Vineyards and wine making in the Wine Capital of Canada is the prominent industry in our area and brings thousands of tourist dollars to the economy.
Tourists use wine as the main reason for coming here and is a large tourist purchase, but they also buy food, accommodations, souvenirs and more.
More is often art at the Oliver Art Gallery.
The gallery sells about half of its annual sales to tourists in the summer months. The best souvenir is a painting of local scenery, vineyard fields or any wine related subject. However, other subjects are also good sales.
During the month of August the gallery will be featuring vineyards and wine as its theme. There are paintings of local fields and wineries.
As an added bonus during August, the gallery will also feature the art of Bonny Roberts. Bonny is a very popular BC artist and holds A.F.C.A. status with the Federation of Canadian Artists. She will be displaying a variety of her many famous landscapes and abstract paintings.
The Oliver Art Gallery represents and shows beauty and culture for the South Okanagan. If you still have not been to our beautiful gallery, you must visit this month.
You will see art priced at half or even a quarter of similar art in the big cities. That is why the tourists from the big centres buy the art here because when they get home, they double or triple the value.
Our little gallery has reached a point where it has achieved a reputation as a very high quality destination art gallery. Collectors come from all over BC, other provinces, the USA and even Europe to buy the high quality art displayed right here in Oliver.
There are 18 artists making up the Art Gallery Co-op, mostly from the South Okanagan. They work in all mediums with their own styles making up a beautiful variety.
Gallery doors are open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm at 6046 Main Street. Since it is a co-operative gallery and is owned by the artists, there is always an artist on site to host and guide its visitors.
Come and enjoy the spectacular pieces being shown in August and get in the habit of visiting the gallery.
Look forward to a new subject for the different monthly themes. Coming up in September will be a display on wildlife.
Ask about art classes taught at the gallery. Whether you are a beginner, a novice or an almost professional, we will have classes for you.
The gallery also sells prints and gift cards. There are gift certificates you can buy and pass on to family members or friends.
Steve Staresina
Special to the Chronicle
