| The snow may have begun to fly this month, but Calgary’s visual arts scene just continues to get hotter.
One of the spots where temperatures are rising is Room II Design (5934 Centre St. S.E.), where the exhibition Six Senses has its opening on Thursday, November 10 from 6 to 10 p.m. A group show by local artists, it features photography, jewelry and more, and, according to the gallery, promises to provide a "whimsical and ethereal" journey.
Charles Billich, the official sketch artist of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will be in Calgary for an opening at Artists of the World (514 - 11 Ave. S.W.). And for $149 plus GST, you can join a party on Thursday, November 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. to see the artist sketching nude models. Whether this is an Olympic sport has not yet been confirmed.
Stride Gallery wraps up the first part of its 20th-anniversary retrospective show, 20 Years of Contemporary Art, Gossip and Lies: 1985-2005 at Stride, on Saturday, November 12. Part 1 takes a look at the first 10 years of this artist-run centre through a presentation of new works from those who exhibited in the space during the early years of their careers. Part 2 will run from November 18 to December 10, with a retrospective show featuring works from Chris Cran, Garry Neill Kennedy, Shelley Ouellet and Martha Townsend.
At Triangle Gallery (next to City Hall) you can catch A Fine Line – Works by Dennis Budgen. The Calgary-based illustrator has been a major influence on a wide swath of Calgary artists during their formative years and this retrospective exhibition shows why. The show officially opens on November 17 and continues until January 6, 2006.
Are you a fan of representational art? Check out Toronto-based painters Kim Dorland and Andre Ethier. The pair, who are touted as pushing the boundaries of contemporary representational work, have new works on display at Skew Gallery (1615 - 10 Ave. S.W.) until November 26.
If you prefer mixed media, head to the Alliance Française of Calgary, located in the Memorial Park Library building, and take in All Over the Map – an exhibition of new works by Ann Haessel. "The primary focus of my work for many years has been the tactile quality and textures that I can create with fibres, threads and textiles," writes Haessel. "However, recently I shifted away from fabric and thread to explore new modes of expression using paint, paper, metal, wood and plastic while still retaining references and associations to a textile surface." Her show runs until December 15.
Strolling down 17th Avenue S.W.? Stop and take a look in the window space at 924 – you’ll see a group show called Menagerie, comprised of drawings, paintings, photography and digital illustrations of monster and robot art. It’s on view throughout the month of November.
Newzones Gallery (730 - 11 Ave. S.W.) presents Timothy McDowell: Waxed Paper until November 26. McDowell creates luminous artworks by layering antique maps with beeswax and pigments. These are alluring pieces that speak to the real and otherworldly.
Just in time for the pre-holiday season gift-buying rush is the Alberta College of Art and Design’s Winter Show and Sale. Organized by ACAD’s Art and Design Students’ Union, the show is an opportunity to check out a fresh crop of new works by some of Calgary’s burgeoning artists and at the same time help them pay for next semester’s tuition. It runs November 17 to 19 on the main level of ACAD. For more information, call 284-7627.
And finally, also turning up the heat is Hot Fashion/Cold Weather, the Art Gallery of Calgary’s third annual fall fundraiser, taking place on November 18. The event will include a fashion show and runway auction where attendees can bid for clothes "hot" off the catwalk. Tickets are $55 and available at the gallery (117 - 8 Ave. S.W.) or by calling 770-1353. |
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