RAINING PENNIES: Peps from ATB and the Village Brewery work hard to wrap up their penny drive.
Jim Button of Village Brewery’s marketing and community affairs estimates they’ve raised $1100, but they won’t know the total until they’re done counting, which might take a while because the brave souls at ATB Deerfoot Meadows have to count it all by hand. The money raised goes towards three Calgary arts organizations, Fresh Bread Daily, AVALANCHE! and the Haight Gallery. And after the count is done and dusted, ATB will make a $500 donation to the arts groups and match the pennies that come in for their Teddy for a Toonie campaign. (Left) ATB’s Barry Strader, Branch Manager Joanne Vaughan, Village Brewery’s Jackson Stuart and Jim Button form a fireman’s line to carry the growlers into the branch. (Top Right) 62 Growlers filled with pennies are lined up, waiting to be counted. (Middle Right) ATB Deerfoot Meadows Branch Manager Joanne Vaughan starts the count.(Bottom Right) Jim Button of Village Brewery’s marketing and community affairs surveys the haul.
Photos by Amy Jo Espetveidt, Quadrophonic Image

With Canada Day behind us and Stampede coming fast on its heels, it’s a busy week in YYC. Here’s your Arts Round Up for this week.

Monday (July 2): Raindance Alberta’s monthly get together goes tonight at Molly Malone’s in Kensington and is looking to get the right people together so that local film projects can be created. They are looking for filmmakers, press, producers, directions, cinematographers, editors, writers, advisors, actors and they encourage people from the theatre and performance community to join as well.
Boozin’ N’ Schmoozin’ Calgary runs from 6 to 8pm at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub (1153 Kensington Crescent NW) and costs $5. To register, go here.

Tuesday (July 3): Something is coming Calgary! And we’re not quite sure what…
Beakerhead is a movement that combines arts and engineering and a sneak preview is coming this week (the first standalone Beakerhead will launch in 2013). Starting today, Calgary will become a stage for giant, unexpected engineered guests who will be “popping up” around town. Here’s a hint, swing by Heritage Park around 1pm today and head down to the Heritage Town Square (that’s all I can say!) for a glimpse of what this is all about.
“In 2012, a Beakerhead drama will take place just prior to the Calgary Stampede, whetting appetites for its full scale debut in 2013,” says Jay Ingram, one of the event co-founders and a prominent Canadian science broadcaster. “The quirky nature of Beakerhead is best seen and experienced in order to be fully understood.”

Wednesday (July 4): ProArts@Noon presents Suncor Energy Choir today for their free casual concert series and guests are welcome to bring their lunch. The Suncor Energy Choir have been singing for nearly forty years and can be seen performing throughout the year in the downtown core.
The concert starts at noon at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1 St SE) and are free to attend.

Thursday (July 5): Head on down to Calgary’s Cultural District for July’s First Thursday, a “culture crawl” filled with art, music, theatre and food. All events are within three blocks of the Calgary Tower, some do cost a bit of dough but many are free and if you’re not feeling the vibe at one, walk to another. There’s something for every one and things run all day long! The scoop can be found here.

Friday (July 6): Today is Parade Day and what better way to celebrate the kick off of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth than to head over to the Glenbow Museum to take in their exhibit “Charlie Russell and the First Calgary Stampede.” Famous for his cowboy art, Russell was invited to Calgary to exhibit his paintings at the first Stampede. Now, 100 years later, 17 of the 20 paintings shown in 1912 have been gathered from private collections and art galleries from across North America and have come back to Calgary.
“Charlie Russell and the First Calgary Stampede” runs until July 29 at the Glenbow Museum.

Saturday (July 7): AVALANCHE! Institute of Contemporary Art (1235 MacLeod Trail SE) opened its doors for the first time last Friday with Nightrider by Jesse Stilwell and if you didn’t make it, you still should check it out. Jesse’s work looks akin to those geometric images that trick your eyes and make the art dance.
Nightrider runs at AVALANCHE! Institute of Contemporary Art until July 25 and is open Saturdays 12 to 4pm.

Sunday (July 8): If you’re going to the grounds this weekend be sure to check out this year’s Western Showcase’s Art Show at the BMO Centre. The showcase features artists’ studios (where you can buy original art from the artists), a western art auction (that runs on the last Thursday of Stampede and is one of the most renowned auctions for western art in Canada), a western art gallery, a western photo gallery and the final exhibit of the artist ranch project (where a contemporary artist-in-residence visits a different Alberta ranch each year).
The 2012 Western Showcase’s Art Show runs July 5 (sneak-a-peak) through July 15 and is included with park admission.