In Focus | Judith Mueller and the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan

Today's In Focus is a bit of a hybrid. We have profiled artist Judith Mueller, who is one of 70 artists that will be showing her work at a show starting tonight: The Mad Hatter presents: Into the Subconscious. This is a fundraiser for students and emerging artists put on by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan. It is being done in the 'salon' style, which will see a large room where the walls are covered in art and people will gather to enjoy food, drinks and live music as they explore the art and socialize. Judith is a very talented artist who paints and sculpts and is looking to balance works that include metal and fibre. Judith and the Arts Council are today's In Focus.

Where do you work?
At my Studio and Art of Yarn

Where can people find you or your business online?
http://judithmueller.weebly.com/

What do you always find yourself saying?
How can it get any better than this

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Gordon Ramsay

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Venice Biennale

Form, 2011, Acrylic on Canvas

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose?
Vincent van Gogh

Who inspires you?
My family

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
Make Art
Knit up all the ideas in my head
Travel to Hawaii

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
VBS

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
September 22 1939

What are you passionate about?
I love to make things...My hands are rarely still..I love colour and texture. I manipulate yarn into objects, wool into sculptures, food into meals, paint into imagery.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
I have had many...I can't just bring it down to one...the most recent was my BFA Grad Show: Twenty Twelve at UBCO. That was lots of fun.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
My children and graduating with my BFA from UBCO

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna?
Mission Hill Winery

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Swimming

Which way is the right way, 2012, acrylic on canvas

What is the name of your business/organization?
Arts Council of the Central Okanagan

What does your business/organization do?
The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan supports, advocates, strengthens and promotes all art disciplines and traditions. We do this through our programs, events, and advocacy.

Where can people find your organization on Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/artsokanagan

What is your mission?
To enrich the cultural life in our community, through supporting, strengthening and promoting all art disciplines and tradition and encouraging education in, and appreciation of, all aspects of the arts.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To make everyone realize that the arts are all inclusive and available to everyone.

What 3 qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
To act as an arts resource, providing artists and the community with linkage, information, and access to local, regional, national, and international arts resources and communities.

To cultivate, support, and promote local cultural and artistic activities.

To provide community recognition for creativity and arts excellence.

How does your business/organization impact the community?
The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan has been the starting point for several successful artists and art organizations in our region. We also work hard behind the scenes to maintain and enrich the cultural life in our community.

If I could change 1 thing about Kelowna, it would be:
The traffic. If the public transportation system ran like a larger city, maybe there would be less vehicles and the traffic would be less congested.

Which way is the wrong way, 2012, acrylic on canvas

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The lake, the sunshine, the warmth.

The Okanagan is an amazing place with community members that are engaged with and help promote the Arts. This interest and involvement by the community allows the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan to continue to serve and facilitate the Arts and pursue excellence in our mandate.

Some general comments I would like to share are:
When I look at Art, I like to be engaged and interested in the piece...I like it to invoke in me a sense of connection and interest; a desire to delve deeper. That's how I want the viewer to respond to my work. I encourage them to use their senses when viewing my sculptures.

The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan is a non-profit organization that is the underlying support for anything and everything that is art. The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan (ARTSCO) supports and strengthens the arts throughout the Central Okanagan by championing artistic excellence, accessibility, communication, awareness, and mutual support of the arts within the broader community.

Art includes writing, music, sculptures, printmaking, media arts, dance, theatre, design and more! Art is culture, entertainment, recreation, lifestyle and worldview. Arts and culture shaped our society; it contributes to the quality of our lives, helping us express who we are and where we come from.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at WelcometoKelowna.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do. We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!