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White Eagle of Poland, in progress, watercolour markers, with acrylic. I started this drawing when I found out I had a Polish Great Grand Mother.

Spring!Snowdrops for our visual pleasure!

This beautiful painting “Effervescent”

is available for your collection pleasure at the 

By Marion Boyd

The always popular Joe Trio, known as the “Court Jesters of the Classical” will be returning to Oliver on Friday, March 9th for a 7:30 pm concert.  This is the last of this season’s performances presented by the South Okanagan Concert Society and will bring some totally engaging musical merriment to the Venables stage.

The Trio with its violin-cello-piano virtuosity, combines the wit, charm and talent of three musicians who together collaborated just a few years ago with the late CBC storyteller Stuart McLean on fun filled tours with the Vinyl Cafe.

Pianist Cameron Wilson’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by numerous symphony orchestras and ensembles across North America.

In addition to Joe Trio, he plays in a gypsy jazz quarter, the Hard Rubber Orchestra, a Francophone inspired trio called Pastiche and the Mariachi Del Sol and Tambura Rasa.

Cellist Charles Inkman’s career has included playing backup for visiting artists such as John Denver and Brian Wilson in addition to playing with a symphony orchestra and teaching on the faculty of the VSO School of Music.

Pianist Allen Stiles holds a Masters degree in piano performance from UBC and has played for musicals and operas as well as chamber ensembles.  He teaches at a number of Vancouver area schools of music and thrives as a freelance pianist.

If the past is an indicator this show promises to be a hit so get your tickets quickly online at <venablestheatre.ca> or at the theatre box office Tuesday through Thursdays from 10 to 3 pm.  Single tickets in advance are $23 and a single last minute ticket at the door is $25.

It has been said many times that Joe Trio is simply not your average piano trio.  They can’t be neatly categorized and that suits them just fine.  They strive for diversity, versatility, humour and the unpredictable.

Yes, the repertoire includes the classics from Haydn to Shostakovich but it also includes new contemporary works and their own arrangements of popular, jazz and rock tunes.

They have ability and bravado, mix musical styles in a single piece and their blend of music and theatrical performing techniques leave audiences with a new and completely painless appreciation of classical music!

Joe Trio has toured extensively and their popularity has grown so they are frequently invited back as has happened here.

Don’t miss the delight of this end of winter concert and bring along a credit card so you can get tickets for the lineup planned for the coming season.

We are so fortunate to have generous sponsors that make it possible to offer the very best in music for prices accessible to almost everyone including the very young in age as well as heart.

More information is available at 250 495 6487.  Bus transportation for those in Osoyoos can also be arranged by calling this number.

Flamenco Rosario coming to the stage at the Venables Theatre April 9, 2018. Image Credit: David Cooper / Pictured are Rosario Ancer and Victor Kolstee

From Spain to Mexico and back to Canada, Flamenco Rosario invites audiences on a global voyage through dance. This April on the Frank Venables Theatre Stage the rhythm and song, hand-clapping and sweeping movements of “La Monarca” will be a unique experience.

Marion Boyd and Betty Lou Trimmer Bahnsen

Oliver Grandmothers for Africa, Marion Boyd and Betty Lou Trimmer Bahnsen, do some serious counting at the windup of a hugely successful fund raising Bridge Tournament on February 21st for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

The event drew a good crowd to Fairview Golf Club for bridge and lunch.  Fairview staff, Jesse and Yvonne proved their friendly organizational skills and were much appreciated especially by Grannies’ convenor, Leslie Marriott.

Some $1400 was raised for the ongoing work in Africa where grandmothers here generate funds for grass roots programs to support and assist African grandmothers.  Those tireless women are nurturing a new generation of kids often orphaned and certainly impacted by the AIDS pandemic.

In Canada the work of Grandmothers for Africa has expanded to include a valuable advocacy role.

Few people here, for example, are aware that a majority of primary schools, even government sponsored ones in many parts of Africa, require school fees which exclude little children from poor families from basic education.

Canadian Grandmothers across this country have taken the initiative to see this changes.   Their sustained efforts and political will is making a difference.

Recently Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada will double its pledge to the Global Partnership for Education to $180 million over 3 years.  This result, at a time of international budget restraint, is heartening.

Canada also led the way at the Global Partnership for Education Replenishment Conference in Senegal early in February.  Goals were achieved and the biggest source of education financing came from developing countries themselves stepping up to the plate.

Together we can make a difference.

If you want to join us, the local Grandmothers group meets the first Thursday of every month at 1 pm at the Oliver United Church.

Come and be welcomed.  We have fun, create new friendships and do some good in the world.

Our motto:  “Do what you can, when you can.”

Sally Franks, feature artist, styling all in purple to match her show of spring Irises and Lorraine Horn, Aprils feature artist, having more fun that painting in the gallery. Do pop down and see them, every artist need an audience.