Cruzwear on Bernard has turned into a pop-up art gallery

After over 30 years of serving the community on Bernard Ave, Cruzwear Unlimited is set to close the doors of its downtown location.

But not before the old swimwear store hosts something special before the lease is up in November.

“I decided to invite as many artists as I could… and we’ve got some beautiful artists here, lots of variety,” Cruzwear founder and owner, Doreen Velin told Kelowna10.

“We have wine to serve in the afternoon, we’ve got coffee in the morning. Just things to help people relax, have fun, and enjoy.”

Converting the store into an art pop-up is a way for Velin to give back to the community for supporting her business for 45 years, where she also hosts painting workshops and lessons.

The thought of ending this chapter of her life evoked strong emotions for the 75-year-old business owner. Once it closes, Velin will be helping her daughter run their other location on Ellis.

Her own paintings adorned the walls of the store above racks selling swimsuits. She said many of her paintings involve sail boats, and customers took notice over the years.

“That’s what gave me the confidence to keep painting, to keep selling,” Velin said.

Her grade three art teacher was Bill Barlee, host of the Canadian historical show ‘Gold Trails and Ghost Towns.’ She said he taught her how to effectively use warm and cold colours to create depth and nurtured her artistic potential.

Velin was instrumental in forming the Okanagan Artists Coalition, which has 20 members, who she features in the art store pop-up.

Not only do members of the coalition contribute to the gallery, but they also work in the store.

Velin hopes having their art on display in a prominent downtown spot will give them confidence in their art and help teach them to sell their creations.

One member, Mary Meenagh, has been an artist her whole life and holds a fine arts degree from the University of Calgary. Her love of gardening and flowers is reflected in her paintings.

“This space is an incredible opportunity that Doreen’s given us,” Meenagh said. “All the artists here are local and it’s great to work with them and share our art together.”

Another member, Debby Merkel, also has many paintings on display. She changed her style from realism to abstract, finding it more meditative and less focused on perfection.

They take on many textures and even includes pages from her mother’s old recipe book in her work.

She calls the pop-up art gallery ‘fabulous.’

“It’s always nice to be around other artists,” Merkel said. “It’s a huge opportunity for artists, but it’s also nice for the locals. We’ve had lots of visitors [and] it’s nice for them to see what we do, it’s such an eclectic mix.”