Snow and mud line the icy walkways. But Spring is overhead with the small buds on trees and the daily parting of gray to show sunlight. Blossoming art events make Kelowna a vibrant town for those who love and support music, dance and the visual arts.

Angela Bonten’s show continues for the remainder of February at 1561 Pandosy St. The Woodside Gallery, EH’ for Art, is a wonderfully designed space which features local artists. Check out the gallery at  http://www.awoodsidedesign.com/

Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra, founded in 1990, performs the music of 17th and 18th century on period instruments on February 20 with a start time of 7:30 pm. To reserve tickets for a journey back in time info@rotarycentreforthearts.com. Tickets are $23.95 each.

And now for something entirely different, the Habitat hosts Beast on the same evening of February 20th from 7 pm-12 am. Call 250-763-9674 because space is limited. The in-your-face powerful voice of Beatrice Bonifassi was present on the sound track of the 2004 Oscar Winning film The Triplettes de Belleville.

February 26th the presentation by UBC O of Poetry and Science in the Age of Copernicus by author Dennis Danielson will take place in the Arts Building room 103 at 3:30. This event is free and open to the public but do reserve a ticket: contact Gail Hourigan at 250-807-9339. We are incredibly lucky to have a University that offers opportunities for a life of the mind through their lecture series.

Also, on the 26th of February, the Kelowna Art Gallery and Leo’s Videos presents film night with Alex Gibney’s film The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. $10 advance, $15 at the door with start time 7 pm. With some planning, a culture vulture could get to a great lecture and an informative film in the same day.

Local film maker Jim Elderton, whose work I am familiar with as past President of the Okanagan Film Festival Society will screen his wildly successful film Sveva-Prisoner of Vernon. To view Saturday, February 28th at the Creekside Theatre contact theatre@lakecountry.bc.ca to reserve a $11 ticket.

The Kelowna Art Gallery will host the 23rd annual Art in Action exhibition by local youth in School District #23. View this wonderful and accomplished work between March 14th and March 15th. To see this work is to know that the education system does indeed foster talent.

Definitely for adults only is the Wearable Art Gala at the Alternator Gallery with over 50 artists on stage in a feast of movable art. Gala ticket holders can attend the after-party called UNLEASED for free. The following link will take you to the site where you can transition to ticketmaster for tickets. Visit http://www.alternatorgallery.com/

Remember that the Rotary Centre for the Arts resident artists host the First Thursday Art Crawl from 4-7 pm. Patterned after similar events in cities all over North America, the Artists@Work group offer food, drink, music and a chance to view new art. For more information call the desk at the Rotary Centre 250-717-5304.

For any one in the arts, send me information about your events. Do you teach dance, creative expression, music, art or any discipline in the arts? if so, please let me know.