The Ponderosa Spinners, Weavers and Fibre Artists Guild is working on a display for the Association of Northwest Weaver’s Guilds Conference. From May 28th to 31st Spokane will host the event. Ponderosa has as its meeting place a studio on the second floor of the Rotary Centre and is busily preparing their entry: Picnic in the Okanagan. The backdrop is hand painted on woven cotton with a tree of knitted I-cord sewn onto burlap. All of the fruits and animals have been painstakingly felted. To view this amazing group effort stop by the Rotary Centre at 421 Cawston Avenue, Kelowna.

Okanagan Institute from 5 to 7 pm every Thursday is open for all at the Bohemian Cafe on Bernard as follows:

May 7: Culinaria ~ A Celebration of the Culinary Arts

May 14: Interior Design ~ Creating and Crafting Sophisticated Spaces

May 21: All That Jazz ~ The Past as Prologue Discovers Music. I am headed out to a show in Vienna from May 8th to May 24th at the Stiegenhaus Gallery, Vienna, Austria. Another Gallery owner in Graz, Austria has also expressed interest in a solo exhibition for me in his ultra-sleek gallery and he will be coming to view my works. It is very exciting to have the opportunity to show my work in the company of Jean-Francois Provost from Quebec; Rian Kerrane an Irish-American professor of art at the University of Colorado, Denver; Matthias Schmidt an Austrian Ph.D. student and amazing artist.

Talk about artists with a heart. My husband and I ran into Rhonda Draper a wonderful singer-songwriter and music teacher. In a matter of weeks she established a fund for an African school of over 10 thousand dollars. The way she structured to fund raiser was for her students in Glenmore to give up something that was a “want”. They gave up buying a special $3 dog bone gift for their pet or the parents gave up a latte and instead put the money into a jar which was donated to the fund. Thinking about how they can better use the money they target for luxuries in order to help others attain a way out of a life time of crushing poverty is an invaluable lesson in compassion. Congratulations to Rhonda for teaching the most important aspect of life, having a loving heart. She is currently looking for donations of art for her next funding project. Her number is in the phone book, give her a call if you wish to contribute.

The Kelowna Women’s Shelter is setting up an art therapy room for women and children who are working through a past of trauma. If you have any art supplies to contribute to this very efficient method of lifting people out of a triggered and anxious state to go on and live a calmer life, contact or drop by  the KWS Thrift Store at 527 Lawrence Avenue. Our clients receive needed items free of charge, and funds raised go to support our programs. Come check us out! Thrift Store is open Mon - Sat, 10 am - 4:30 pm. Call 250-762-8561 for more information.

Kelowna Visual and Performing Arts Society is having an open house May 1st, 2nd and 3rd at  Friday 7-9 pm and Saturday and Sunday 1-5 pm. This is a great way to get design ideas, view art and enjoy the Spring weather with your family. Best of all, its free. Just the right price.

Anyone who has arts news of any type, let me know and I will spread the word. Contact me anytime at creative@cheriehanson.com