non-refundable deposit is required eight days in advance. For more information, contact Kim Hyde at 250-833-8085, or by email at kimahyde@gmail.com.