Artists in Residence (AiR) Program

Ann Doyon is a writer and artist from Regina, Saskatchewan.

Their mother was Beatrice Keewatin (Peepeekisis FirstNation) and their father was Melvin (Butch) Hanson of Kelvington, Saskatchewan.

Ann firmly believes that art can change the world and shape the views of the people who see it performed, spoken or felt.

By sharing the deepest parts of ourselves through art we can learn about each others realities and expand the appreciation of the short time we have in this world.

An accomplished multi-media artist with a career that has spanned decades garnering national and international attention for her powerful wordplay and intense performing style.

Their design and artwork is in various private and public collections across Turtle Island.

She was gifted to be the mother of two fiercely unique and talented girls Aurora Jade and Lilyanna Lune.

Ann currently lives in a heavily fortified compound in the wilds of British Columbia.

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I am an Okanagan based artist and teacher working in diverse mediums including oil, acrylic, charcoal and ink as well as digital format. The natural world and the human experience are my greatest sources of inspiration and I never tire of exploring various aspects of these themes in all areas of life, but especially my artistic life.

Portraiture is a passion area that has a way of uniting people with their experience of place, belonging and responsibility within their landscape. As I develop as an artist, it is my goal to explore the connection between people and their environment as an expression of climate activism.

My painting style is greatly influenced by the impressionists using lost and found edges and the nuanced interplay between bold and neutral colour. My drawing style is a spontaneous response to my surroundings and experiences and I try my best to capture the place or the people as I see them. While I am mostly self taught, I have sought out and studied under various artistic mentors for whom I am very grateful. I am a passionate advocate for mental health, education and the climate. When I am not painting or teaching art, I can be found running in the woods with my dog or on an adventure with my kids. I live in Penticton with my husband and four children.

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Hey there! My name is Robyn Sawchyn or I also go by Cathartic Wanderer. I'm a self-taught mixed media, geometry, and upcycle artist. I love weird, spooky, lore, and crystals and I try to incorporate these into my art.

Ever since I was old enough to remember my mom and baba (grandma) would teach me during Easter the Ukrainian tradition of pysanky. I think this is where I gained my love and appreciation for intricate patterns, circles, and lines. I still have the books my baba used when she created her eggs and use them as some guidance or when I need some inspiration,

When I'm not creating, I'm out wandering and exploring with our dog, Munchie.

In my future projects, I want to get back to using the traditional Ukrainian patterns within my artwork and learn and share the magics of the way the eggs are created.

Always wonder, always wander.

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Hi! I’m Endrené. I live in Penticton, BC, Canada, with my partner, Dave, and our awesome kid, and our pretty great cat, and some houseplants which are mostly good (except Leon. I just can’t make him happy). I’ve got other family living nearby, and overall, life is pretty sweet!

I obtained a BFA in 2004 from UBC Okanagan, but I’ve always considered myself an artist— I’m on record at the age of four! My mother asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I answered, “an artist, and I already am one.” The trick, (as that scoundrel Picasso said,) has been staying one. I’d like to consider myself successful in that regard.

Essentially, I’m a storyteller. I like for my paintings and my illustrations to be able to transport the viewer. Perhaps on a trip of emotion: a journey into revealing truths, delightful memories, or utter blissful fantasy.

I’ve exhibited in many group shows throughout the South Okanagan since 2001 and had my first CARFAC exhibition (SEA OF LOVE with MFA Shannon Lester at Lake Country Gallery in October and November 2021).

My prints and paintings can be a source of inspiration, or simply provide the right touch of colour and story for a special space in your home.

My love of drawing is innate, and I have loved comics since first laying eyes on the Sunday Funnies as a kid. Most of my characters were animals until discovering Archie Comics at the age of nine (all of the cool kids at Kaleden Elementary were into Archie). I drew comics for my friends, and have continued to use the medium as a means to express my most personal stories throughout my artistic career.

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Madeline Terbasket is a two-spirit storyteller that works in many different mediums to express themselves. Their first mural stands proudly in downtown Keremeos, BC and is named “Chief Skemxist”. Madeline grew up in the Similkameen Valley and they’re excited to share their culture through imagery. In January 2023, they wrote and performed their first one person show, the Medicine Walk, in Oliver at the Venables Theatre. This show spoken and sung with vulnerability, truth, and humor offered the audience a place to laugh and cry along with them. Madeline allowed themselves to be seen in their fullness. Madeline started performing the art of burlesque in 2017 as Mother Girth, “the two-spirit tease”. They won the title of Most Innovative in the Edmonton Burlesque Festival’s Bunny Competition. Burlesque is a tool for them to have a caring relationship with their body and to nurture self love and respect. In 2019, Madeline started doing drag on accident. They dressed up as a rez dude for Halloween and had so much fun that they decided to bring their character to the stage as Rez Daddy. They love performing drag because it allows them to play with gender and explore their masculine side. Madeline has loved public speaking since elementary school. They love attention and speaking about things that matter to them. They are happy to be on the South Okanagan Similkameen Pride Society’s board of directors as President. With SOS Pride, Madeline is involved in advocacy work, organizing events, and providing safe spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

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Victoria “Tori” Jaenig is a cis-gendered straight woman identifying as She/ Her. She was born Victoria Baptiste and her nsyilxcən name qwəɬxanaʔ (kwel-han-nah) is loosely translated as Dust Dancer.

Victoria is a three-time award winning Indigenous Storyteller, Media Artist, Producer and she is the Artistic Director for the ULLUS Collective, a collective of Indigenous artists based out of the BC Interior. In 2014, Victoria was named a Community Champion from the Okanagan Nation Women’s Awards for her work as a Producer “Utilizing Technology for Indigenous Knowledge” a framework she developed and presents in communities, universities and festivals or conferences upon request. Tori produced over 30 short films, music videos, documentaries and informational videos and has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions or festivals for over twenty years. She toured parts of Europe, Western Canada and Northwestern USA as a dance and theatre performer with Secwepemc Theatre, Rainbow Productions and Nak’ulamen Performance Collective with productions she performed in, wrote, directed, and/ or produced. These experiences led her to become a mentor and instructor of Indigenous Storytelling and Performance, Media Arts, Marketing and Portfolio Development classes as part of the National Indigenous Professional Artist Training (NIPAT) program at the Internationally renown En’owkin Centre.

Victoria was trained in the art of storytelling and performance using land based (including animals, plants and elemental or sacred beings) methodologies and syilx lifestyles, practices or worldviews. She is an apprentice of the nsyilxcen language, songs, dances, ceremony, protocols and is one of a few remaining trained Okanagan dancers from her territory. Through her work with En’owkin Centre’s Nak’ulamen Performance Collective and the other six performers, she assisted in revitalizing Syilx performance back into community. She completed training at the Centre for Arts and Technology – Okanagan in the digital film (media) program and is an alumni of the NIPAT program at En’owkin Centre. As the Artistic Director for ULLUS Collective, Victoria advocates for building a sustainable and thriving Indigenous arts community within the BC Interior. As an Artist she creates a body of work that provides Indigenous perspectives, worldview or voice to her audiences.

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Georgia’s interest in art began at an early age. Growing up in the country, surrounded by mountains, natural beauty and abundant wildlife she filled her leisure time by sketching and painting her surroundings. As an adult a career in Interior Design required that she produce renderings of her projects and involved the use of various mediums including water colour, mixed media and pen & ink.

For her personal art Georgia prefers to paint in oil. She enjoys painting people, animals and scenery wherever she is and strives to capture the moment and tell a story through her work.

Georgia is an active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. In the last few years Georgia has received several awards in FCA juried shows for her paintings. She studied art history at the University of Manitoba and continues to study figurative painting with Kristy Gordon.

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Barb's interest in painting began by experimenting with flow painting on her dining room table and has progressed to realism. She is strongly influenced by nature, particularly birds and animals and prefers to work with acrylics. Barb's other interest is working with natural fibres and she is an experienced knitter, spinner and weaver. Now she is excited to explore the use of fibre in creating felted landscapes and abstract painting with fibre embellishments. Barb is always happy to answer questions and share her knowledge and experience.

Diana's interests are eclectic; she expresses herself through abstracts, landscapes, portraits and character studies. Her preferred media are acrylic and oil on canvas, but Diana also incorporates natural elements such as rocks, leaves or grasses when inspiration, opportunity and serendipity converge.

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Karla Avendaño is an emerging artist who works with acrylic and mixed media. She creates contemporary surrealist images of the beauty she observes in the world. Her recent work combines painting with her passion for body positivity.Born in Chile, Karla is the granddaughter, daughter, and niece of artists. She was encouraged to explore her creativity from a young age. Since early 2020, Karla has been an Artist in Residence at the Leir House Cultural Centre. She works out of her studio space in Penticton and lives in Kaleden, British Columbia. Karla’s paintings have been featured in an installation at the City of Penticton council chambers. Her work was part of the Penticton and District Community Arts Council’s Fresh A.i.R. exhibition in 2020. Her art has been included in the Penticton Art Gallery’s Under 500 Exhibition + Sale. Karla also teaches classes on different visual art techniques.

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Lindsey Curtis is an emerging artist whose practice is rooted in experimental drawing and often extends into installation and sculpture. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University and a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of British Columbia. Her background in environmental engineering and remediation drives her desire for connection to the natural world, and is a common thread throughout her work. Her work is process focused and often explores the connections between nature and the body. She recently completed a mentorship in ceramics with a local practitioner to create a foundation for new sculptural work and to explore the possibilities of functional ware. She is excited to be a part of the AiR program for the next year and to contribute to the arts community in the South Okanagan.

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Debbie Tougas is a professional artist living in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. Her passion for painting and her use of texture through the exploration of various acrylic mediums make her a natural at abstraction. The unique quality to Debbie's work is felt through her creative use of vibrant colour with her ultimate goal being expression in a contemporary and abstract form.

While her background includes working in marketing display and retail management, her career path began when she graduated from Penticton Secondary School with an Art Scholarship. Debbie completed her Fine Art Diploma from OUC in Kelowna. This led to her graphic design program at Emily Carr College of Art in Vancouver. She then completed her education with an Art and Merchandising Diploma from Langara College in Vancouver.

Deb is currently represented at Picture This Custom Framing & Gallery at 133 Westminster Ave W, Penticton, BC, V2A 1J7 (250-492-2031)

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Picture This Custom Framing (FACEBOOK)

Cathie is an active member of the Penticton Potters Guild and has been potting for 12 years. She loves texture, contrast and exploring the use of all colours. Recently she has been exploring colour with acrylic medium and painting abstracts.

Lindsay Peltz is a self-taught artist who has been creating since she was a child. She loves to make art that makes people smile, with a particular interest in animals in general, and cats specifically. Currently, her preferred mediums are acrylic paint and digital drawing.

One of Lindsay’s ongoing art projects is Random Acts of Cat, where she draws or paints the portrait of a stranger’s cat and then offers to mail them the art piece. She finds her subjects for this project on social media and has sent cat portraits all over the world!

Lindsay lives in Penticton with her husband, two kids, two guinea pigs, and one cat.

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George Traicheff is an artist who prefers to work “en plein air” as much as possible. He has studied at Ecole’ des Beaux Arts in Montreal and continued studies at the Art Students’ League in New York as well as with a number of well known artists. The single most important ideology that was learned by George is that one should not strive to be a wildlife artist, an abstract artist, a figurative artist or any other; one should strive to be an artist, to interpret all and once this is accomplished, then you can be an artist who paints whatever - figurative - landscapes - wildlife or anything!

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I was born in Halifax, NS in 1985. Growing up I was exposed to a lot of diversity of people, ideas, and experiences from a young age; which is still something that I seek and value today.

I began making art from a young age and started taking some courses at NSCAD around the year 2000. I experimented with lots of media and techniques throughout my young twenties, when I found myself living and creating in Montreal as part of the Usine 106U collective of outsider artists.

My time in Montreal and with the Usine 106U informed a lot of my artistic practice, philosophy and appreciation moving forward. During that time I was exposed to many artists’ work both in the collective and at other galleries and events in Montreal.

My journey with art turned more commercial as I wished to make a living making things. I began working on film/ television sets and as a prototype creator for a toy company for several years.

Nearing the end of my twenties I was called to be more of service and wanted to share the therapeutic and recreational benefits of art-making. I began working with artists with disabilities and other groups to facilitate art-making of all sorts.

Now I attempt to blend all aspects of art-making and facilitating into my life as I offer services as a graphic designer, group art-making facilitator, as well as continuing on my own artistic journey.

I work in any and all mediums that capture my attention and often find that I have an idea and match a medium to the idea.

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