Columbia Basin Culture Tour – August 11 & 12, 2018

To participate in the tour, simply grab a map, your Culture Tour Directory and go!

Sienna Estes Jewelry Design – Series of 5 rings. Venue #20 on the Columbia Basin Culture Tour, August 11 & 12, 2018. — Photo courtesy Columbia Basin Trust

Taking place August 11 & 12, from 10 am - 5 pm, 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!

In Nelson’s Rosemont area you will find Karen Hornby. Her paintings for the Culture Tour will include florals, landscapes and mixed media. Also see painter Carol Reynolds, whose paintings will be displayed throughout her house and yard, with a "Bargain Deck" that will have a selection of work at low prices. Also close by is B.J. Wallace, she is a visual artist whose paintings convey a personal uniqueness of vision while exploring the spiritual and sublime in the landscape of Western Canada. Expect to see colourful, original paintings and art cards inspired by local mountains, forest and wildlife.

We are excited to welcome Kate Bridger to the tour this year. Her immaculate fabric art is sure to capture your spirit. Visitors can expect to see a display of her work, works in progress, the organized 'chaos' of her workspace and will likely leave with a stray thread or two attached to their clothing! Michael Graham uses painting and mixed media for his creative expression. He will take you on a tour of his space and share his free and spontaneous take on visual arts.

Kutenai Art Therapy Institute is also opening their doors to the public during the Tour. They will be sharing therapeutic expressions and interactive mixed media with their Culture Tour visitors.

The Bench Jewelry Studio - Lily Andersen Jewelry is opening her doors to the Culture Tour for the first time this year. She will also have Sauhaira Jewelry Design and Sienna Estes Jewelry Design working in her studio. All three women trained at Kootenay Studio Arts at Selkirk College and are now working jewellers in the community. Here you will see live jewellery making and will have an opportunity to ask questions and purchase their work.

Touchstones Nelson is a unique combination of Art Gallery, Museum and Archives. Their exhibitions offer a diversity of topics and themes that reflect the broad interests and capabilities of people living in the region. Also new to the tour this year is Future Craft. The venue is a 1968 refurbished Airstream trailer. For the Culture tour it will be featuring plant-dyed clothing and housewares as well as handwoven textiles by Tracy Fillion from local clothing brand We are Stories. The venue also provides a thoughtfully curated variety of contemporary ceramics and jewellery from local and BC artists. There may be a loom weaving textiles on-site for the tour for guests to get a sense of this traditional method of creating cloth.

Artist Sue Parr paints in oil or acrylic medium on canvas working from sketches made en plein air and photographs taken on personal trips. Sue’s subject matter varies from calm or chaotic abstracts to bold and colorful landscapes. Next head to D.E Walters Ceramics, an art collective which will be hosting demonstrations during the Culture Tour. Back on the tour this year is PB Woodworks, a small, craftsman-owned and operated custom wood working shop in Fairview. Everything is handmade, functional and built with integrity.

Laura McEachern is opening up her creative studio to Culture Tour visitors. Laura's foundation in sewing and passion for fibre led to traditional patchwork quilting. The art of quilting opened up endless possibilities of embellishing fabric with a variety of techniques using thread, paper, ink, paint and dye.

Tour brochures are available at tourist information centres and participating venues. Visit the website at www.cbculturetour.com 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.