Samuel Adhi, Doug Alcock, David Alexander, Glenn Clark, Carin Covin, Briar Craig, Robert Dmytruk, Jen Dyck, Leonard Epp, Johann Feught, Diane Feught, John Hall, Joice M. Hall, Fern Helfand, Angelika Jaeger, Byron Johnston, Ann Kipling, Patricia Kushner, Mary Smith McCulloch, Steve Mennie, Amy Modahl, Rhonda Neufeld and Rodney Konopaki, Herald Nix, Julie Oakes, Gary Pearson, Crystal Przybille, Stephen Lee Scott, Heidi Thompson and David Wilson

Artists historically have gravitated towards grand cities in order to have the excitement of a burgeoning creativity within the scope of conversation - Paris, London, New York, Madrid, Berlin and lately Beijing, Barcelona, New Delhi. In Canada it has been no different so that the art scene was most potent in the eastern cities - Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa (The National Gallery) and then Vancouver came into eminence with a wave of artists who came to international significance – Jeff Wall, Douglas Copeland, Rodney Graham. In Winnipeg, Border Crossings magazine, Marcel Dzama and The Royal Art Lodge pulled in profile. In Canada, historically artists have stepped outside of the cities, some right into the wilderness like The Group of Seven or Emily Carr but it soon re-assembled in the eastern city centres with the Automatistes and abstract artists like the “Painters Eleven”. “The Regina Five” opened an awareness on the prairies and Alberta came into focus when the wealthy oil industry enabled collectors in that frontier land so that artists and galleries flourished.

This valley is rich but it is not necessary to keep it under wraps for art itself is generous – it’s made to be shared. Up and Down the Okanagan Valley there is a cultural treasure and we don’t have to go to New York to see it - though in the end it may be where it is eventually exhibited. Rather than going away to find art we can use it to bring people here. Destination museums, galleries and residencies have become a viable option when real estate values soar. Larger spaces can be had that show the work to better advantage. The viewing audience brings people, often internationals to locations outside of the big city centers and they come because the word has spread that there is something to see that makes it worth taking the trip.

The opening reception of the Headbones’ Okanagan show is an exhibition when works are brought forth
from the seclusion of studios and presented to the community, an important connection made from the
roots. Shh! Good Art Up and Down the Okanagan Valley cautions that there is something to sneak up
upon, something cool to see.