THE FIRST 50 YEARS
IT ALL BEGAN IN 1965
In 1965 a small group of amateur painters organized themselves and formed a new art group and called themselves “The Kelowna Palette Club” It is believed to be the first art group in Kelowna at that time.
Having no clubroom to call home, the group met at various locations around the city. The first meeting place was the “Old Museum” which was a log cabin on Mill St. Some years later the club met at the St. Andrews Church in the mission, then at the First United Church on Bernard Ave. The Kelowna Palette Club currently meets at the First Lutheran Church at 4091 Lakeshore Rd., Kelowna.
Ever since its inception, the club has encouraged artists, held workshops, exhibited member’s paintings and, through the efforts of its members, been an active force in the development of the Kelowna artist community. Today, after almost 50 years, club membership is limited to 25 artists who have gone through a jury process, plus an associated group of “drop-in” painters, and a waiting list for membership.
THE FIRST TEN YEARS
Three years after its start-up, in 1968 the club participated with other local artists in an Arts and Crafts Show at the Kelowna Credit Union Building. The following year the club held its own show in the boardroom of the Okanagan Regional Library. Eleven members participated in that show and works by K. Renfrew, H. Beattie, N. Middleton, R. Zurrer and A. Kaye were all commended in a press review.
The club expanded rapidly. By 1972 the club had 33 members, and held 12 workshops throughout the year, including a two-day workshop paid for by a grant from the Koerner Foundation. In that year the club held a show of member’s work at the Anglican Parish Centre Hall. Over 200 paintings were exhibited and the press reported that many were sold.
In addition to the club’s own shows, in these early years club members also participated in other shows, notably the Okanagan Valley Jury Art Show. In 1974, Alice Anderson had two of her paintings accepted into this show, which had only 27 paintings in total. In i975 this juried show was held in Orchard Park Mall. Members of the Kelowna Palette Club were active in the Kelowna Art Exhibition Society, organizers of this valley-wide juried show.
From the club’s records it is obvious that during these early years Kelowna Palette Club members were very active in the valley’s artistic community, both as artists in their own right and as organizers and promoters of local art events.
In 1965 a small group of amateur painters organized themselves and formed a new art group and called themselves “The Kelowna Palette Club” It is believed to be the first art group in Kelowna at that time.
Having no clubroom to call home, the group met at various locations around the city. The first meeting place was the “Old Museum” which was a log cabin on Mill St. Some years later the club met at the St. Andrews Church in the mission, then at the First United Church on Bernard Ave. The Kelowna Palette Club currently meets at the First Lutheran Church at 4091 Lakeshore Rd., Kelowna.
Ever since its inception, the club has encouraged artists, held workshops, exhibited member’s paintings and, through the efforts of its members, been an active force in the development of the Kelowna artist community. Today, after almost 50 years, club membership is limited to 25 artists who have gone through a jury process, plus an associated group of “drop-in” painters, and a waiting list for membership.
THE FIRST TEN YEARS
Three years after its start-up, in 1968 the club participated with other local artists in an Arts and Crafts Show at the Kelowna Credit Union Building. The following year the club held its own show in the boardroom of the Okanagan Regional Library. Eleven members participated in that show and works by K. Renfrew, H. Beattie, N. Middleton, R. Zurrer and A. Kaye were all commended in a press review.
The club expanded rapidly. By 1972 the club had 33 members, and held 12 workshops throughout the year, including a two-day workshop paid for by a grant from the Koerner Foundation. In that year the club held a show of member’s work at the Anglican Parish Centre Hall. Over 200 paintings were exhibited and the press reported that many were sold.
In addition to the club’s own shows, in these early years club members also participated in other shows, notably the Okanagan Valley Jury Art Show. In 1974, Alice Anderson had two of her paintings accepted into this show, which had only 27 paintings in total. In i975 this juried show was held in Orchard Park Mall. Members of the Kelowna Palette Club were active in the Kelowna Art Exhibition Society, organizers of this valley-wide juried show.
From the club’s records it is obvious that during these early years Kelowna Palette Club members were very active in the valley’s artistic community, both as artists in their own right and as organizers and promoters of local art events.