By Cajsa Fredin
Executive Director
Wow! What a year. We, here at Columbia Valley Arts, feel so incredibly lucky to call this amazing Valley community, home. We have greatly missed seeing our lovely friends stopping by, and checking out the colorful art shows in the gallery, or dancing your hearts out at another fabulous evening of live music. Fear not, we have plans in the mix, and we are working hard at bringing some of that back, 2021 style.
First up on this years’ calendar is “Mountain Moments,” an exciting new Art Show from Pat and Ryan Bavin, at Pynelogs, from March 16 until April 6. Creating stunning blown glass vessels is only one of the many artistic pursuits of the Bavin family; “Mountain Moments” is also a photographic travel back in time, featuring the work of Pat’s father, Hal Bavin, an acclaimed mountain photographer who captured the amazing history of the mountain backcountry though striking black and white photography. Ryan follows his grandfather’s photo darkroom footsteps, showcasing new work that incredibly captures crisp mountain light, while Pat’s paintings explore the valley and alpine we love through expressive texture and color. Beautifully contrasted by the delicate porcelain woodland artistry of Shawna Tegart, and the vitreograph printwork of Tina Nowatschin, developed while in artists residency at the University of Hawaii, “Mountain Moments” is an inspired merger of art and history in the Kootenays.
Virtual gallery showings, studio tours and artist interviews will be available through our NEW Facebook page Columbia Valley Arts, or on Instagram @columbiavalleyarts, which gives you a great reason to check out our full Gallery and Events calendar for a much needed Arts fix everyday! And yes, while 2020 threw a curveball, it has also given us the amazing opportunity of partnering with Black Star Studios to bring art to Seniors of our valley with another round of Community Healing Through Art! With the support of the Columbia Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) and the Emergency Community Support Fund, we are proud to continue bringing the Arts to Everyone with free art kits for Seniors of the Columbia Valley.
Get Creative! Get Inspired! And get into Black Star (250-342-6663) to pick up an awesome Art Kit (for that special Senior in your life) today! Friends, we will dance again, and in the meantime, even if it is only from six feet away, come on in for that Arts fix. We think it’s pretty good for the Kootenay soul.
