A project of the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance

Taking place August 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., the Columbia Basin Culture Tour allows you to explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites during this free, self-guided event. Travel to studios and archives that aren’t normally open, see demonstrations, new exhibitions and collections or meet people behind the scenes. To participate in the tour, simply grab a map, your Culture Tour Directory and go!

Visit Idyll Arts’ garden shed studio (one block behind the Marysville Pub) to view a wide array of functional pieces made from up-cycled materials, clay, wood, metal and glass. Exhibiting pottery dishes, herb planters, flowers and wall art, along with birdhouses, feeders and hand painted inspirational signs created from driftwood and recycled barn wood. Marysville Artisans showcases local handmade craft and features numerous artists from Kimberley and surrounding area. Eight local artists own and operate this unique and evolving shop. Artists staff the store and are eager to show you their raku, pottery, jewelry, stained glass and metal work, as well as fibre arts, mixed media, photography, wood bowls and more.

Visit Shannon Fraser’s studio, not usually open to the public, to share her passion for batik, a technique using hot wax and dye on cotton or silk to produce a variety of effects to create fabric art and wall hangings. Shannon uses techniques from Japan, Thailand, and modern batik styles as well. Rob Toller is a self-taught artist fuelled by curiosity and inspired by nature. He works mainly with found and reclaimed objects to create figurative sculpture. Join Rob to learn more about metal working processes and see examples of his work and take the opportunity to look through his ever-growing pile of rusty steel.

Twila & Tony Austin of Dragon’s Rest Working Studios, Gallery & Dragon Iron Forge, forge their creative magic on the banks of mystical Mark Creek in Kimberley, the heart of the East Kootenay. They work in metal, wood, clay and sumi-e, from one-of-a-kind commissions and traditional Japanese Noh Masks to public sculpture. Twila works in precious metals, wood and ceramics. Her ‘Mermaid Tears’ earrings and pendants are always in demand. Tony works in forged steel, wood, sumi-e and watercolour. Kimberley Arts Council will be featuring Kimberley Kaleidoscope – Arts on the Edge: Juried Exhibition. Local and regional artists presenting a variety of media – you can choose your favourite work and vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Ann Jones has lived and painted in the East Kootenay for 30 years and will be exhibiting at the Cranbrook Mission Hills Golf Course. Anne’s work is about what she loves: Kootenay landscapes, poppies and other flowers, birch trees, vintage vehicles, horses and mules. Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History is non-profit online digital archive website, dedicated to preserving the history of the Columbia Basin and making it publicly accessible and available to all for free online. All of their work is designed to reach out into the Basin and energize a sense of our collective past.

Located in a beautiful heritage building in downtown Fernie, the Fernie Arts Co-op features a wide variety of media from over 50 artists that portray the region and the lifestyle of the Kootenay Rockies. During the tour, a number of artists will be working on their artwork outside the store (if weather permits, inside if not). Eye of the Needle Studio is home to fibre artist and blacksmith Sandra Barrett, who will demonstrate wet felting during the culture tour. Eye of the Needle Gallery exhibits fibre art by Sandra Barrett, Robin Wiltse and Janice Charko, metalwork by local forges, glass, jewellery and so much more. The studio is located on the main floor of the former Salvation Army Church heritage building, with the Gallery downstairs. Come meet and see artists in action working in various media at these great Fernie locations.

These are just a few of the fabulous venues on the 2017 Columbia Basin Culture Tour. Tour brochures are available at tourist information centres and participating venues. Visit the website to view full artist/venue profiles for further details on each location’s activities or register to receive a tour brochure in the mail. For further information, call the CKCA at 1-250-505-5505 or toll free at 1-877-505-7355. The Columbia Basin Culture Tour is generously supported by Columbia Basin Trust funding.

Above photo: Twila & Tony Austin of Dragon’s Rest Working Studios, Gallery & Dragon Iron Forge in Kimberley will be showing off works of exceptionally fine craftsmanship as part of the Columbia Basin Culture Tour August 12 and 13.

CKCA

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