Elaine Clarke (left) and Sue Whittaker were among the volunteers hanging paintings Tuesday for Spring Colours. Here they hold up a painting by Penticton artist Peggy VanderWart Stel, who is inspired by totem poles. (Richard McGuire photo)
This year’s Osoyoos Art Gallery exhibition by the local chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) has moved to a new season – spring.
Spring Colours officially opens on Saturday, with a presentation of awards, but there is a “soft opening” Wednesday with no pomp and ceremony.
“The last couple of years we called it Colours in Winter and it was the first show in the Osoyoos gallery at the beginning of the year,” said artist Michael Jorden, who is managing the show. “And then we ran into a large snowstorm on the drop-off day last year. We had to have a second drop-off because some of the members come from Penticton and Summerland and they had difficulty getting down here.”
Aside from the shift of season, the juried show, now in its fourth consecutive year, follows the same format as previous years, said Jorden.
The local FCA chapter is based in Penticton, so artists from around the South Okanagan and Similkameen will be represented.
This year’s show will include 45 works, all paintings, from 20 different artists, Jorden said.
None of the submitted works were rejected in the jurying process for quality reasons, but some were left out due to lack of space.
“The quality of art submitted was very, very good,” said Jorden.
Artists come from such places as Penticton, Summerland, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Keremeos and Osoyoos. Jorden said he doesn’t believe any come from communities east of Osoyoos.
This exhibition is the local FCA chapter’s only juried show of the year, Jorden said.
The three jurors are chosen by the FCA administration in Vancouver and images of the works are entered over the internet. The jurors judge and rank the works without knowing who the artists are.
Each juror judges the works on a seven-point scale, resulting in a rank of first, second and third along with five honourable mentions.
Awards will be presented around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, during a reception that runs from 2 to 4 p.m.
The works run the gamut of painting styles and techniques including oils, acrylic, watercolours and encaustic, a mixed-media technique using wax.
Artists were allowed to submit up to three works each.
The FCA is a national organization formed in 1941 by artists including Group of Seven painter Lawren Harris. The local chapter has roughly 90 members.
Spring Colours runs from March 2 to 26.
The Osoyoos Art Gallery is located at 8713 Main Street, just west of Town Hall. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
