Creative Community

This show features over 30 of our Gift Shop artists and artisans, . And during this annual show we invite more artisans from the community to join us and get their wares out to the community.

This year we set up a wekk early, just in time for a three week shut down while our Nicola Valey commu ity experiencd a shocking river flood event that evacuated our whole community and destroyed the highways our location is so well known for. Merritt as a hub of roads leading in all directions, became isolated for days, and the highways are still not mended. And some may not be for years, like the highway from Merritt to Spences Bridge.

We were able to open our show again early December but several of our participati ng artists were affected by the floods. Some lost homes, some lost access to town.

We are thankful that most were safe, but know there are long term effects from the natural disaster.

Our community was still recovering from the devastating forest fires that also destroyed homes, land, livestock...for miles around.

The people in the community showed a lot of support over the weeks of this show, coming in to buy gifts, honey, coffee...all local. Thanks to all....

In the fall...Baskets and Bowls. A show with vintage Indigenous baskets from long time artists and resident, Evelyn Armstrong.

And  wood carver Andrew Ruigrok's many beautiful bowls and trays. 

Also Leonard George's basket weave design paintings.

And more!

Summer. Visit Experience Nicola Valley for a blog about our creative summer shows! 

2021

"Art of Covid, Creativity Persists"

Part of a trilogy...Wash. Your. Hands.

                                   By Nona Tickner