Steve McQueen, Once Upon a Time, 2002. Image courtesy Marian Goodman, New York

Graduates of the Alberta College of Art and Design photography and design programs will be showcasing their work downtown at the Nexen Tower. Graphic design, photography, illustration, advertising and character design will all be on display. There will be over 60 portfolios, from 70 students, to peruse.

ACAD Portfolio show is April 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Nexen Tower Garden Court.

U OF C BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS GRADUATING EXHIBITION

After checking out the Portfolio Show, head to the Nickle Arts Museum the following day to see what the University of Calgary kids have been up to all this time. Twenty graduating artists will present work covering a number of disciplines: painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and new media works. It’s a good opportunity to discover a wide range of new talent.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Graduating Exhibition runs April 24 to June 12 at Nickle Arts Museum.

ONCE UPON A TIME

Steve McQueen — no not the handsome all-American actor, but the British visual artist — will have work on display at the Walter Phillips Gallery at The Banff Centre. Appropriating the images sent off into space in search of curious extraterrestrials onboard Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, McQueen replaced the soundtrack (people speaking in various languages), with the sound of people speaking in tongues. It’s probably what the aliens would hear anyway.

McQueen’s new movie, Hunger, opens in Calgary on April 24th. It’s a perfect time to see the breadth of his talent.

“Once Upon a Time” runs April 25 to July 5 at the Walter Phillips Gallery.