Artists Jane Scheffler (left) and Ilene Steele both showed their paintings at the garden of potter Katie Foster during Art in the Garden last July. This year the event moves to the Osoyoos Desert Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
A popular summer art event is overhauling its format this year to become Art in the Desert.
For the past five years, Art in the Garden has been held in the gardens and studios of artists in Osoyoos, Cawston and Keremeos.
This year it will be held instead at the Osoyoos Desert Centre when it takes place July 16 and 17.
“A lot of people were starting to find it a bit much to do in their own homes,” explained Sharon Leonard, who along with potter Katie Foster has been one of the organizers.
“I think we just felt that we needed to do something different this year,” Leonard said.
The new format, which could continue in future years if it is successful, makes it a “one-stop shop,” and takes the pressure off artists to get their homes ready at the same time as they are producing artwork for the show.
Denise Eastlick, executive director of the Osoyoos Desert Society, which operates the Osoyoos Desert Centre, embraced the idea for Art in the Desert.
Eastlick noted that the Desert Society shares space with the Osoyoos and District Arts Council above the Osoyoos Art Gallery.
“We get a firsthand look at some of the amazing talent in the community,” she said. “We are always looking for ways to partner with community organizations and we have wanted to do an art event for several years.”
This year, everything lined up, Eastlick said.
“Showcasing beautiful art in a spectacular desert setting is a perfect combination,” she added.
Leonard said the show would be held in the plaza area of the Desert Centre next to the office and interpretive centre.
Artists will display their work in tents. There will also be wine tasting.
There will likely be a turnover in some of the artists from previous years because some are involved in other exhibitions at that time, Leonard said. Currently about a dozen are interested in participating.
An invitation has been extended to Artists on Main to participate, she said, so there may be more artists.
The show itself will be free, but discounted admission to the Osoyoos Desert Centre will be charged.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
