FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
L'art pour l'art
Alliance Francaise showcases Francophone art for a multicultural community
by Mark WaltonIt may not look like it but the Cohos Evamy Building on 11 Ave and 8 St. S.W., kitty-corner from Safeway, has an illustrious artistic past. Between 1961 and 1976 the revitalized warehouse, which currently harbors an architectural firm and other groups, served as office space and a storage facility for the Glenbow Museum. In fact, for seven of those years it also featured an art gallery.
Twenty years later another public gallery has appeared in the building, this time upstairs on the second floor, in the nondescript offices of the Alliance Francaise. In May, the nonprofit, nonpolitical organization will mark its 50th year of promoting Francophone culture in Calgary. Last year, more than 560 people of all ages were enrolled in the centre's French language programs.
As Executive Director Thierry Lagnau explains, since 1990 the Alliance has also become increasingly involved with cultural activities, especially theatrical, literary and musical events. This month, for instance, the AF brought in a pair of gypsy jazz guitarists who are reviving the music of Django Reinhardt, and the Quintette du Hot Club de France. On May 21, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Alliance plans to co-host a free concert with the CPO at the University Theatre entitled An Evening of French Music.
In November, the organization is sponsoring a one woman play about George Sand and in 1998 a dramatic work by the celebrated playwright Elie Wiesel.
The Alliance has also been active at the movies, last May helping to put together a French festival of animation at The Uptown Stage & Screen. Lagnau says he would love to see La Nuit des Publivores in Calgary like the one in Paris where TV commercials (not necessarily good ones) are featured all night long in a movie theatre.
In the meantime, at Lagnau's urging, the AF extended the range of its involvement in the arts this past September by installing an art gallery in its suite of offices. Although the neatly appointed gallery is only open on weekdays, it contains over 100 linear feet of exhibition space, couches and chairs, making it a nifty spot for brown-bagging it over the lunch hour.
Langau notes, "The gallery is something worth experimenting with. It enhances our other activities and encourages people to visit." He says that he alternates exhibits by local artists with those from out of town and so far has managed to show prints, paintings as well as photographs. Indeed, it's not surprising that the 36 year old director has already presented a couple of photo exhibits since he's a big fan of black and white photography. A case in point is the current exhibit Perception and Meaning by Moise Sadoun, a thoughtful juxtaposition of motionless and blurred imagery.
Furthermore, Lagnau has scored something of a coup by arranging for an exhibition of photographs by Imogen Cunningham - one of the pioneers of modern photography - to go on view in May. That display will consist of 19 - 20 black and white photos belonging to a private San Franciscan collector and includes historic glimpses of Parisian cafe life.
Although Lagnau's term as director finishes this year, he says the gallery is definitely here to stay. The languages specialist adds that things have changed a lot during his stint in Calgary. "Five years ago," he observes, "there was no downtown as such. However, Eau Claire Market - despite what you may think of it - created a downtown area which people can experience all seasons. Five years ago there was only one good bookstore and now there are several, some quite sophisticated.
"It's amazing," he exclaims, "as far as the arts are concerned or for that matter restaurants, this city has been opening up to the rest of the world."
That's one of the reasons why Lagnau believes the AF's new art gallery is a timely worthwhile endeavor. "The Alliance Francaise is not just for French speaking people, it's for the whole community."
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