Art lovers will get a big kick out of the Hello Summer! Artwalk happening Thursday night in downtown Penticton.
From 5 to 9 p.m. on June 20, participating art galleries will be open for locals to view art and mix and mingle with artists. The event is free admission.
Lisa Lauze, creative director with Mondo Creation in Penticton, said the artwalk is a collaboration between nine downtown galleries. Visitors can grab a map at 221 Main St. and then walk the streets to see all the art.
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Events like the Artwalk are important because art and culture are the backbone of community, she said.
“It’s important for the arts to be a bigger part of the mainstream culture instead of a subculture.”
Not every gallery displays exclusively local artists, but Mondo Creation features local artists from Okanagan Falls to West Bank in Kelowna, she said.
Some familiar names include Okanagan Falls artist Randall Young, Graham McKenzie and Summerland’s mixed media artist Joanna Grant.
“It’s a wide range. There is something for everyone,” she said. “It’s the one night when I see the streets of Penticton full. It’s when all of the galleries are open and people are walking around and enjoying art.”