Art In Penticton

Penticton and surrounding areas boast a number of talented artisans. Check out the following;

Local Color Artists Gallery

Penticton Art Walk

Back down at the roundabout, take the walking path behind Front Street. Here you’ll find John Barlow Hudson’s OTISS contribution, Kokanee/En-Tee-Tuek, leaping from a bend in the walk. Loop around Guerard’s furniture store for a good look at the murals by Larry Hunter and Gerry Houghton depicting the area’s history (a cairn near Starbucks explains). From there, wander down the alley and through the breezeway to Main Street, noting the murals along the way. Half a block south, Nanaimo Square is home to a fountain of fishes (this sculpture’s refreshing on a hot summer day).

Front Street also offers a couple of art galleries. The Lloyd Gallery houses pieces that survived the fire that devastated its original location, along with Penticton’s most famous (some would say infamous!) sculpture of all time. Michael Hermesh’s Baggage Handler was an international sensation during his brief stay at the Marina Way roundabout. A few doors up, pop into artists’ collective Local Colour; here you’ll find works by local artists suitable for every decor.

Head back to the car now, and set off on a “Sculp-tour.”

Penticton “Sculp-tour”

From the Penticton Art Gallery, drive down Lakeshore and turn left on Power Street. To your right is another OTISS installation; artist Lorna Green’s Play, Perform and Picnic re-created the park space (with hills for children of all ages to roll down).

At the north entry to the Trade and Convention Centre, Yoshio Yagi’s Growing Stone (another OTISS work) sprouts in a spiral. You can’t miss Gerhard Moser’s celebration of the Penticton Vees, centred in the roundabout outside the Memorial Arena. To your right, Glenn Clark’s work adorns the Wine Country Visitor Centre.

Take the Channel Parkway, head east on Green Avenue, and cross Main Street. You’re entering a school zone, so pick a time when there won’t be a lot of activity on the streets. Park or slow to a crawl: the three sculptures here are worth a good look. Outside Princess Margaret Secondary School, the Maggie Mustangs rear up over the grasses. Nearby is the stately mare.

These pieces, created by Gerhard Moser, were funded primarily through the efforts of parents, students and donations from several businesses (including the artist himself).

Next door, the Skaha Lake Middle School Sharks caution visiting competitors to beware. They don’t scare everyone though; look closely, and you might spot a bird nest tucked into among the teeth and fins.

Turn right on South Main, and head toward Skaha Lake. It’s time to walk again, so use Lee Avenue to access the beach parking. Then wander over to the walking path. Here’s one of Penticton’s most scientific sculptures: the Skaha Solar Timepiece.

Can’t see it? Look for something resembling a wharf, surrounded by posts of different heights. This sculpture demands participation, so climb aboard and assume the position (there’s a full explanation on display alongside the walk). Pretty amazing, isn’t it?