Our Creative Community

“The work of Creative Community builders is to engage communities in holistic developmental processes that enable them to come together to “create the village that raises a child” by involving all community elements in making life more meaningful, productive, joyous and beautiful for all its inhabitants.” Author Unknown The Okanagan School of the Arts, with its intention “To Awaken the Creative Spirit”, understands the importance of connecting local arts and culture with the audience, in an interactive, experiential process. This connection, when engaging, can be transformational for everyone involved. Plan to participate in Penticton’s Creative Community by performing, listening, dancing, experiencing or expressing your self, this summer and beyond.

3rd Urban Renaissance ~ Celebrating in the Heart of the City
Merchants, artists, performers and the public take part in this three month experience in Uptown Penticton during the summer. The intention is to allow creative process to transform the urban landscape through temporary display and interactive entertainment. Each year we set the stage by calling for proposals from the creative community and look forward to developing these proposals into events or projects. A few of the Urban Renaissance projects include:

100 Monkeys ~ Individuals create their own monkeys, usually in the Renaissance Studio, with materials and substrate provided. These 4’x 4’monkeys develop their own personality and connect with each other like a barrel of monkeys, to become a collective art piece. There are only 100 monkeys and each individual is acknowledged for their individual contribution to the whole. If you are inspired to paint your monkey, contact OSA at 493-0390.

Penultimate Penticton ~ The City of Penticton’s City Street banners are the ideal canvases to portray the beauty and uniqueness of the South Okanagan. OSA’s design team, which includes visual interpreter Larry Hunter, portray local landmarks and landscapes, while featuring such themes as the environment and species at risk.

24~Tychs ~ 24 individual panels are hand painted by a team of artists each year. These colourful panels hang on the city streets throughout the year and later are installed together as a collective. Last year’s ‘Fruitaissance’ was the first of these playful mosaics to adorn the city centre, hanging above the Urban Renaissance Garden. Look for this year’s latest design, along with the new individual panels that will hang on Main Street. Take a look and see if you can put together the clues for next year’s 24~tych!

Urban Renaissance Garden ~ This community gathering place, at the 300 block of Main Street, is a collective project, sponsored by the Downtown Penticton Association and the Okanagan School of the Arts. Xeriscape plants are donated by a variety of local nurseries, art work hangs on adjoining walls, story boards with images and photos enhance the experience and you are invited to participate, in whatever way inspires you.

Introducing Penticton’s 1st Creative Community Week a pre-Centennial Celebration July 2nd - 8th, 2007

in Okanagan Park between the Lakeside and the Art Gallery on Lakeshore Drive Celebrating ~ Connecting ~ Creating … Together “A Week Long Creative Adventure In The Park” Everyone is Welcome – Attendance Is Free for most Events

An initiative of Okanagan School of the Arts created in partnership with fellow Community Leaders

Creative Community Week is an expansive installation art piece that assists to redefine what Creativity is. It is an opportunity for participants to be part of the collective experience and creative process. Creative Community Week provides a framework and sets the stage, opening possibilities for participants to connect, engage and create.

Awakening & Celebrating The Creative Spirit

Mon 6:30PM Opening Celebration with Nankama, Donnalee Davidson, Okanagan School of the Arts, Velocity Motion Werks Circus and guests.

Daily 9AM-9PM Displays & Installations with Okanagan School of the Arts and guests. Connect with various Creative Community Projects through inspiring visuals and stories.

Daily various times Invitation Vignettes with the Improv Public Art Group. Expect the unexpected, off-site at various venues in Penticton.

Tues 4:30-8:30PM Penticton Night Market with vendors and performers. A multi-faceted experience coordinated by Laurel Burnham and sponsored by Penticton Arts Council.

Fri arriving at noon Wheels For Change a group of cyclists riding from Nelson to Victoria to raise awareness of climate change. Booth with brochures and information.

Fri 4:30-6PM Bicycle Parade & Ride with Wheels For Change. Individual cyclists and cycling families join the bike parade around Okanagan Park and then along the Penticton Creek pathway. Participants will be asked to be include their kilometres cycled in the Wheels for Change total. Children under six should not be on solitary bikes, but rather on tandems, trail-a-bike or trailers. Visit http://wheelsforchange.ca for more information.

Sun 5PM Closing Parade & Celebration with Our Creative Community, celebrating the collective works created and carrying ‘the energy’ to the Urban Renaissance Garden Site in 300 Block of Main Street to install the ‘Living On The Edge – Our Creative Nature’ a community public art piece. Join the Walking Street Parade at 5PM in Okanagan Park and journey to the Urban Renaissance Garden for the closing piece.

Experiencing & Integrating

Mon-Fri 9AM-4PM Circus Camp with Velocity Motion Werks, Ages 7-14
Run off to a camp that is a combination of training, discipline & downright fun.
Fee & pre-registration www.rhubarbpop.com or call OSA 493-0390 to register.

Mon 7:30-9PM Middle Eastern Drumming with Bobby Bovenzi & Nankama. A hand's on rhythm workshop. Please bring appropriate drums of all nature as well as zills, shakers or whatever you feel matches this style of music.

Weds 6:30-8PM African Drumming Workshop with Fana Soro, Beginner/Intermediate Ages 12+ Learn to play West Africa's most popular drum, the djembé, explore rhythms from the Ivory Coast to Guinea. Hand drumming is an excellent stress-reliever! Drums are provided if you don’t have your own. Fee & pre-registration required, at OSA office #6-220 Manor Park Ave. or visit www.okanagandrumming.com

Weds 8:15-9:45PM African Drumming Workshop with Fana Soro, Advanced Only
Fee, pre-registration required visit www.okanagandrumming.com

Thurs 7-8:30PM Bellydance, Poi Playshop with Donnalee Davidson. Ages 15+Discover and enjoy these ancient dances and how they connect with you and your expression.

Daily various times Creating Wind Horses with the Art Gallery of the South Okanagan. Create a Wind Horse to welcome the Tibetan Monks who will be creating a Sand Painting in Penticton this July.

Daily various times Creating Memory Collages with The Penticton Museum’s Archives Centre. Pieces that are created during the week may be included in the Memory Circle Roundabout Installation, they will be chosen by the artists Amy Rubin and Ken Flett.

Tues-Fri various times Decorate Your Bike with OSA Creativity Camp Youth and Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance. Create your special bike for the Wheels For Change Parade & Ride.

Fri 3-4PM Drumming for the Earth with Robin Genthon from Wheels For Change. An aboriginal drumming circle for families and children. Bring a rhythm instrument and join the circle.

Connecting & Collaborating

Daily ongoing Creating Community Public Art Projects with Okanagan School of the Arts. Making individual and collective, Big Picture~Little Picture Creations that will be installed in locations around Penticton. For some projects, you can also create miniatures to take home with you. Projects include; Pen-Tych-Ton’s next 24-tych, The Fruition Tree, Rocky Renaissance, Creative Nature Mandalas, Urban Renaissance Garden Installation.

Visioning & Masterminding

Daily 11:30 - 2 PM (join in anytime) Creative Community Luncheons Sharing Our Visions Of Creative Community ~ bring your lunch and join the discussion!
Luncheons are hosted by community leaders. Wednesday by Downtown Penticton Association. Saturday by Okanagan School of the Arts. Other days are open. Would your group like to share its vision? Let us know 493-0390

Thursday 12:30-2PM Heritage Days Masterminding Session with the Penticton Museum and partners. Bring your ideas for Penticton’s Heritage Days Celebration in June 2008.

Weds & Thurs 11AM-2PM The Public Places Game with the Downtown Penticton Association. What makes a great place? Help us grow our public spaces into vital community places. Come and play the ‘Place Game’.

Expressing & Sharing

Tues 9AM-3PM Paint In with Naramata Arts Studio artists working in various mediums and a gallery showing their work. Fellow painters welcome.

Thurs 8:30AM-Noon Painting En Pleine Aire with Federation of Canadian Artists working in various mediums and a gallery showing their work. Fellow painters welcome.

Thurs 7-7:30PM The Multicultural Choir with Maiya Robbie and friends. Singing uplifting songs, inviting audience sing-along with some of the pieces.

Thurs 7:30-8:30PM Poi Performance with Donnalee Davidson and Playshop participants. Awesome graceful and dynamic dancing.

Fri 6PM Circus Camp Performance with Velocity Motion Werks and the camp graduates. In the Big Top tent. By donation.

Fri 7:30-9PM Open Mic with Maiya Robbie. Lively music and performance evening.

Sat 5-6PM African Dance Playshop with Mandido and friends. Get your body and spirit moving with great music and drumming as you learn.

Sat 7PM Community Drum Circle with Mandido and friends. Join the spirit of Multi-cultural celebration. An opportunity for creative expression through rhythm and dance - dance your dance, play your rhythm.