| The vernal equinox occurs on March 20 and it marks a moment of equilibrium and renewal. What better way to mark the month when winter finally begins to relinquish its frosty grip than to celebrate with art?
A pre-spring starting point might be to head over to Divino Bistro (113 - 8 Ave. S.W.) on Thursday, March 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. to take a look at the work of four local photographers. James Sturdy presents his take on the Calgary Stampede; Eric Rose shows photographs of the Turner Valley Gas Plant; Colin Smith offers shots of silt fishermen in Sri Lanka; and Ryan Schmidt provides his Reflections of Asia.
Another photography event is a lecture by one of the legends of the medium. Mary Ellen Mark, a former Life magazine photographer and member of the famed photographic agency Magnum, will be speaking on March 11 in Canmore. Mark continues a tradition of documentary photography that offers an unwavering vision of many of the world’s displaced and disenfranchised people. If you miss the lecture you can also meet her at The Camera Store (802 - 11 Ave. S.W.) on March 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., where she will be signing copies of her most recent book.
Another event tied to Exposure 2005, the current Calgary-Banff-Canmore photography festival, is the exhibition Perception at Calgary’s Skew Gallery (1615 - 10 Ave. S.W.). Featuring the works of Jakub Dolejs, Isabelle Hayeur and Kevin Kanashiro, this exhibition introduces large-scale photographic works as a way to explore space and our relationship to it. For more information about Exposure 2005 go to www.whyte.org.
At Stride Gallery (1004 Macleod Trail S.E.), Green Spring is an exhibition of paintings by Harry Kiyooka. These never-before-exhibited works can be viewed at the gallery until March 19.
Also on until March 19 is the Truck Gallery’s (815 - 1 St. S.W.) installation and "living sculpture" entitled One Month, by local artist Don Simmons. According to the gallery, One Month consists of: "(t)wo hybrid clown-drag queens who will perform in and outside of a mirrored structure within the gallery space for the duration of the four-week exhibition. Despondent and depressed, the two are completely unaware of their audience, attempting to entertain themselves out of boredom and depression to no avail."
Running throughout the month of March and continuing until April 17 at The Banff Centre’s Walter Phillips Gallery is the 2005 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art. This is the fifth time the Biennial has been staged and it often receives national attention for showcasing innovative works of contemporary art. This time around pieces from 23 Alberta artists are included. Several artists, including Faye Heavyshield and Lyndal Osborne, will be completing new works specifically for the Biennial. The Edmonton Art Gallery’s chief curator, Catherine Crowston, is the curator of the exhibition, which, she says, "offers an extended look into the creative practice of a range of artists."
And finally, what better time than spring to consider the world of fashion? Toronto-born artist Cathy Daley does just that with her black pastel drawings on translucent white vellum. Inspired by the imagery of glossy fashion magazines, Daley’s self-titled series shows off her ironic sense of humour. It’s on display at Newzones Gallery (730 - 11 Ave. S.W.) until April 3. |
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