| As the holidays approach many among us turn our thoughts away from art and instead (albeit briefly) to cruising the inside of malls looking for the "perfect gift."
This year, combine art and shopping by giving consideration to works created by the hundreds of talented artists who call Calgary home. And don’t forget that whether you’re buying a piece of original art at a commercial gallery or simply visiting one of the public or artist-run spaces around town, they will all be happy to see you this month.
To launch the festive season, Truck Gallery, hosted by Chief Elf Holly, will be having a silent art auction and Christmas gala on the evening of Friday, December 10. The "Pick-Up Truck" event begins at 8 p.m. and ends when all of the art has been auctioned off or all of the eggnog runs out. Truck is tucked discreetly on the lower level of the historic Grain Exchange building at 815 First St. S.W.
At the Art Gallery of Calgary (117 Eighth Ave. S.W.), Brian Flynn: Cover Series – Belfast Portraits opens on Thursday, December 16 at 7 p.m. Flynn has used diverse mediums to express his vision during his career as an artist and this show is no exception. Using carpet underlay, he creates portraits that prove one man’s rug is another man’s art. Also included in this exhibition are Flynn’s "floor-size" portraits made in and around the working-class neighbourhoods of Belfast.
If the shopping is getting to you, then Nervous Control Centre at The New Gallery (TNG) (516D Ninth Ave. S.W.) should make perfect sense. According to TNG, U.K.-based artist Christian Kuras presents "monuments to contemporary mythology, golems to a revivified technological mysticism." The exhibition runs until December 18.
At Skew Gallery (Suite 101, 1615 10th Ave. S.W.) is Canadiana, described by the gallery as "a unique opportunity to exhibit a dynamic range of contemporary art works inspired, provoked and/or informed by Canada." Artists featured include Winnipegger Paul Butler, who had an exhibition of his collage-based work at the Art Gallery of Calgary earlier this year, and Don Mabie (a.k.a. Chuck Stake), a Calgary institution who is known for his assemblages, drawings, trading cards and mail art.
Another popular artist currently represented in Calgary is Regina-based Vic Cicansky, whose self-titled exhibition runs at Trépanier Baer Gallery (#105, 999 Eighth Ave. S.W.) until December 23. Included in this show are Cicansky’s most recent bronze and clay pieces, as well as new ceramic cattle skulls. Rooted in the land, Cicansky’s work has been described as having a Prairie sensibility.
Newzones Gallery (730 - 11th Ave. S.W.) is showcasing the oil paintings of Canadian Kevin Sonmor in a self-titled exhibition. Sonmor’s work harkens back to the Flemish masters, yet he retains his own signature style.
On the second level of Art Central (100 Seventh Ave. S.W.) is the Influx Jewelry Gallery. This month it features pieces created by the faculty of the jewelry and metals department at the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD). Calgary is home to an active and creative group of jewelry designers and it’s in large measure due to the commitment of the ACAD faculty.
The college also continues to present innovative exhibitions in its own right. At Illingworth Kerr Gallery until December 18 (and then resuming January 4 to 15, 2005) is Diary: Of a River by Kirsten Abrahamson. This talented ceramist taught at ACAD as a sessional instructor for 15 years before moving to the Kitchener-Waterloo area in the summer of 2003. Abrahamson uses her emotions to guide her "diary" in the form of ceramic figures that speak of her pathos.
Happy holidays! |
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