Each room of the Silver Star home is designed with the purpose of celebrating art.

From the tall stairway in the entrance whose walls are adorned with beautiful fibre art and paintings to the ornate glasswork casting its radiant gaze across the kitchen, Gallery Odin is a place that celebrates art. And, as owners Kalman and Maria Molnar set to work hanging the pieces for their upcoming Winter Exhibition sa国际传媒� which opens Thursday, Nov. 23 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 25 from 1 to 6 p.m. sa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 a place that has celebrated all things art for 16 years.

sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 a lot of years now that we think about it,sa国际传媒� Maria says, sipping her glass of French chardonnay. sa国际传媒淪ixteen years ago, we just had the one room.sa国际传媒�

Now, nearly two decades later, the gallery has filled the Molnarssa国际传媒� warm, inviting home, with nearly every inch of wall showcasing work of largely British Columbian painters.

sa国际传媒淭he challenging thing is to come up with new works, new displays, new artists,sa国际传媒� Kalman says, also while swirling his wine.

sa国际传媒淎nd still accommodate the artists who have been with us since the start,sa国际传媒� Maria adds.

While the home is full of beautiful pieces, ranging in size from small blown-glass bowls to 36x60 portraits, the path through the elaborate display is finely-tuned by Kalman and Maria, each piece simultaneously flowing in to the next and standing out as a dominating demonstration of creativity.

As Maria and Kalman guide the tour through the kitchen, wine still in hand, the picturesque landscape paintings of Rod Charlesworth and Peter Stuhlmann take pole position on the walls in the small entrance room.

sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 a force to be reckoned with,sa国际传媒� Kalman says of Charlesworth. sa国际传媒淲e combined Rod with Peter and it just worked.sa国际传媒�

Through the closed door opposite the entrance, Karel Doruytersa国际传媒檚 acrylic buildup peers through the glass, beckoning patrons to pass through and enter the gallerysa国际传媒檚 grand hall.

sa国际传媒淗e has been selling so well that he has a hard time keeping up with demand,sa国际传媒� Maria says, motioning toward Doruytersa国际传媒檚 work as she steps into the large room.

Standing stoicly on a table to the right of the entrance past Doruytersa国际传媒檚 piece, Doug Alcocksa国际传媒檚 impressive combination of forged steel and Montpetit glasswork catches the eye.

sa国际传媒淲e have known Doug personally since we moved to the valley 20 years ago,sa国际传媒� Kalman says of Alcock. sa国际传媒淲e are very happy he is with us now for the Winter Show.sa国际传媒�

Previously having pieces too large to fit in the Molnarssa国际传媒� home gallery, Maria and Kalman found three ornate works of his to put on display.

sa国际传媒淚t adds a new dimension,sa国际传媒� Maria says, adding that they have shown his larger works in their , which runs in tandem with the Mile High Wine and Music Festival.

sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 very good to deal with,sa国际传媒� Kalman says. sa国际传媒淗e understands the art scene and itsa国际传媒檚 a pleasure to have him.sa国际传媒�

Of Alcocksa国际传媒檚 additions to the exhibition are a factual representation of a bird, the abstract steel and glasswork and a commanding sculpture of a human figure.

Also new to the Winter Exhibition is Quebec-born and Canmore-based artist Pascal Ouellet, a.k.a Bigoudi.

sa国际传媒淲e try to keep the gallery just to B.C. artists,sa国际传媒� Maria says.

Ouelletsa国际传媒檚 work is a tour through the whimsical, with vibrant and inviting colours juxtaposed with stunningly accurate depictions of animals. Though her work doesnsa国际传媒檛 stop there. In the Molnarssa国际传媒� living room stands a larger- than-life portrait of a woman, likely Ouelletsa国际传媒檚 sister or cousin, who bears a remarkable resemblance to the artist.

sa国际传媒淭he reason why we show her is because we love her stuff and love her creative work,sa国际传媒� Kalman says.

Light reflects off the fluffy white snow and pours in from the large windows in the small room adjacent to the grand hall where Ouelletsa国际传媒檚 painting of a cow, placed over a black background with white polka dots, and Teri Paulsa国际传媒檚 substantial abstract work has a commanding presence. Paul was also featured in the summer wine show.

sa国际传媒淏efore we closed the wine festival show, we asked her to join the Winter Show,sa国际传媒� Kalman recalls.

Standing in the small, bright room surrounded by Paul and Ouelletsa国际传媒檚 work and looking into the large room provides a bisection of British Columbian art and artists, with talent both local and provincial, such as , Barry Rafuse, Glenn Clark, Sharda Murray-Kieken, Jerry R. Markham, Wendy Hart Penner, Julia Trops, Lynne Grillmair, Bonnie Anderson, Edward Epp, Dawn Pich茅, Al Scott, Derek M Lynch, Elizabeth Moore, Peter Lawson, Dana Roman, Charlene Woodbury, Deborah Wilson, Patricia Ennis, Bryan Ryley, Ginny Hall and Lumel Studios on display.

sa国际传媒淲e are very loyal to our artists,sa国际传媒� Kalman says.

sa国际传媒淲e just absolutely love everything we show,sa国际传媒� Maria adds.

And, as the gallery owners sit adjacent to the living room, wine still in hand, itsa国际传媒檚 clear that for them, thatsa国际传媒檚 what itsa国际传媒檚 all about.

sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 the whole idea,sa国际传媒� Kalman says. sa国际传媒淣ow itsa国际传媒檚 in our veins. Itsa国际传媒檚 in our blood.sa国际传媒�

entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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