Deb Sherwin was instrumental in organizing The Spirit of Art this weekend with fellow local artists at Spirit Ridge at Nk’Mip Resort. (Keith Lacey photo)
Being able to showcase the artistic talents of Osoyoos artists to a huge group of tourists staying at one of the town’s busiest hotels is a partnership that continues to pay huge dividends.
For the third time in four summers, the Spirit Ridge at Nk’Mip Resort is sponsoring a summer art show.
This year’s show is called The Spirit of Art and features six good friends who belong to the Artists on Main group in Osoyoos.
This year’s show kicked off Friday and continues Saturday and Sunday.
Response to the show was so good on Friday, that hotel management asked the group of six to return to continue their show in two weeks and they gladly accepted and will return from Aug. 5-7, said show organizer Deb Sherwin, a longtime Osoyoos-based painter, sculptor and visual artist.
The idea for this year’s show was put together when Sherwin and her fellow painters Peter Scott and Toni Ramsay worked together several weeks ago to create the concrete sculptures of several quails that sits outside the main entrance to the Osoyoos Art Gallery on Main Street, said Sherwin.
“Peter and Toni and I had a great time working on those concrete quails and we got to know each other pretty well,” said Sherwin. “I had been part of the summer shows at this hotel a couple of years ago, so when the hotel contacted me and approved us for this show, I contacted Peter and Tony and we got a couple of other artists from Artists on Main and put this show together in a matter of weeks.”
Other artists showcasing their work this weekend – and again in two weeks – include Ronna Matlin, Carolynne Sinclaire and Jocelyne Lamontagne.
Sherwin said she’s thrilled with the calibre of work on display at The Spirit of Art show and the wonderful response from those staying at Spirit Ridge as well as local residents who took the time to take in the show.
“I like it,” said Sherwin. “We’re having so much fun and the response has been fantastic. We all have different styles and use different techniques, but all of the work on display is just wonderful.
“All six of us know each other pretty well through being members of Artists on Main, but to see such quality of work in a show that came together very quickly is very nice.”
All of the pieces on display this weekend are for sale and that will be the case in two weeks as well, she said.
Sherwin said she had to thank management at Spirit Ridge for hosting the show and being so supportive of the local arts community.
“Spirit Ridge has been wonderful,” she said. “We really thank them for their support.”
The show runs Friday from noon until 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Jocelyne Lamontagne is one of the artists showing at The Spirit of Art at Spirit Ridge this weekend. (Keith Lacey photo)
