Christmas Artisan Market kicks off at TAGO in time for shopping season

Maureen Wood (left) and Sherrill Anderson display a mix of fabric art, small quilts and little critters. (Richard McGuire Photo)

The annual Christmas Artisan Market, featuring more than 25 local artists, opens Saturday, November 2 at The Art Gallery Osoyoos (TAGO) and runs until Saturday, December 21.

A preview of the show will be offered Friday, November 1 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. when TAGO takes part in the First Friday Art Walk in conjunction with the Okanagan Art Gallery and Wayside Select Books & Art. The three galleries are running opening receptions at the same time.

TAGO  is located at 8713 Main St. in Osoyoos, B.C., just west of Town Hall. The Okanagan Art Gallery is at 8302 Main Street, and Wayside Select Books & Art is at 8317 Main Street. All three feature the work of local artists.

The Artisan Market features the work of Osoyoos artists and artisans and includes affordable pieces from painters, potters, photographers, quilters and others. It is geared to local shoppers and browsers, and tourists, but the focus is on items that make great holiday gifts.

Throughout the exhibition, some artists may change their exhibit space, so it’s worth checking back again during the next month and a half to see what is new.

The gallery is on non-summer hours and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday.

Click on thumbnail images below to see in Virtual Gallery. Use arrow keys to flip through images. Click on images to see title at top.

Britt Lodoen’s work uses colourful glass. (Richard McGuire Photo)
This corner in the back room includes a chair painted by Karen Lundin, a basket with gift bags by Maureen Potter, pottery by Dave Brewin, and acrylic paintings by Myra Hammond. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Greg Reely shows photography, some printed on canvas. Popular subjects include dramatic skies and California quails.
Animals are a popular subject for Claudia Punter, whose work is at left. On the lower right is a piece by potter Darlene Fillion. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Darlene Fillion’s pottery is decorative and sometimes functional. She sometimes incorporates items like fabric or wood. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Shelves show smaller pieces by Claudia Punter. In addition to animals, fire is sometimes a theme of her work. (Richard McGuire Photo)
These acrylic paintings by Wendy Provins reflect a changing of seasons. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Silver Spoons Vintage Jewelry showed off hand-crafted jewelry (left). Upper right are acrylic paintings by Wendy Provins. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Shelby and Jun display items made with wood and words. Also shown are soy wax candles by Sirum Living. (Richard McGuire Photo)
This display of work by the Osoyoos Potters Club includes pieces by Nancy Gray, Ruth Lofstrom, Jane Slater and Natasha Danenhower. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Sandra Albo’s vibrant acrylic paintings often feature landscapes bathed in history. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Jocelyne Lamontagne acrylic and watercolour paintings appear on the left. The righthand watercolours are by Jean Crawford. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Richard McGuire’s photography includes landscapes, season, and weather – often local.
Nancy Mayberry O’Sullivan shows off her passion for silver smithing. (Richard McGuire Photo)
In a back room corner are soaps and other products from The Soap Bakers. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Birds, landscapes and weather are themes of Zarin Khan’s photography. (Richard McGuire Photo)
These woolen items in the back room nook are by Chantal Scanlon. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Heather & Hyde Company has handstitched artisan leather goods. (Richard McGuire Photo)
This white Christmas tree decorates the back room and has handmade ornaments (Richard McGuire Photo)
The wood decorations on the right are by Shelby and June. The Christmas tree is decorated with handmade ornaments by June Smith. (Richard McGuire Photo)

Author: Richard McGuire

Richard McGuire is an Osoyoos photographer who worked at the Osoyoos Times between 2012 and 2018, first as reporter and then as editor. He has a long career in journalism as well as research, communication and management at the House of Commons in Ottawa and in the federal government.