Over Nov. 13 and 14, the Penticton Art Gallery packed its way to capacity with its 28th Soup Bowls fundraiser.
The popular event sold out a week in advance for both nights, which saw 20 different restaurants and chefs put their skills to the test in support of the gallery.
"It's a privilege to be able to have an event that becomes a cultural institution," said curator Paul Crawford. "This year, we've had some challenges in short staffing and everything else, and it's just amazing that this event sold itself out. I couldn't ask for a better outcome."
Restaurants from across Penticton and beyond were invited to participate, with more interest than could be fit into the gallery's two-night schedule and space.
Out of the 10 soups available on Nov. 14, the winning prize as chosen by the attendees, went to the Copper Mug Pub, who were participating for the first time.
Chef Ricky Devisser credited the hard work that went into the recipe, along with a few special touches.
"It was 30 pounds of mushrooms, all cut by hand, and the love and smile probably helped a little bit," Devisser said. "I'm so excited I might call in sick tomorrow."
This year even saw three restaurants approach the gallery first to ask to be included, which was another sign of the success and always growing popularity of the event.
"It's great that people see there's value not only giving back to the community but also just exposing themselves to a broader audience," said Crawford. "These are tough times and I know how hard it is for all our institutions, restaurants included, so the fact that people choose to spend their money here tonight, hopefully they'll meet a restaurant tonight that they haven't tried before and choose to spend some more money there over the next couple of months."
The Soup Bowls fundraiser is one of the gallery's more popular events, and beyond the social aspects, the support it provides the gallery to keep going can't be downplayed either.
The support of the community and the support of the restaurants that donate their soup, or chili for one of the gallery's other popular fundraisers are very appreciated by the gallery.
So are groups like the Summerland and Penticton Potters' Guilds, which provided more than 460 unique handcrafted namesake bowls for the fundraiser that people were invited to choose and take home with them.
Even with winter knocking on the door, the gallery isn't slowing down. On Nov. 23, the annual Community Art Walk coincides with the official opening of the gallery's Under 500 art sale, and the opening of its Young Collector's Club exhibition.
That exhibition offers kids and youth up to age 18 the opportunity to start their own collections and appreciation for art, where for $25 they are invited to pass through a three-foot doorway into the exhibition and choose any piece of art they want to keep without being pressured by any adults.
"We really want to encourage a culture of collecting, just the joy of taking something home and living with it," Crawford said. "The ticket price is no reflection of the value of the work, some just may have been through auctions before without selling or something, it's just they were donated to be put back into the community again."
