• Price Free

Calgary’s arts community continues to amaze with a fresh batch of incredible free offerings. From the start of show and sale season to one-of-a-kind film screenings to live concerts, there really is a feast of opportunities to explore. Here’s what we’re checking out this week:

ProArts Presents Peter Jancewicz & Susan Hlasny

November 1, 2017, 12:10 – 12:50pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free

A composer, pianist, and teacher, Peter Jancewicz holds a Master of Music degree in piano from McGill University and a Doctor of Music degree from the University of Alberta. Hear him perform with his Mount Royal Conservatory colleague Susan Hlasny at this free lunch hour concert.
proartssociety.ca

Dia de Muertos

November 1, 2017, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Arts Commons (205 8th Ave. SE)
Free

Join Casa Mexico and Arts Commons for a night of festivity and fun with an altar exhibition accompanied by live performances. Have your face painted in Catrina style, check out the art show, and enjoy Mexican hot chocolate and food stations throughout the night.
artscommons.ca

Free First Thursday Nights

November 2, 2017, 5:00 – 9:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
Free

With a fresh batch of exhibitions to explore, it’s the perfect time to check out Free First Thursday Nights at Glenbow. Don’t miss this chance to absorb Sandra Sawatzky’s The Black Gold Tapestry and so much more.
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Late Night Thursday with Blair Brennan

November 2, 2017, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Contemporary Calgary (117 8th Ave. SW)
Free, registration recommended

Combining film screenings, local guest speakers, music, cocktails, and food, Contemporary Calgary’s monthly series invites Calgarians to learn about contemporary art, writing, and design while enjoying a night out with friends. This edition sees Edmonton artist Blair Brennan exploring the “cut-up” method of Brion Gysin and William S. Burroughs.
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the Tiding Opening Night & Open Studio

November 2, 2017, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Main Level Gallery, cSPACE King Edward 1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free, RSVP required

A solo exhibition by Doug Driediger showcasing recent paintings and drawings inspired by birds, particularly magpies, the show includes over 25 bird studies in all media, ranging from intimate vignettes to dramatic, large-scale bird landscapes. There’s even an actual magpie-nest-turned-sculpture to explore.
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All of Me (Llévate mis amores)

November 2, 2017, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration essential

Hundreds of thousands of people attempt to cross from Mexico into the United States by train each year. Since 1995, a group of Mexican women in the village of La Patrona, known as Las Patronas, prepare water and food packages to toss to people aboard the train as it rushes by. Part of the Esker Film Series, Arturo González Villaseñor tells their story with this documentary. Screened in Spanish with English subtitles.
eventbrite.ca

Invisible City Survey: Public Artist Talk

November 2, 2017, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. SW)
Free

Join local artists Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett for this free talk about their upcoming public artwork in Delta Garden, a new park space on the south bank of the Peace Bridge in Calgary.
facebook.com

Art Now: Suzanne Morrissette

November 3, 2017, 10:00 – 11:30am
Taylor Family Digital Library, University of Calgary (410 University Ct. NW)
Free

Part of the University of Calgary Department of Art’s visiting artist and scholar series, Suzanne Morrisette explores ways to reconsider historical narratives through research-creation practices. A Cree-Metis artist, curator, and writer from Winnipeg, Morrisette is a PhD candidate in Social and Political Thought at York University where her research considers the productive influence of contemporary Indigenous artists’ practices upon public misconceptions of Indigenous political knowledge.
art.ucalgary.ca

Calgary Night Market

November 3, 2017, 5:00 – 11:00pm
Eau Claire Market (200 Barclay Parade SW)
Free admission

The first of four markets this November, be on the lookout for unique items including jewelry, pottery, clothing, wood work, handmade soaps, vintage gifts, and much more.
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Art Enabled Life Premiere Screening

November 3, 2017, 6:30 – 8:30pm
The Plaza Theatre (1133 Kensington Rd. NW)
Free, RSVP required

Students from Willow Park School took part in this unique project where they interviewed artists about the creative approaches they use to live a flourishing life. Made in collaboration with the Alberta College of Art + Design and the Calgary Board of Education with funding from the Calgary Foundation, see three short films followed by a discussion about the connection between creativity and resiliency.
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Bearspaw Food & Gift Market

November 4, 2017, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Lions Club of Bearspaw (25240 Nagway Rd. NW)
Free admission

Join Tangled Tree Artworks and find more than 20 carefully chosen vendors with tasty treats, handmade jewellery, knits and woollens, leggings, kitchen gadgets, soaps, clothes, fine art, and more.
tangledtreearts.com

6th Annual Bowness Christmas Craft Sale

November 4, 2017, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Bowness Community Association (7904 43rd Ave. NW)
Free admission

Start to your holiday season with this annual favourite hosted by the Bowness Community Association. And with many local crafters and artists in attendance, it’s a great chance to pick up something special.
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Calgary Creative Arts Guild Fall Show & Sale

November 4, 2017, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Montgomery Community Centre (5003 16th Ave. NW)
Free admission

Join the Calgary Creative Arts Guild for its annual fall event featuring original works from over 25 local artists. Donations to the Veteran’s Food Bank gratefully accepted.
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Chestermere Christmas Artisan Sale​

November 4, 2017, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre (201 West Chestermere Dr., Chestermere)
Free admission with food bank donation

A well-established sale that has been running since 1993, head to Chestermere and checkout works from local artisans, craftspeople, and entrepreneurs.
facebook.com

Canzine Calgary

November 4, 2017, 12:00 – 7:00pm
Memorial Park Library (1221 2nd St. SW)
Free

For the first time ever, Canzine—Broken Pencil Magazine’s festival of zines and underground culture—is coming to Calgary and bringing with it hundreds of zines, books, comic, and small press vendors.
brokenpencil.com

PLACEHOLDER: It’s your turn to talk!

November 4, 2017, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration essential

Join d.talks for this unconventional book club where it presents the theme of the afternoon and you bring your own book, poem, or object that you feel best articulates the theme.
eventbrite.ca

Christmas in the Country Art Sale

November 4 & 5, 2017
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144 Street West, Millarville)
Free admission

With over a thousand pieces of fine craft and unframed artworks by local artists, head to the historic Leighton Art Centre for the first of two weekends filled with beautiful decorations and festive treats.
facebook.com

Pottery Market

November 5, 2017, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Triwood Community Association Hall (2244 Chicoutimi Dr. NW)
Free admission

See works from members of this not-for-profit potters’ guild. This sale features the work of nearly 30 local potters who work out of the North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre—a facility operated by The City of Calgary.
calgarypottery.com

Contemporary Kids: Storybook Illustration

November 5, 2017, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Contemporary Calgary (117 8th Ave. SW)
Free, registration required

A very special Contemporary Kids event, join Contemporary Calgary for this workshop where participants work together to illustrate a story about visiting the gallery. Each child is given a page to draw or paint and the final images will be collected, printed, and bound into a publication.
facebook.com

Critical Cinema Series: Badlands

November 5, 2017, 2:00 – 4:00pm
John Dutton Theatre, Calgary Public Library (616 Macleod Tr. SE)
Free, registration required

Part of its 11th season programming, Calgary Cinematheque has partnered with the Calgary Public Library to present this series of Sunday afternoon screenings. Up next is Terrence Malick’s crime classic, Badlands.
calgarypubliclibrary.com

Malled

November 6, 2017, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

Celebrate the launch of Malled with readings by Aritha van Herk and Kit Dobson. Generally Kit Dobson hates malls, but he is fascinated by them and their place in our society. From Chinook Centre in Calgary to the underground malls of Montreal and even up to the famous Walmart in Whitehorse, Malled looks at our culture of consumerism, and how malls are both shaped by their location and shape the spaces around them.
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Can You Hear Me Now?

November 7, 2017, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free

An all ages open mic and poetry slam, come to read, slam, judge, or listen and cheer on, don’t miss this fun and free night of all things poetic.
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