Event Directory Search for upcoming events Picks and Previews Plan ahead to check out these not-to-be-missed events All Theatre Dance Music Film & Media Visual Art Literary Festival Promotion Free Visual Art Eveline Kolijn's The Ocean Inside | Image: Courtesy of EMMEDIA Aug. 1, 2019 - Aug. 31, 2019 August Exhibitions Cap off your summer with Calgary’s visual arts programming Amy Jo Espetveidt Location Various Venues Price Prices Vary Get to know Calgary’s awesome visual arts community this summer as August brings the heat. With a mix of ongoing exhibitions, pop-up gatherings, and special events, there’s plenty to see and do. You can even grab a newly released contemporary art map and get exploring! Celebrating the important contributions that artist-run centres, commercial galleries, creative spaces, and institutions are making to the cultural life of Calgary, this self-guided tour provides a comprehensive overview of Calgary’s diverse and vibrant contemporary art community. We can’t wait to get out there! Mini Masters August 1, 2019, 11:00 – 11:45am Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission, registration required Calling Calgary’s newest contemporaries! Join the Esker Foundation on the first Thursday of every month for a hands-on art class. Parents and guardians are invited to bring their little ones, ages two to five, to explore art making in this fun and social program. All are welcome to participate, just dress for mess. eventbrite.ca Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Cultural History Collection August 1, 2019, 2:00 – 3:00pm Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) Free admission, registration required Glenbow’s Cultural History collection holds just over 100,000 objects ranging from atomizers to zithers, and includes a modern Alberta-made toilet and a beautiful 1920s Flapper dress. Join Glenbow Collections Technician Marcia Slater on a tour of this amazing and fun collection thanks to Chinook Country Historical Society and Historic Calgary Week. facebook.com Free First Thursday Nights August 1, 2019, 5:00pm – 9:00pm Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) Free admission Get into Glenbow without paying a dime and check out its popular Thursday night affair, the first day of August offers a great chance to explore all the current exhibitions including Nick Cave: Feat. and Ed Pien: Our Beloved. facebook.com A Lecture on Eric Harvie: The Founder of Glenbow August 2, 2019, 10:00 – 11:00am Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) Free admission, registration required Lawyer, oilman, soldier, philanthropist, collector; Eric Lafferty Harvie was all of these things. He was also the founder of Glenbow Museum and the guiding force behind its first collections. Join Daryl Betenia, Glenbow’s Manager, Collections, as she talks about the history and evolution of collecting at Glenbow. facebook.com Bring the Baby Art Tour & Tummy Time August 2, 2019, 12:00 – 1:00pm Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission, registration recommended A relaxed, social tour, bring your baby to the Esker Foundation and have tot-friendly fun while discussing the exhibitions. This program starts with a casual half-hour tour of the current exhibitions, followed by a half-hour of tummy time social fun for both baby and guardian! eventbrite.ca The Ocean Inside August 2 – September 13, 2019 EMMEDIA Gallery (2005 10th Ave. SW) Free admission An installation based on Eveline Kolijn’s first-hand experience of witnessing the devastating effects of climate change and other human-made environmental stresses on the coral reefs, check out the opening reception from 6:00 to 9:00pm on August 2 or swing by the closing reception on September 13 from 7:00 to 10:00pm. emmedia.ca The Brutal Tour August 4, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm Family of Man Statue (1st St. & 6th Ave. SE) $15 Join Contemporary Calgary for a guided walking tour of Calgary’s premiere downtown brutalist architecture sites of the 60s and early 70s. They’re acclaimed and maligned, controversial, and concrete. eventbrite.ca The Gender Queery August 7, 2019, 5:00 – 6:30pm Humainologie Gallery + Store (1514 7th St. SW) Free admission This series of vibrant oil paintings by Jane Pierce explores the evolving concept of gender, expanding from a narrow binary understanding, to embracing a more diverse, fluid spectrum. Swing by this opening reception to learn more. facebook.com Artist Talk and Beading Demonstration August 8, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00pm Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW) Free admission, registration required Hear Alberta Rose Williams/Ingnuk discuss her practice and demonstrate beading techniques on a loom. Guests even have the opportunity to tour Alberta’s studio and experiment with techniques on a selection of looms. eventbrite.ca Salon Series: Tia Halliday August 8, 2019, 7:00 – 10:00pm Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) $31.50 – $35 Tia Halliday uses performance, photography, and dance as a way of physically negotiating abstraction. Spend an evening exploring big ideas and having great conversations with this Calgary-based artist. facebook.com ArtRecruits August 8 – 27, 2019 Studio C, cSPACE King Edward (235, 1721 29th Ave. SW) Free admission Join Studio C for an exhibit by ArtRecruits, a program that uses art to connect individuals with mental health barriers to employment. Featuring mixed media artwork and a mural collaboration with the Royal Bank of Canada, the opening reception takes place from 5:00 to 7:00pm on August 8. studiocprospect.ca Artist Talk with Kablusiak August 9, 2019, 6:30 – 7:30pm Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission, registration recommended Presented in conjunction with the exhibition of their work in both Qiniqtuaq and Among All These Tundras, hear Kablusiak discuss their artistic practice as a whole. eventbrite.ca Art in the Garden August 10 & 11, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm Art in the Garden (3443 Kerry Park Rd. SW) Free admission Featuring work by Rosemary Bennett, Linda Lalonde, Fran Sayles, Gloria Chow, and guest artist Sharron Bowen, find framed and unframed paintings in many mediums as well as art cards, matted prints, and stained glass. Be sure to bring a donation for the Calgary Food Bank. facebook.com Adagio August 10 – September 22, 2019 Tower Gallery, Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville) Admission by donation Adagio describes the quiet pace of Bobbi Dunlop’s paintings, how they evolve, and the process of creating/building an abstract visual idea on canvas, sculpting it with brush marks, and being in the moment with brush and medium. Check out the show at its opening reception, 2:00 to 4:00pm on August 10. leightoncentre.org In the Open Air August 10 – September 22, 2019 Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville) Admission by donation The act of outdoor painting from direct observation continues to be popular. This exhibition showcases the work of a number of accomplished Alberta artists, all of whom enjoy creating art en plein air. Swing by the opening reception from 2:00 to 4:00pm on August 10. leightoncentre.org A.C. Leighton’s Bow Lake pastel | Image: Courtesy of the Leighton Art Centre Cinematic Sunday: Nick Cave AS IS August 11, 2019, 1:00 – 2:30pm Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) $8 – $25 This behind-the-scenes documentary shows how one man brought people from all walks of life together using the power of art. Screened in conjunction with Glenbow’s exhibition Nick Cave: Feat., see the film then take in the exhibition. facebook.com The Brutal Tour 2 August 11, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm Family of Man Statue (1st St. & 6th Ave. SE) $15 Join Contemporary Calgary for a guided walking tour of Calgary’s premiere downtown brutalist architecture sites of the 60s and early 70s. They’re acclaimed and maligned, controversial, and concrete. eventbrite.ca Laughter Increases the Pain Threshold August 15, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00pm Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW) Free admission, registration required In conjunction with the Collider Artist Residency at Contemporary Calgary, join Ashley Bedet to discuss the recurring facet of failure as a theme in her process as well as her artist practice as a whole. eventbrite.ca I carry it in my heart August 17, 2019, 1:00 – 2:00pm Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission, registration recommended An exhibition tour with Naomi Potter, explore Among All These Tundras and consider questions of cultural legacy and sovereignty in the polar regions by looking at the work within a generous and generative ecology of care and love. eventbrite.ca Wish You Were Here August 18, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville) By donation Wish You Were Here is a special event that allows people from all over the world to participate in the construction of the Vital Lines tapestry. If you live far from the beautiful hills of the Leighton Art Centre, send your wishes to vitallinesproject@gmail.com. You can even join artists Sabine Lecorre-Moore and Patricia Lorti as they inscribe the ribbons weave into their work. leightoncentre.org Master Class for Families August 18, 2019, 1:00 – 2:00pm Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission, registration required Head to the Esker Foundation for an afternoon of family fun at the gallery and delve into new mediums with art projects that relate to the current exhibitions. This is an educational, energetic, hands-on program for kids ages five to 10. An adult is required to stay for the duration of the workshop and all materials are provided. eventbrite.ca Concrete Monoliths August 18, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW) $10 A kid-friendly tour of the Brutal Visions exhibition, explore the rich history of the Centennial Planetarium and key characteristics of brutalist style architecture. Children can explore the building, capturing the unique and varied textures of concrete surfaces through drawing and rubbing. eventbrite.ca Art Baby Tour August 21, 2019, 10:00 – 11:00am Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) Free – $5 Make some time for you and take a relaxed one-hour tour of Ed Pien: Our Beloved and Second Skin with your wee one in tow. This tour is designed to allow parents and caregivers of small children, aged two and under, an opportunity to engage with Glenbow’s content in a baby-friendly environment. facebook.com Balancing Art and Political Statements in Artistic Practice August 23, 2019, 6:30 – 7:30pm Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission, registration recommended Join Sámi photographer, filmmaker, video, and visual artist, Marja Helander, as she discusses Indigenous rights and environmental issues in both her creative practice and in her work in Among All These Tundras. eventbrite.ca Dérive August 25, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW) $10 Collider artists-in-residence Cody + Ali host this kid-friendly tour of the Centennial Planetarium. Children can even create their own paintings and drawings or contribute to a group artwork inspired by the physcogeographical concept of Dérive. eventbrite.ca PLACEHOLDER: An Unconventional Book Club August 27, 2019, 6:00 – 7:30pm Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission, registration required How can we characterize our relationship to the land we live in? Join the Esker Foundation for an informal conversation facilitated by members of d.talks. PLACEHOLDER is an unconventional book club designed to generate conversations among strangers, where a question is as important as an answer. eventbrite.ca Ongoing Exhibitions Roam Until August 3, 2019 Central Library (800 3rd St. SE) Free admission Finger painter Prameesha Abeysekera and sculptor Gordon Pengilly caress the heart of the horse and the magic of their movement in this series of paintings and sculptures. Explore this show in the west window of the Central Library. prameeart.com A Point on the Horizon Until August 4, 2019 Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville) Admission by donation Each with a unique perspective, this exhibition showcases the work of a series of emerging artists as they look around themselves and respond to their surroundings and personal histories. leightoncentre.org These Threads Hold Memory Until August 10, 2019 The New Gallery (208 Centre St. SE) Free admission Carrie Allison uses beading in her practice to connect to ancestors, to gain insight with Indigenous epistemologies and methodologies. This exhibition utilizes beading as a tool to share statistics, thoughts, and contemplate stereotypical and perhaps unknown narratives. thenewgallery.org 500 Shades of Summer Until August 13, 2019 Knox Contemporary Gallery of Art (200 Barclay Parade SW) Free admission The Knox Gallery presents a pop up exhibition of leading edge contemporary visual art by artists Chlan Grant, Jane Lochrie, Mao (Kun Chen), Matt Trinh (a.k.a. Hawk), Terry Gregoraschuk, and its newest artist J. Broz. knoxgalleryofart.com In Between and the Resolve Until August 17, 2019 Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50th Ave. SE) Free admission Jennifer Weihmann is a Calgary-based nature lover and emerging photographer. Her extreme close-up images of decomposing leaves, mushrooms, moss sprouts, and petals harken back to a childlike wonder in the smallest of details. christineklassengallery.com Chroma: Group Show Until August 17, 2019 Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50th Ave. SE) Free admission Christine Klassen Gallery’s annual group show celebrates colour and the diversity of their artists has an emphasis on experimentation and deviation. Featuring intimate drawings from well-known photographer Diana Thorneycroft, innovative large-scale paperworks by Carl White, pattern exploration from Michael Schreiner, and experimental mark-making by Verna Vogel, don’t miss this show. christineklassengallery.com Verna Vogel’s Mobile No. 7 | Image: Courtesy of the Christine Klassen Gallery Water Features Until August 18, 2019 The Peanut Gallery, John Fleuvog Shoes (304 8th Ave. SW) Free admission An obsession with the river and its evolution from day to day, season to season inspired Chris Brooks to explore new materials and methods for creating landscapes. The foundation of each piece in the exhibition is fine resin for its ability to retain fluid properties as a solid. chrisbrooks.art Portraits Until August 24, 2019 Alberta Craft Gallery, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW) Free admission From quirky self-portraits to iconic personalities, this exhibition is as diverse as each person depicted. Portraits features the work of 33 fine craft artists. facebook.com Spotlight YYC: Mackenzie Kelly-Frère Until August 24, 2019 Alberta Craft Gallery, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW) Free admission Mackenzie Kelly-Frère is an artist and educator whose work has been exhibited across Canada and internationally. Explore some of his new work in the Alberta Craft Gallery’s Spotlight YYC exhibition. facebook.com Hand Pic’d 2019 Until August 29, 2019 VIVIANEART (1114 11th St. SW) Free admission Celebrating emerging artists and recent graduates within the local Calgary arts community, see works by Alyssa Ellis, Adriane Vant Erve, and Jessie Fraser, three artists who are using fibre as a key element in their visual art practice. vivianeart.gallery ᐊᕙᑖᓂᑦᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᑦᓄᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂᑦ Among All These Tundras Until August 30, 2019 Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission Among All These Tundras is a title taken from the poem My Home is in My Heart by famed Sámi writer Nils-Aslak Valkeapää and features contemporary art by Indigenous artists from around the circumpolar world. eskerfoundation.com CHANNEL 51: IGLOOLIK – Celebrating 30 Years of Inuit Video Art Until August 30, 2019 Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission Curated by asinnajaq, this is the first large-scale tour of Igloolik Inuit video art from the Isuma and Arnait Women’s Video Collective. It celebrates a young cinematic tradition that has its own distinct voice and worldview. eskerfoundation.com Cache Until August 31, 2019 Herringer Kiss Gallery (101, 1615 10th Ave. SW) Free admission Curated by Kevin Kanashiro, this exhibition shines a light on a group of talented, well established artists that are not necessarily familiar to the public eye. herringerkissgallery.com together but apart Until August 31, 2019 Jarvis Hall Gallery (333B 36th Ave. SE) Free admission Featuring new works by Robin Arseneault, Laura Findlay, Larissa Tiggelers, Mark Dicey, Jeff Nachtigall, Corri-Lynn Tetz, Rachel MacFarlane, and many more, check out this summer group show. jarvishallgallery.com Vistas of the West Until August 30, 2019 Framed on Fifth (1207 5th Ave. NW) Free admission A collection of poetry and visual art that celebrates the beauty and spirit of the Rocky Mountains, Western foothills, celebrate the launch of this new book and art show from 6:30 to 9:00pm on August 29. framedonfifth.com Futurology Until September 6, 2019 Alberta Printmakers (4025 4th St. SE) Free admission Celebrate Alberta Printmakers’ beginnings, where they’ve come through the years, and the many members, partners, and supporters who have helped them get to where we they are now. facebook.com A Closer Look Tour: Mavericks Tuesdays until September 10, 2019, 1:00pm Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) With admission Each Tuesday throughout the summer, join Glenbow’s educators as they share some of their favourite stories about the maverick spirit that continues to characterize contemporary Alberta. facebook.com A Closer Look Tour: Niitsitapiisinni Thursdays until September 12, 2019, 1:00pm Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) With admission Journey through the award-winning Niitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life gallery and uncover the traditions, values, and history of the people who have lived for thousands of years in the northwestern plains of Alberta and Montana. The Blackfoot share their story in their own words with interactive displays that guide visitors through Nitsitapii history. facebook.com Second Skin Until September 15, 2019 Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) With admission Second Skin is an exhibition of contemporary art that features work by five Canadian artists—Brendan Fernandes, Skeena Reece, Barbara Astman, Winnie Truong, and Tia Halliday—who explore the transformative potential of adornment, costume, and disguise. glenbow.org Tia Halliday’s Sideshow III | Image: Courtesy of Glenbow Kent Merriman Jr.: Remnants Until September 15, 2019 Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) With admission The ninth installment in curator Nancy Tousley’s ongoing series One New Work features new work by emerging Calgary artist Kent Merriman. The exhibition features highly laborious sculptural paintings that fool the eye by masquerading as flattened cardboard boxes, poured concrete, and clear plastic baggies. glenbow.org Ed Pien: Our Beloved Until September 22, 2019 Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) With admission Ed Pien’s 144 framed photographs of flowers are hung together in a monumental, wall-filling installation. The artist photographed the flowers at grave sites at a cemetery in Sanitiago, Chile which is the final resting place for many of the political dissidents and victims of the murderous dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. glenbow.org Nick Cave: Feat. Until September 22, 2019 Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) With admission Organized by the Frist Art Museum, Nashville, Tennessee, Nick Cave is one of America’s most acclaimed contemporary artists. This major touring exhibition makes its only Canadian stop and features the artist’s signature sound suits as well as sculpture, video, and installation works. glenbow.org Vital Lines Until September 29, 2019 Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville) Admission by donation Vital Lines is a land-based installation conceived by Calgary francophone artists Sabine Lecorre-Moore and Patricia Lortie, who together form the artistic duo known as Conversation. They have designed this interactive installation specifically for the Leighton Art Centre landscape, creating an artwork that offers a receptive site where visitors can rest their dreams, wishes, and life affirmations. leightoncentre.org Collider Until September 29, 2019 Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW) Free admission Taking a cue from particle accelerators, Collider serves as a catalyst for collaborative experimentation and discovery through a collision of ideas and actions. This inaugural project employs a peer nomination process to invite 30 local artists to make Contemporary Calgary and the former Centennial Planetarium their studio and community hub. contemporarycalgary.com Brutal Visions Until September 29, 2019 Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW) Free admission Providing a rich and engaging context for the recently reawakened Centennial Planetarium, Brutal Visions invites viewers to explore the history, architecture, and future ambitions of Contemporary Calgary’s new home. contemporarycalgary.com A Future City from The Past Until September 29, 2019 Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW) Free admission Clemens Gritl’s body of work, A Future City from The Past, is based on a mystifying vision of a radically aggressive urban dystopia—an uncompromising design in the brutalist dogma. Explore it as Contemporary Calgary opens every Sunday and Thursday starting on June 2. contemporarycalgary.com Recent Acquisitions Until October 11, 2019 Centre Street CTrain Station (1st St. & 7th Ave. SE) Free admission Exploring ideas of theft and authorship, Collin Zipp’s Recent Acquisitions is made up of 11 seemingly identical forgeries from an art reproduction company based in China. Seeing the paintings side-by-side encourages the viewer to further investigate their similarities. uascalgary.org Kablusiak: Qiniqtuaq Until October 20, 2019 Project Space, Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE) Free admission Qiniqtuaq (searching/looking) invites viewers to peer through a multi-eyed ghost sheet to witness a looping projection of a video collage screened in front of a piece of oil-stained cardboard. Inviting a presence of nostalgia, spectatorship, and diaspora, the piece was created by Kablusiak, an Inuvialuk artist and curator based in Mohkinstsis. eskerfoundation.com Artist In Residence: Albertine Crow Shoe Until January 5, 2020 Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) With admission Glenbow’s artist-in-residence program invites multidisciplinary artists to interact with Glenbow’s vast collection of art and cultural material to inspire new works. Albertine Crow Shoe is known primarily for her exquisite jewellery and this exhibition features highlights of her past work as well as entirely new creations based on her discoveries from working with Glenbow’s collection. glenbow.org Ladylikeness: Historical Portraits of Women by Women Until January 5, 2020 Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) With admission Presented in partnership with Library and Archives Canada, head to Glenbow to see a varied selection of portraiture produced over a 200-year period, with works dating from 1768 to 1960. Ladylikeness offers a fascinating look at how these artists chose to work within the genre in different ways, making it their own. glenbow.org Art of Resilience Until March 2, 2020 Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE) With admission The result of four art workshops held at Glenbow for children and families served by Kainaiwa Children’s Services Corporation Prevention and Support, explore their work in this unique showcase. glenbow.org Have a visual arts event that’s not listed above? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
