Carla Leinweber (left) and Judy Millar are the artists behind Authenticity, now showing at the Art Gallery Osoyoos until May 25. The show combines encaustic painting with decorated gourds. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

Authenticity is more than just a name for artists Judy Millar and Carla Leinweber’s new show at the Art Gallery Osoyoos. It speaks to the mediums in which they create as well.

Leinweber, a multimedia artist based out of Okanagan Falls, designs gourds, and Millar’s encaustic art uses bees wax.

“Authenticity, for me, it means basic and true to material,” Leinweber said.

There’s a range of what can be done with gourds. Leinweber paints them, glues things to them, etches them.

“Gourds are my 3D surface,” she said. “I was introduced to them by a First Nations person who taught a workshop in Keremeos, and I fell in love with them.”

In Authenticity, the gourds, along with two other tangible pieces – a thunder drum and a rain stick – are paired with Millar’s wax paintings.

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The mix of three-dimensional and two-dimensional art works together well, Leinweber said.

“I think it gives a nice blend of two and 3D work. A couple of my smaller pieces, I’ve incorporated encaustic and felt. There’s crossover there.”

Using gourds, not only for art, is a historic practice, similar to encaustics, Millar said.

“Three thousand years ago the Greeks used it,” she said. “Encaustic is a very ancient form of art.”

Millar paints with bees wax and tree resin mixed together. She also adds oil paints into the wax to colour it.

“Wax is so awesome to work with because you can make textures and you can put things in it and make any colours you want or add gold or silver flakes.”

It’s the textures and layers that makes Authenticity unique, Leinweber said.

“Two of my pieces are meant to be touched,” she said. “Those things need to be felt, looked at, heard. Anybody can come and participate in art.”

Authenticity is showing at the Art Gallery Osoyoos until May 25. The gallery is located at 8713 Main Street, and open noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday.