Author Archive

Photo taken during rehearsal on 11/4 in Calgary. Courtesy of Theatre Junction GRAND

Calgary will be the first city in the world to see Temporary Distortion’s latest work, NEWYORKLAND -  a significant moment for Calgary’s blossoming contemporary arts culture.  The New York performance group has chosen a Calgary stage (Theatre Junction GRAND) to debut their unique brand of contemporary performance that bridges the gap between theatre and cinema.  NEWYORKLAND merges film, performance, and visual art.  The show has been mentioned in the New York Times and all eyes will be on Calgary for this premiere!

Calgary will be celebrating the event in New York style before and after the show, with a live Jazz Trio (including John Grey on the standing double bass who has played with Ray Charles) and Calgary’s own Kai from Light and Soul who will be working on a street art piece.  Calgary, meet NEWYORKLAND.

November 9-12, 2011
Theatre Junction GRAND
608-1st Street SW
Tickets at: theatrejunction.com

PARKSALE 2011!

PARK – ‘Promoting Artists, Redefining Kulture’ – a network organized by a group of young Calgarian artists to promote and support fellow emerging artists in the community.  PARKSALE is an outdoor market (in the park!) where you will find artists selling and showcasing their art.  Hand-in-hand with the sale of art will be LIVE music and a variety of interactive installations.  The city is growing, and PARK is excited to step up and take an active role in helping and shaping how culture will grow in urban Calgary!

“It is often challenging for many young artists to find spaces where they can make their first impressions without having to pay an expensive vendors fee or a high percentage of commission. In order for culture to grow, we need collective spaces where young artists can participate in our city’s blooming culture and creative communities,” says Kara Chomistek, Co-founder and President of PARK.  All costs for the PARKSALE are covered by PARK.

The event is hosted in a green space with low impact installation, and focus’ on local artists and sustainable and recycled fashion. They are conscious of how important it is to sustain not only our creative environment, but our physical one as well.

PARKSALE is a FREE event happening on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011 at the U of C’s  North Campus (the green space between the Engineering and ICT faculties) from 10AM to 5PM.  Free Popsicles for those of you who get there early!!!!

Check out more about PARK at www.ourparkonline.com

FABRICATED, one of Calgary’s most talked about and well-attended fashion events of 2011 is back featuring more local designers, retailers and surprises. Returning to the exquisite Theatre Junction GRAND, FABRICATED audiences will begin the evening by walking the red carpet and sipping cocktails at Calgary’s UBU Lounge (www.ubulounge.com), followed by shopping in the marketplace, until they are seated in the Flanagan Theatre for the FABRICATED S/S ’12 fashion/stage show.

Models from I Model Managements will show collections from local talents like Holly Allen Designs, ga.za.ba milano, Chantel Traub, and N.R.T. Fashions and retailers Mealan and Empire Collection. “This year’s show bridges the avant-garde with approachable street style, and with a few theatrical surprises,” says Len Mastaler, Co-director and President of I Model Management.

Last year’s show (the first of its kind) sold out well in advance of the event and this year tickets are now on sale online at www.theatrejunction.com and at Theatre Junction GRAND’s box office. A limited number of seated tickets are available for $40.00, with standing tickets for $25.00.

All FABRICATED guests will also be invited to the official after-party at Wurst Restaurant and Beer Hall (2437 4th Street SW).  Doors to FABRICATED red carpet event open at 8:00pm with the show starting at 9:00pm. For more information visit www.getfabricated.com

FOR TICKETS visit http://tickets.theatrejunction.com/

Ready, Set, Get FABRICATED!   8 Sep 2011 – 8:00pm

FUSE IS COMING! AUGUST 27th!

Celebrate the experience of fresh culture in Calgary! Sponsored in part by Calgary Arts Development, FUSE Fresh Local Culture Fest is FREE for everyone; so dive into the creative expression of local love!

Submerge yourself in the spectacle at Shaw Millennium Park from 12-6pm on Saturday August 27th to see amazing emerging artists, musicians, dancers, skaters, and extreme parkour performers.

Music performances by: Transit, Samantha Savage Smith, Bring Fire, Jocelyn Alice, Francis Cheer, Forest Tate, Sons of Boey, DJ C-Sik and MORE!

Don’t miss the Source’s Clover Bowl Skateboarding Competition with $1000+ in prizes, Market Collective’s artisan fair tent, the collaborative mural, and the EMMEDIA video-’zine dome. Dancers will be competing for cash prizes as the DJ’s drop beats. Feature events + workshops by No Limits AFC, the Good Life Bike Shop, The Bass Bus, Light + Soul, and Rawkit.

Music performances by: Transit, Samantha Savage Smith, Bring Fire, Jocelyn Alice, Francis Cheer, Forest Tate, Sons of Boey, DJ C-Sik and MORE!

Spread the word! FUSE Fest 2011. Free summer fun.

Calgary Folk Music Festival 2011 from Shane Yuhas on Vimeo.

“Every year Alyssa and I, along with an entourage of friends and family, take in the Calgary Folkfest. Last year I compiled my photos together and created a video. The great people of Calgary Folkfest asked if I would like to do it again this year and sponsored my way. Here is a small peak into my experience at the Calgary Folk Music Festival.” —- Shane Yuhas

You can find more of Shane’s photography at www.shaneyuhas.com

Calgary Folk Music Festival – the best part of summer – www.calgaryfolkfest.com. Mark your calendars – next Folk Fest is July 26-29, 2012!
FOLK FEST!  YYC!  – Video by Calgary photographer, Shane Yuhas

This June marks the celebration of three candles on the cake for Market Collective.  And what do candles bring to the cake?  Light!  And light is exactly what Market Collective has brought to our city.  Looking back to three years ago, I can’t even remember what life was like without the quarterly gathering of artists and musicians in the space known as the Ant Hill Building.  The anticipation of each MC has snowballed and the buzz has grown into something bright, full-of-energy, and highly-addictive.  I know that for me, Market Collective is where I go to find a community of like-minded folks and to meet people that I would never otherwise have a chance to meet.  It’s about the art.  It’s about the music.  It’s about the veggie burritos.  It’s about the light and the community it has created.  So here’s to all the hearts that have gone into making Market Collective what it is today.  Raise your glasses as we toast MC!  And hey, what could be more exciting than a Birthday themed photo booth!

**If you have a Sled Island wrist band you get in for free**

MC HOURS:
Saturday, June 25   10-6
Sunday, June 26   11-5

Website – http://marketcollective.ca/
Twitter – http://twitter.com/mrktcollective

Tegan and Sara will be returning to their home town of Calgary for two unique shows this summer: July 8th and 9th at Theatre Junction Grand.

Performing with a new ensemble, these shows will be intimate concerts, featuring an audience Q&A component. Every ticket purchased also includes a limited edition silk screened poster, designed by EE Storey, the band’s long time art director.

To purchase tickets go to theatrejunction.com

The non-profit organization Canadian artists for the poor will be hosting 4 Calgary Art Walks this summer!  Check out local artists creating art on site.  Be inspired by the creativity!   Art to view & purchase on the first Thursdays of June, July, August and September.  It’s a win-win-win!  The artists receive exposure; you have an enjoyable afternoon and take home a beautiful art piece, and Canadian artists for the poor is able to raise money for local and international charities working at ground level.

Date: June 2, July 7, Aug 4, Sept 1

When:  10am – 3 pm

Where:  Stephen Avenue

Art for charity.  Breaking the Cycle of Poverty.

Photo Credit:   Trudie Lee

Mélanie Léonard is our city’s very own Resident Conductor!  Coming to us from Montréal,  Mélanie has fallen in love with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.  I asked her about the upcoming Truth or Dare: New Music Festival and here’s what she had to say:

“The 20th and 21st centuries are very rich in music of diverse esthetics and I believe it is worth letting ourselves be surprised by it.  I always loved the discovery aspect of new music.  It will sometimes lead to a new favorite work… sometimes not… but I always enjoy the process of being a part of the music that is happening today or has happened in the last century.  Contemporary music and music that explores orchestral texture is a huge passion of mine and I could not be happier to share it with Calgary’s audience because Calgary truly is awesome.  Please accept my personal invitation to discover this festival and be blown away by the CPO’s virtuosity.”

Truth or Dare will feature two WORLD premieres, and as the title of the festival suggests, the pieces performed will all be about daring, NEW music.  Composers on the program include Hétu, Kuerti, Ellin, Cage, Hollo, Reich, Penderecki, Schreker, Bell, Henze, Lindberg, Hindemith and Montague. 

Thursday, May 26, 2011 – 8pm
The Grand Theatre
608 1 Street SW
Mélanie Léonard, Resident Conductor
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Friday, May 27, 2011 – 8pm
The Grand Theatre
608 1 Street SW
Musicians of the Fort MacLeod International Festival
Musicians of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Members of Amadinda, Percussion Ensemble

Saturday, May 28, 2011 – 8pm
The Grand Theatre
608 1 Street SW
Mélanie Léonard, Resident Conductor
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Musicians of the Fort MacLeod International Festival
Rivka Golani, Viola

Tickets available by calling 403-571-0849 or at cpo-live.com

Friday April 29th, 8 pm. Frosst Books 1018 9th Avenue SE

“What, like literally naked? Nope, literarily naked. If that’s a word. TBDlive bares all (figuratively) at Frosst Books, Calgary’s only curated bookstore. The naked truth? These are true stories about nudity, as told by the writers who lived them. They’re raw, vulnerable and awkward naked moments.

Gawk at the pink-fleshed poetry and goose-pimpled prose of Andrew Mah, Anh Chu, Aristotle Sarantis, Heather Setka, Ian Doig and Roberta McDonald. Mark David Stewart will be throwing down his unique brand of cerebral rock and roll.”   TBD

Check out tbdlit.ca for more about Art in Progress