Kamloops Art Council's Artwalk ~ Downtown Spring Arts Festival ~ Kamloops, BC, Canada

The Downtown Spring Art Festival is a three day event held during the Kamloops Arts Council’s Artwalk being held April 16 to May 23, 2011.  These are both annual events held downtown Kamloops to feature our local artists and their wares.  The event covers all kinds of art so it will appeal to all art lovers, whether your interest is in paintings, photography, pottery or otherwise.

Downtown Spring Art Festival

The Downtown Spring Art Festival has different activities included with the artwork that will entertain young and old and create a nice enjoyable setting on Victoria Street with lots of participation from the business owners.

Keishia Treber ~ Artist

Keishia Treber, a very talented young artist recently appeared in the May/June 2011 Kamloops Currents magazine where her artwork was featured on the cover as well as sharing her story ‘A Career on Canvas’ in the magazine.  There was no mistaking her beautiful painting of Marilyn Monroe on display when I visited the Downtown Spring Art Festival and it was a treat to see her work up close.  She has also used her talents to design jewelry which she had on display.  Visit Keishia’s webpage by clicking here.

Al's Wood 'n Things 250-376-2153

Retirement can be a time to relax or not and for one retiree, it has become a way to spend the winter months in the workshop making birdhouses.  These aren’t just any birdhouse, these are fun birdhouses for the swallows who like to nest in your backyard and raise their babies.  The prices are great and the birdhouses are fun to look at with all those homey touches, even after the baby birds have left the nest. Watch for these fun birdhouses at the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market.

Trina Gregson of Kamloops

Another retirement story on my visit to the Spring Art Festival was from an old classmate who moved back to Kamloops a few years ago.  Trina Gregson, daughter of Jack and Barb Gregson, following in her father’s painting footsteps, took up painting after she retired to Kamloops.  Trina is a talented musician but now also has time for her painting which shows she has talent there, as well.  She also had some of her dad’s paintings on display.  Contact Trina @ pgregson888@shaw.ca for more info.

Clowns delight all ages during the Spring Arts Festival

The 300 block of Victoria was open to pedestrian traffic only and there were stations for the kids to paint pictures or have face painting done or be entertained by the clowns.

Akimbo Dance Studio dancers

Some of the young members of the Akimbo Dance Studios were dancing in the street and entertaining the crowds gathered there. 

Kathleen Raven ~ Artist

Kathleen Raven was working on some of her art as passersby stopped to watch.  Kathleen  would explain and demonstrate the process of creating her whimsical and functional artwork.

Glen Mantie Pottery

Glen Mantie had a booth set up with many pottery pieces as well as a window display down the street that shows he was inspired by “the roots of culture all over the world”.

Andirondack chair by Muriel Miller

Muriel Miller has given this andirondack chair a great dramatic design, which will certainly make it stand out from the rest on someone’s patio.  It is part of the Kamloops CanGo Grannies Art Chair Auction that will be held May 26, 2011 in the Terrace Room at TRU.

Community Band Festival

Different bands were featured throughout the event with more local musicians also playing in other locations of Victoria Street. Music is always an attraction and many were able to sit and enjoy the big band sound during this performance.

This event gives us a wonderful way to see some of the artists that Kamloops has to offer. There are some that are new to the Art Festival and some we recognize from other exhibits but there is something for everyone when it is such a diversified assortment of mediums. Wandering through the downtown displays is a fun way to show support for the artists that are willing to share their talents with us and to thank the merchants that give the artists window space to display their art during the Artwalk.