| If you’re starting to think life is repeating itself, the sure-fire cure is to get out and go see the art on display at Calgary’s diverse galleries or participate in a range of activities related to the visual arts.
February marks the beginning of Exposure 2007: The Calgary/Banff Photography Festival. Various venues in Calgary and Banff will be hosting photography exhibitions in addition to special events. They include a portfolio review on February 18 at the University of Calgary from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The reviews will take place at the Department of Art on the 6th floor. The review fee is $15.
Beyond Boundaries: The Word, The Idea, The Spirit is an exhibition of Cuban photography at Four By Five Gallery at Art Central. Part of Exposure 2007, this exhibition is curated by Vicky Romay and Steve Speer.
At Illingworth Kerr Gallery (Alberta College of Art and Design) is an exhibition where Annie Pootoogook interprets her experience of the North by drawing in colourful reality the people and places she encounters in that rapidly changing part of our world. From Cape Dorset, Baffin Island, Pootoogook is a 37-year-old woman and descendant of printmakers from her community.
Instead of using animals as central symbols in her artwork (as so many of the artists of the West Baffin Eskimo Art Co-operative on Cape Dorset are known for), Pootoogook steers away from the idealized to present reality in the form of small pencil and ink works that include children playing video games and a man shooting an RCMP officer.
At Herringer Kiss Gallery (running until March 3) is an exhibition of photography by David Burdeny, titled Drift. Born in Winnipeg and based in Vancouver, the photographer has a background in interior design and architecture. This exhibition features photographs made when Burdeny travelled in the United States, Canada, France, Japan, England and Belgium.
Until February 17 at Skew Gallery is an exhibition of new sculptures by Blake Senini, titled After Lawren. Covered in silver, aluminum and brass finishes, these curvy pieces have been inspired by forms first painted by famed artist Lawren Harris.
Also on until February 17 at Stride Gallery is Laura, by Canadian artist Eric Metcalfe. Well known for his performative and film-based work, Laura explores film noir and its cultural implications.
At TRUCK Gallery until February 10 is ditdahditdit from artists Kyle Beal, Chris Gillespie and Angela Silver.
Paul Kuhn Gallery hosts an installation by Paul Jackson titled Chapter Four: The Descent. An alumnus of ACAD, Jackson recently graduated from Chelsea College of Art and Design in London, England where he completed a master’s degree in fine arts. The Descent includes elements of video, photography and sculpture. The artist says, "The photos, sculpture and video do not attempt to reveal the whole, but only pieces – sections of the story, parts alluding to the hidden. The viewer is encouraged to construct a position from which to view the work of art and become engaged in what they see in the physical, tangible realm and the realm built from memory."
Until March 3 at the Art Gallery of Calgary are four shows organized by the gallery’s new chief curator, Alexandra Keim: Symmetries by Calgary-based artist Catherine Heard; Unnatural Response by Calgarian Aron Hill; An Unfolding Sense of Order by Mark Mullin of Calgary and The Future from Rachelle Viader-Knowles of Regina.
Also at AGC on February 8 is a fundraiser, the Sonoma Wine Affair. Part of the proceeds from the evening will go to art education programs at AGC geared to students from kindergarten to grade 12. Advance tickets are $55 and can be purchased by calling 770-1353. Tickets will be sold at the door (if available) for $60.
And recently launched was Craft Year 2007. For more information about this initiative, go to www.craftyear2007.ca. |
Copyright ©2007 FFWD. All rights reserved.