Want a great way to beat the rainy blahs we have been experiencing lately in the valley? Well, we have a new show at Pynelogs hung and ready for residents and visitors alike to view, enjoy and maybe even purchase a piece or two.

This show marks the beginning of our juried showcase shows for the summer and includes seven incredibly talented local artists who live and work up and down the Kootenays, from Golden to Kaslo.

Invermere’s Cathy Parkes, a former animator from Toronto, will have a number of acrylic paintings on display, showcasing the beauty and wonder of nature that she draws on for her inspiration.

Potters Gerry George and Tom Symington live and work in Fairmont Hot Springs, and together run Columbia Ridge Pottery. Both Gerry and Tom will be showcasing a variety of works they have created over the long winter, and will include both functional and more abstract sculptural pieces.

Jim Lawrence hails from Kaslo, and is a self proclaimed ethical photographer and environmentalist. His photographs are meant to instill an understanding of our fragile wilderness and to inspire respect for life in endangered ecosystems.

For Golden-based artist Marty Ryan, this show will be the first venue for some of her brand new paintings. Marty works in a variety of mediums, and will have some hanging copper pieces included along with a number of her paintings.

Local photographer John Niddrie recently retired from Parks Canada and has dedicated much of his newfound free time to creatively photographing the world around him. He not only takes the photos, but is also involved in every step of the printing and framing process, so what results is truly his artistic vision.

Last but not least, Cranbrook’s Val MacPhee began painting 20 years ago as a healing tool, and has been showing her work since 1990. Painting primarily in watermedia, her works utilize striking colours and very fluid lines.

This show will run from Tuesday (June 19) until Sunday, July 1 with the artists’ opening evening on Wednesday (June 20) right here at Pynelogs from 7 to 9 p.m. So come on down and be the first to see this exciting display, and why not come out for a drink and chat with the featured artists?