Art First! marks its one-year milestone

By David F. Rooney

Revelstoke has, in recent years, gained a well-deserved reputation as a community that welcomes artists. Not only is there an active Visual Arts Centre and a municipal Public Art Committee but an artists’ cooperative that maintains an impressive gallery on First Street West.

That gallery, Art First!, celebrated its first birthday on Friday with a party that was well attended by local artists and art patrons. Here are a few photos from that party that we thought you’d like to see:

Cat Mather chats with Joanne Stacey at the party held to celebrate the first birthday of the North Columbia Artists' Cooperative's Art First! gallery on First Street West on Friday. David F. Rooney photo
Jackie Pendergast (left) talks to the crowd of artists and art patrons who attended the Art First! birthday party on Friday as painters Nicola McGarry and Rachel Kelly listen. David F. Rooney photo
Gary Pendergast gratefully accepts a VERY nice bottle of single-malt whiskey from Nicola McGarry. Garry has been doing the Art First! books for free since the gallery opened a year ago. David F. Rooney photo
Jackie Pendergast hands a slice of cake to Nicola McGarry for distribution to the crowd that attended the party last Friday. David F. Rooney photo
Cherie Van Overbeke and Rachel Kelly pose for the camera at the Art First! birthday party on Friday. David F. Rooney photo
Jackie Pendergast chats with dance instructor Jennifer Crockford. David F. Rooney photo
Rachel Kelly was one of the many artists who attended the birthday party. David F. Rooney photo