Arts Commons Magazine Winter 2017

Meet an Indigenous Australian Supergroup p.4 | Critical Conversation about Crime Does Not Pay p.8 Culture Matters p.10 | Arts Commons Gets Animated p.16 | Your Guide to Arts Commons p.20

M A G A Z I N E W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 | #05

Black Arm Band – dirtsong

Part of

A contemporary performance forged from 40,000 years of history

February 2, 2017 Arts Commons, Jack Singer Concert Hall

TICKETS: 403-294-9494 OR Title Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

Public Sector Support

artscommons.ca/world

Arts Commons Box Office Sponsor

TD Arts Access Pass Title Sponsor

Media Sponsors

Official Suppliers

VIP Reception Sponsor

Artist, program, and date subject to change.

LETTER FROM JOHANN

“An artist represents the ability in [ALL] people to think and act creatively, critically, poetically and if we are lucky, intelligently.” Bani Abidi—video artist, Berlin.

I

agree with Abidi. We ALL have these abilities, and we need to exercise them now more than ever. The fact that our community has been through tough times before, and that we will probably go through more in future, does not change the everyday reality of these challenges. We will discover solutions by unlocking our creative intelligence. Abraham Lincoln put it this way: “As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.”

The Canada Council for the Arts recently published a study outlining the impact of the arts on Canadian life. It describes the positive impact on ten different areas of everyday life, including Pleasure, Community Development, Youth and Education, Health, Economic Development, and Personal Skills. This is especially true in tough times. Throughout history, society has always turned to arts and culture to find a space that offers respite from everyday challenges.

The arts provide a safe outlet for the inner turmoil we experience: the feeling of hopelessness and frustration with circumstances beyond our control. The arts provide relief from this anxiety by reminding us of our infinite capacity to prevail, our resilience, and the power of the human spirit.

In this issue, you will find some examples of various ways in which your arts community is “thinking and acting anew.” Our work bears witness to everyday life, and seeks to both reflect and elevate it.

We at Arts Commons operate in the same reality you face every day, and we hope you will make use of the opportunities we offer to brighten your life and ignite your creative intelligence. We will continue to find new ways to provide you with meaningful experiences as we pursue our Mission of “Bringing the Arts...to Life”, and I hope we can inspire you as much as you inspire us.

Thank you.

Johann F. Zietsman President & CEO, Arts Commons

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

1

contents

4

20

Kick back with guest producer Fred Leone, and discover the Australian cultural phenomenon Black Arm Band and their newest project, dirtsong.

What’s new and notable this winter at Arts Commons.

dirtsong

8

A Catalyst for Critical Conversation A new homegrown musical from Downstage Theatre? Crime Does Not Pay won’t let you sit back and relax, but you’ll thank them for one heck of an experience.

10

Why Art Matters It’s a multimillion dollar industry that outweighs sports in our province for economic impact. What are we talking about? The arts of course!

16

What’s on at Arts Commons

35

Energy and Inclusion Strengthening the communities where they work and live is vital to ConocoPhillips Canada, and that starts with youth and education.

36

Random Acts of Art Take a tour of artist Rob Knudsen's playful public installations around our building.

37 Map

The where’s what and the what’s where of Arts Commons.

Animated Objects The Festival of Animated Objects in Calgary gets a facelift and some new inspiration. Find out what’s next for Calgary’s burgeoning, surprisingly sophisticated art form.

CO M M ON S AZ IN G AR TS YE S! TH IS AM ON LI NE !

M AG AZ IN E IS aring, perience by sh ex ur yo nd pa Ex ication bl pu is th g joyin reading, and en mmons.ca tsco online. Visit ar

#artscommon @yycarts

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Arts Commons Winter 2017

s

contributors

TASHA KOMERY Editor-In-Chief

Jaimee Turner

Graphic Design

With an avid appreciation for culture and tourism, Jaimee worked at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Marketing and Public Relations before joining the Calgary Philharmonic team as Communications Manager this year.

Hailing originally from Canmore, Alta., she has a deeprooted affinity for music, travel, and the mountainous outdoors where she spends her spare time cycling, hiking and cross-country skiing.

CONTRIBUTORS

Erin Belton

ALEX BONYUN Managing Editor

KAIJA DIRKSON Creative Manager / Graphic Design

ERIN BELTON

Hilary Angrove, Nikki Celis, Stephen Hunt, Saskia Knight, Simon Mallett, Tasha Komery, Jaimee Turner, and Johann Zietsman

RESIDENT COMPANIES Alberta Theatre Projects, Arts Commons Presents, Calgary International Children’s Festival, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Downstage, One Yellow Rabbit, and Theatre Calgary

Since graduating from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 2009, Erin has worked in the advertising, technology, and arts and culture industries, with an eightmonth stint backpacking through fourteen countries. She currently splits her time between her fuzzy orange tabby, planning new adventures, and taking on design challenges at Arts Commons.

Nikki Celis PUBLISHED BY Arts Commons 205 8th Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 0K9 Phone: 403-294-7455 Fax: 403-294-7457 artscommons.ca

As a second-generation Asian Canadian, Nikki Celis sees himself as a product of diaspora. The exploration of identity is his primary focus, evident in his work as a writer, videographer, and multimedia journalist. Nikki works as the online editor and new media designer for FreeFall magazine and, on the side, is a dumpling enthusiast.

Twitter: @celisnikki

© Copyright 2016 by Arts Commons; may not be reprinted without expressed permission.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the respective authors and not necessarily those of Arts Commons.

Arts Commons will not be liable for any damages or losses, howsoever sustained, as a result of the reliance on, or use by a reader or any other person of, any information, opinions or products expressed, advertised or otherwise contained herein.

Whew… glad we got that out there, now enjoy the magazine.

ON THE COVER The Wonderheads from Portland Oregon present their solo mask performance, Loon, as part of the International Festival of Animated Objects, March 16 – 19, 2017.

Learn more on page 16. Photo ©Sean Dennie.

PLEASE ADD FSC LOGO

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

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A CONVERSATION WITH FRED LEONE OF BLACK ARM BAND WRITTEN BY NIKKI CELIS

I

n Brisbane, Fred Leone is driving as we talk over the phone. Though it’s nearing the afternoon, Leone sounds exhausted, having slept little the night before as he had premiered his own production that he had single-handedly written, directed, and produced.

“I just feel so—there’s a weight off my shoulders. I feel fulfilled,” Leone sighs, relieved. The respite is brief, however, as he is lined up to showcase his production during the following week in Tramway, Glasgow.

Leone, 37, an Australian aboriginal with ties to Butchulla and Waanyi Garawa country, as well as being of South Sea Islander descent, likes to keep himself busy.

As well as facilitating his own set of productions, Leone also serves as the guest artistic director for the Australian Aboriginal performance organization, Black Arm Band. A multimedia production of dance, song, and black and white visuals, dirtsong (2009), premieres on Feb. 2, 2017 at Arts Commons, Jack Singer Concert Hall, as part of BD&P World Music. As a co-production between Arts Commons Presents and

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Arts Commons Winter 2017

Opposite: Film still from dirtsong.

Left to right: A film still and live performance shots from dirtsong.

One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre, it is also featured as part of the High Performance Rodeo.

It isn’t hard to interpret the meaning of dirtsong’s title, about an individual’s relationship with the land. Yet, Leone says the meaning is multifaceted: “It’s our connection to [our] land—not only our physical connection, but also our spiritual connection to the land and to its people; [dirtsong] is the modern day interpretation of the “simmering of the spirit”.

“I was told when I was young, all those people who ever sang those songs and brought those down are with you,” he says. “The spirit that we encapsulate within our contemporary music, it’s felt and it’s moving.

“When you sing it—when you voice it, they come through a moment of time and they [our ancestors] come back and they’re happy.”

The idea of dirtsong, shared by hundreds of Australia’s indigenous groups, is not too different from the perspective of Canada’s First Nations people. As well, the indigenous

groups of both countries have suffered very similar plights due to the resounding effects of colonization: the loss of language, culture, and that of assimilation; where each new generation of indigenous people remain products of diaspora.

and language doesn’t exist] realistically in an urban setting.”

He says that being part of the Black Arm Band, as both a performer and guest Artistic Director, helps with passing down and preserving Australia’s diverse and ancient (over 40,000 years) culture. He states that the legacy “and footprint” that dirtsong will leave is going to echo from “generation to generation”, both locally and worldwide.

Leone says initiatives and groups, such as Black Arm Band, that promote values of indigenous culture through education via the arts help stem the cultural decline. “[The interest] in indigenous performing arts is rising in Australia,” he remarks.

“There are many [productions] coming up at the moment, and it’s becoming part of our spinning of our indigenous narratives— now the mainstream wants it; they want to hear it and they want to feel it.”

“[For us] to see that all these people are listening, out there in the big wide world, it gives us hope.”

One Yellow Rabbit & Arts Commons Presents

who

“And, if we're not doing anything with that dialogue, if we are not proactive with our learning... infusing it with our contemporary culture, music, dance, then it's going to be lost and its going to die, and it is dying [sic],” Leone admonishes.

what when

Black Arm Band – dirtsong

February 2, 2017

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

403-294-9494 artscommons.ca

tickets

“I want so badly for my children to learn what I know—it kills me that when I look around the community that [our culture

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

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TD is proud to support Jazz and Music Festivals across Canada.

We are working together with Arts Commons to bring people together through a shared love of music.

ÂŽ

6

The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

Arts Commons Winter 2017

M05234 (0216)

Supporting those who brighten our lives.

Arts and culture have a unique capacity for creating community spirit and bringing people together. A thriving creative scene not only provides entertainment, but also inspires fresh ideas and perspectives. At Cenovus, we’re big fans of those.

Cenovus Energy. A Canadian oil company.

New ideas. New approaches.

cenovus.com

|

BUILDINGS

|

CIVIL

INFRASTRUCTURE

|

SPECIAL

PROJECTS

|

Proud suPPorter of the pCl blues series.

Shown: Rocky Ridge Recreation Facility

Explorers help us find the future.

Watch us build at PCL.com

Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals proudly supports National Geographic Live, a speaker series that introduces new ideas, amazing sights and behind-thelens perspectives.

saskatchewanminerals.com

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

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A Catalyst for Critical Conversation

Crime Does Not Pay is the latest dialogue starter from Downstage

WRITTEN BY SIMON MALLETT

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Arts Commons Winter 2017

T

he theory behind our work is simple – we believe that engaging, topical theatre can serve as a catalyst for critical conversation, bringing together people from all walks of life to provoke discussion on our shared experience. Many audience members indicate that engaging in conversation with a diverse range of perspectives leads them to personal reflection. At Downstage, it’s our feeling that this process has the power to invoke wider-spread awareness and social change.

In fact, our programming discussions begin with the goal of creating a dialogue about matters of importance to our society. We ask ourselves: What conversations do we want to help facilitate among Calgarians? What programming will lead to these discussions?

How can we provide a meaningful and entertaining theatrical experience?

This March, Downstage presents the World Premiere of Crime Does Not Pay. This homegrown musical, four years in the making, is inspired by the true story of

entertainment source for people of all ages.

At its height, Crime Does Not Pay claimed to have five million readers monthly. All the while, its graphic depictions of true crime stories that idolized criminals drew the ire of others, who felt comic books were degrading the moral fabric of society and promoting bad behaviour among youth.

Crime Does Not Pay combines over twenty killer (pardon the pun) songs with a story that ventures into some challenging territory, including domestic violence, censorship, artistic responsibility, sexuality, and misogyny. These topics may not be the usual fodder for a musical, but tackling such subject matter is common practice for Downstage.

Crime Does Not Pay was created by Calgarians David Rhymer and Kris Demeanor. David Rhymer’s legacy of creating new musical theatre for Calgary audiences extends back decades, including his work with One Yellow Rabbit on Ilsa: Queen of the Nazi Love Camp and Dream Machine. Kris Demeanor, Calgary’s first poet laureate, has seen his career as a singer-songwriter take him across Canada and beyond.

When programming Crime Does Not Pay, we asked ourselves: Are people influenced by the media they consume? Should the media be controlled in order to protect the young and impressionable? What is the responsibility of the artist creating that work? These are just a few questions that

“We ask ourselves: What conversations do we want to help facilitate among Calgarians? What programming will lead to these discussions? How can we provide a meaningful and entertaining theatrical experience? ”

what when

Bob Wood, the creator of the 1940’s comic book sensation Crime Does Not Pay, and covers a period in history when comic books weren’t just for kids, but were a major

Downstage

who

Crime Does Not Pay

March 2-5 & 7-11, 2017

where

will undoubtedly come up in the postperformance discussions that follows the show, and we invite you to join us in that conversation.

Engineered Air Theatre

403-294-9494 artscommons.ca

tickets

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

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WHY ART MATTERS

95%

of Canadians

believe that arts education assists in the intellectual development of children (Business for the Arts, 2015)

WRITTEN BY TASHA KOMERY

M

80%

any of us enjoy the experience of seeing a live show, be it music, dance, or theatre. We relish in the gift of having enough time to wander an art gallery or museum, immersing ourselves in works never seen and works mysterious yet ubiquitous in our popular culture. Those of us that have this relationship with art leave these experiences feeling more inspired, more creative, and more at peace with the world around us.

But in the grand scheme of things, does art really matter? Nietzsche said, "We have art so that we shall not be destroyed by the truth." Does art therefore simply make life more bearable and beautiful? Or does it really have a powerful impact on our lives, on our health, on our community, and on our society?

of the Canadian Public believe that the arts have a positive impact on health and well-being.

(Business for the Arts, 2015)

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Arts Commons Winter 2017

We have solid research on the impact of the arts on the economy. In the Arts Impact Alberta 2014 study, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) found that “the total output of the sector is roughly $347 million”. Of that, the collective impact of Arts Commons and the resident companies alone is over $87 million. Additionally, the not-for-profit arts organizations that AFA funded provided approximately 700 fulltime and 2,700 part-time positions.

In addition, the majority (85%) of Albertans attend at least one arts event per year.i According to the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, “the quality of a community’s cultural infrastructure has a direct impact on quality of life and therefore on the competitiveness of communities in attracting people and investment.”

A vibrant arts sector is, therefore, a key factor contributing to our quality of life and paramount to attracting and retaining people to our communities, including the skilled and knowledge workers who are needed in order for the province to grow and prosper.

But what about the social impact?

In 1997, British researcher François Matarasso completed a study that demonstrated that participation in the arts has a wide range of effects on social cohesion. His study indicated that the arts help develop community networks, promote tolerance, and provide a forum for intercultural understanding, to name a few benefits.ii When it came to personal growth and development, Matarasso found that participation in the arts led to “enhanced confidence and skill building” while providing an avenue for “organization and self-determination”.iii

50,000

94%

of Albertans

believe arts and cultural activities make their province a better place to live.

(Ipsos Reid, 2005)

Albertans volunteer

for not-for-profit arts organizations every year.

(Alberta Foundation for the Arts, 2014)

barry wilson (Arts Commons Presents TD Jazz subscriber) “I love the fact that Calgary is maturing when it comes to the arts, especially when it comes to music. Evidence of this growing maturity was shown at the recent Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue concert when the majority of the usually staid TD Jazz series audience got up out of their seats for at least half of the outstanding show. Maybe next time the audience will also join the show ending Second Line for a traditional New Orleans experience.”

Given these findings, I’m thankful that participation in the arts is prevalent across this country.

Research from the 2015 Canadian report conducted by Business for the Arts found that 95 per cent of Canadians believe that arts education assists in the intellectual development of children. The report also found that Canadians in general believe that the arts have a positive impact on health and well-being (80 per cent of the public, 88 per cent of business world).iv In our community, along with the high attendance of Albertans to arts events, approximately 50,000 Albertans

also volunteer for not-for-profit arts organizations every year, creating opportunities for community engagement, service, and belonging. Additionally, volunteers can help an organization build capacity, which can result in more economic stability and growth.v

james rose (Arts Commons Patron) “I like to live a busy life… To actually unwind after a busy week can be a challenge. I usually end up feeling like I am wasting time while trying to ‘unwind’!

That was before I started to do the occasional painting. Several months ago, on a whim, I decided to try it one evening while unsuccessfully ‘unwinding’. My mother is an artist and has all the necessary materials in her studio for someone like myself (not an artist) to try and create art. And so, up I went to my mother’s studio. Did I know what I was going to paint? No. Did I have expectations of how it would look? No. Did I care what others would think of my piece? No. I decided to approach the task ahead of me without any preconceived notions.

At some ungodly hour later, a feeling struck me that…yes! I was finished my rookie masterpiece. But more importantly to me, I had enjoyed the process and learned something new.”

In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Art City was built and developed to address issues of poverty, housing, food, and security. Many of the sources of these problems stemmed from lack of experience, confidence, and belonging. Art City, “6 years later, has become a focal point for community members to get to know each other and develop self-esteem and pride. It has made the arts a vehicle for empowering the area’s residents and developing a local sense of community”.vi Moving even further east, in the community of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, which was once fully dependent on the cod fishing industry, the Shorefast Foundation established Fogo Island Arts, a residency based program for artists, filmmakers, writers, musicians, and other creative thinkers from around the world. The housing facilities for these residencies are architectural wonders, which have increased tourism and provided opportunity for additional development, including the 5-star Fogo Island Inn, which uses local suppliers

(cont'd on next page)

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

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86%

of Canadians

believe that performance spaces contribute to quality of life (Canadian Arts Presenting Association, 2013)

2 Hrs./wk

spent participating in the arts improves health and wellbeing (BMC Public Health, 2015)

wherever possible and follows strict environmental practices.vii This has increased pride and community connection in the small island community, where there once was hopelessness and resentment.

85% of Albertans

attend at least one arts event per year (Alberta Foundation for the Arts, 2014 Arts Impact Alberta)

It seems the arts do improve our society.

But what about us, personally? At the beginning of this article, I spoke about feeling more inspired after interacting or participating with art. This is mostly anecdotal observation on my part. But a recent study from The University of Western Australia has found that “participating in the arts for just two hours a week can improve mental health and wellbeing”. A survey of study participants who had engaged in the arts (passively or actively) were asked how they felt out of the experience, and the respondents used descriptors like “optimistic”, “useful”, “relaxed”, and “good about myself”. One of the study’s co-authors concluded: “arts engagement increases people’s happiness, confidence, and self-esteem, while reducing stress and social isolation”.viii

arling lynne (Arts Commons Presents TD Jazz subscriber) "I love the Arts in our city because we are provided with a diverse group of performers and/or presenters at a reasonable cost, with safe, close, welllit, secure parking facilities which are also at a reasonable cost. Thank you for the opportunity.”

So, with all this research and these impactful stories, do we really need to ask, does art matter? I work in the arts, and I know it matters a great deal to me. I chose this work because of my passion to share wonderful things with others. So, now, I’m sharing it with you. Get out there; go to a show, visit an art gallery, take a drawing class, volunteer. Don’t miss out on these great opportunities to make a difference in your community, and in yourself.

i http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/AFA-News/Arts-Impact-Alberta-2014 | ii http://canadacouncil.ca/council/resources/ arts-promotion/arts-promo-kit/part2 | iii http://www.feisean.org/wp-content/uploads/Use-or-Ornament.pdf | iv http:// calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/organization-hoping-to-spread-to-government-and-business-sector-the-messagethat-the-arts-matter | v http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/AFA-News/Arts-Impact-Alberta-2014 | vi https://www. creativecity.ca/publications/making-the-case/arts-and-positive-change-in-communities.php | vii https://www.creativecity.ca/ publications/making-the-case/arts-and-positive-change-in-communities.php | viii http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/interest-in-artscan-boost-mental-health-study-1.2735252 and http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-015-2672-7

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Arts Commons Winter 2017

Become a member of Founders Circle and discover exceptional benefits and exclusive offers, all while helping us share the transformative power of the arts with many more in our community.

Join today!

403-294-7455 ext. 1465 or artscommons.ca/founderscircle FOUNDERS CIRCLE GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

All photos © Will Young

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

13

EVENT SPACES INFUSED WITH THE ARTS Book one of our venues today! artscommons.ca/yourevent

LOCAL ARTISTS // LIVE PERFORMANCES ARTIST TALKS // CREATIVE STATIONS AND MORE!

Turn to pages 25 & 31 in what’s on or visit artscommons.ca/happenings to learn more!

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Arts Commons Winter 2017

Investing in our communities Repsol is a proud sponsor of Arts Commons’ National Geographic Live educational program.

Photo by Mark Thiessen

www.bdplaw.com

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

15

s t c e j ob WRITTEN BY STEPHEN HUNT

16

Arts Commons Winter 2017

Photos © Kaija Dirkson

d e t a m i n a

A

rts Commons will be a little more animated come March 16, 2017.

That’s when the culture house on Stephen Avenue throws opens its doors as the host venue of The Festival of Animated Objects, one of the city’s most imaginative and lively festivals.

Arts Commons has always been a mashup of performing and visual arts - everything from world music to classical, along with housing a half-dozen theatres that program everything from Arthur Miller dramas to experimental epics - in addition to a substantial amount of visual and installation art that hangs throughout the centre.

Why not complement that astonishing array of artistic activity by filling up the corridors of Arts Commons with the work of some of the world’s most innovative puppet and mask artists as well – many of which hail from Calgary. In fact, The Globe and Mail has called Calgary “one of the most fertile spots in North America for ground-breaking puppetry.”

Xstine Cook and the Calgary Animated Objects Society (CAOS), which has overseen The Festival of Animated Objects since it began, has handed over the festival reins to Old Trout Puppet Workshop’s Peter Balkwill.

Balkwill is a relentless collaborator and has enlisted much of the Calgary puppet community into helping organize and program the festival, so expect the flavour of the 2017 festival to strongly resemble that of previous years.

“We will continue to work with Xstine Cook and CAOS as well as previous festival partners and collaborators. I feel strongly about the community working together to bring this festival to fruition. We should be proud to have such a burgeoning puppetry scene here in Calgary. People in our city recognize the sophisticated art of puppetry as just that, a sophisticated form of art. It transcends all other mediums because it incorporates everything. It’s painting, sculpture, dance, storytelling, music — it all gets balled into one.”

For Balkwill, the secret to creating a great Calgary festival is to incorporate a bunch of voices from the local scene, mix them in with a pinch of the best of the rest of Canada’s puppet community, add a dash from the rest of the world and stir. Then throw open the doors of Arts Commons and watch the place come to life in mid-March.

“Our plan is to animate Calgary for four days. Arts Commons will host many festival shows and free events. We will have activities and presentations in the rotunda as well as roving street puppet performers inside and out.”

The Festival of Animated Objects Society

who

Aside from a full calendar of exciting local, national, and international shows, you can expect this year’s Festival of Animated Objects to included the infamous Dolly Wiggler Cabaret along with a featured presentation from The Old Trout Puppet Workshop.

what when

Festival of Animated Objects

March 16 – 19, 2017

Arts Commons and various Calgary locations

info

puppetfestival.ca

where

For more information, visit puppetfestival.ca

Opposite and right: Peter Balkwill, Bob Davis, Xstine Cook, and Gwen Murray surrounded by Old Trout's creations.

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

17

Arts Commons is proud to be home to these theatre and performance companies, festivals, and services.

Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite March 31, 2017

Arts Commons, Jack Singer Concert Hall, 7pm

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

403-294-9494 artscommons.ca/elvincharlie Public Sector Support

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Arts Commons Winter 2017

Arts Commons Box Office Sponsor

Media Sponsors

Official Suppliers

The best way to support a community is to be a part of it.

There’s no better place to start making a difference than close to home. As part of our communities, naturally we want to see them thrive. For that reason, we’re actively involved in them, including supporting programs like National Geographic Live at the Arts Commons. Every community has a Someday™ — together we can make it happen.

TM

® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada.

90780A (01/2016)

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

19

what’s on

December 5, 2016 – February 28, 2017 visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

© Svea Ferguson

DRONE, SMOKE, and Subnivean Snuff

December 5, 2016 – February 28, 2017

Gallery of Alberta Media Arts (GAMA) is proud to showcase three short films by artists Greg Marshall, Jean-René Leblanc / Andy Dinh, and Rachel Evans that experiment with cameraless filmmaking, digital superimposition, and visual music.

The films run continuously day-and-night on three public video monitors throughout the centre. where when info

visual and media arts

GAMA

Always open artscommons.ca

Arts Commons Presents

passing through/stay awhile

where when info

Ledge Gallery

Always open artscommons.ca

December 5, 2016 – February 28, 2017 visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

SEITIES STUDIO: The Photographic Blue SEITIES STUDIO: The Photographic Blue showcases the diversity of Cyanotype photography from international artists. The exhibit brings different views about female identity together with the aesthetics of traditional photography. where when info

Window Galleries

Always open artscommons.ca

December 5, 2016 – February 28, 2017 visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

The Story of Plants ©Emma Powell

Arts Commons Presents passing through/ stay awhile, a tactile and tangible work exploring the vast potential of material in the Ledge Gallery by Calgary-based artist Svea Ferguson.

Using Grant Allen’s 1885 pocket book The Story of the Plants as a guide, Alyssa Ellis maneuvers herself through the Arts Commons building and the Lightbox Studio space in an effort to interact with plants in unique and varying ways. where when info

visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

River Alms

River Alms is an experimental pop soundscape inspired by both the living and spirit world of Blackfoot culture and Siksika Nation, composed by artist Chandra Melting Tallow. when info

20

Arts Commons Winter 2017

Always open artscommons.ca

January 4 – April 28, 2017

where

january

Lightbox Studio

+15 Soundscape

Always open artscommons.ca

January 6, 2017

January 10 – 21, 2017

music, theatre

music

One Yellow Rabbit and Theatre Calgary

One Yellow Rabbit

Part of One Yellow Rabbit’s 31st Annual High Performance Rodeo

Part of One Yellow Rabbit’s 31st Annual High Performance Rodeo

An ensemble of top LGBTQ and allied musicians offers all-new interpretations of music from Canada’s top composers and arrangers, presented alongside narratives that illustrate their place in the canvas of history.

The latest of Karen Hines’ darkly hilarious comedies embraces everything from plagiarism and insurance crimes to Golden Retriever conventions. Inspired by the Bechdel Test, this experience questions existential struggles and the transcendence of the human soul.

Songs of Resilience

where

All The Little Animals I Have Eaten

Max Bell Theatre

when 7:30pm

where

HPRodeo.ca OR theatrecalgary.com tickets artscommons.ca

when

January 13 & 14, 2017

speaker

Goldenvoice

music

Henry Rollins

Arts Commons Presents

PCL Blues: Reverend Peyton’s Front Porch Sessions

Henry Rollins has toured the world as a spoken word artist, as frontman for both Rollins Band and Black Flag, and as a solitary traveler with insatiable curiosity. Join us for an evening with this cultural icon.

Front Porch Sessions is the new project by Reverend Peyton (you may know him from his Big Damn Band), a full length recording of acoustic blues from legends like Charley Patton, Blind Willie Johnson, John Lee Hooker, and RL Burnside, as well as his own vintage material.

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 8pm

artscommons.ca

tickets

info

January 7, 2017

where

Big Secret Theatre

Show times vary HPRodeo.ca tickets artscommons.ca

info

where

January 7, 2017

when

Engineered Air Theatre

8pm

artscommons.ca

tickets

theatre

One Yellow Rabbit

10-Minute Play Festival

January 13 & 14, 2017

Part of One Yellow Rabbit’s 31st Annual High Performance Rodeo

music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Prepare to be surprised by audacious talent as six of Calgary’s most exciting indie theatre companies tackle creating an original 10-minute play in 24 hours, inspired only by a single prop and a line of dialogue. where

Soul Unlimited (Stevie Wonder to Ray Charles) Ellis Hall is a master of classic R&B in the style of the genre’s greatest legends. As a protégé of the legendary Ray Charles, Soul Unlimited ’s hits include the music of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Earth, Wind & Fire, and more.

Martha Cohen Theatre

when 7:30pm info tickets

HPRodeo.ca artscommons.ca

where when

Jack Singer Concert Hall

tickets

Artists, dates and programs subject to change. Listings within is as of time of press.

8pm calgaryphil.com

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

21

January 17 – 29, 2017

January 24 – 26, 2017

theatre, comedy

theatre

One Yellow Rabbit and Alberta Theatre Projects

One Yellow Rabbit

Part of One Yellow Rabbit’s 31st Annual High Performance Rodeo

Part of One Yellow Rabbit’s 31st Annual High Performance Rodeo

Join Canadian comedy icon, Cathy Jones (This Hour Has 22 Minutes), for a night of uproarious laughs. This award-winning performer returns with a new solo show, part stand-up, part confessional, and completely hilarious.

By Heart is about the importance of storytelling and the invisible smuggling of forbidden texts that only words committed to memory can offer.

Stranger to Hard Work

By Heart

where

Martha Cohen Theatre

where

info

Show times vary HPRodeo.ca OR ATPlive.com tickets artscommons.ca when

Big Secret Theatre

9pm HPRodeo.ca tickets artscommons.ca when

info

January 24 – 28, 2017 theatre

January 20, 2017

One Yellow Rabbit

Landline: Calgary to St. John’s

comedy

Arts Commons Presents

Part of One Yellow Rabbit’s 31st Annual High Performance Rodeo

Ali Hassan: Muslim, Interrupted In his new show, Muslim, Interrupted, Ali delivers a bitingly funny, personal perspective on Islam by putting a human face on the religion, and countering negative stigmas with humour. Muslim, Interrupted is a refreshingly hilarious commentary by a rising star of television, film, radio, and stage.

where

tickets

info

7pm & 9pm artscommons.ca

January 20 & 21, 2017

Motel Theatre (Laycraft Lounge)

Show times vary HPRodeo.ca tickets artscommons.ca when

Engineered Air Theatre

where when

Taking place in two locations at once while using smartphones; you are invited to play the dual roles of audience and performer on an experience that takes you across the city and the country.

THREE THINGS I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ALI HASSAN

music

Ali Hassan has performed across Canada, but one of his most memorable gigs was in Aman, Jordan where he shared a line-up with Russell Peters and Ahmed Ahmed. The Mayor of Amman personally thanked Ali for “bringing comedy to a region that so desperately needs it.”

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Mendelssohn’s popular Violin Concerto interpreted by rising Canadian talent Timothy Chooi. Haydn’s No. 99, one of the famed “London Symphonies”, provides a harmonious interlude before Shostakovich’s upbeat, almost breezy Ninth Symphony brings the evening to a glorious crescendo (Pre-concert chat: 7:05pm).

As for pre-show rituals, Ali only has two major rules: no drinking, and a scheduled nap. “I do much better if I’ve had a nap that day. I’ve got kids who wake me up at 6:45 in the morning, so a nap is really important.”

Speaking of family, Ali Hassan has been married for six years, and has four children. When asked about his oddest venues, Ali can list off a dozen unique gigs including bowling alleys, living rooms, ribfests, and even a field, but his oddest location was in the cramped confines of a bar, leaning partially over a pool table.

Mendelssohn, Haydn & Shostakovich

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where when

tickets

8pm calgaryphil.com

january 22

Arts Commons Winter 2017

January 24 – February 18, 2017

February 1 – 4, 2017

theatre

theatre

Theatre Calgary Seana McKenna in

Fire Exit Theatre

How the World Began

The Audience

A thoughtful and compassionate drama where faith and science collide when a science teacher from Manhattan starts work in a small rural Kansas town that's been ripped apart by a tornado.

By Peter Morgan. Directed by Miles Potter.

For sixty years, Queen Elizabeth II has held a private weekly meeting with each of her many Prime Ministers. Politicians have come and gone, but she has remained a constant. Through this riveting drama, we get a glimpse of the woman behind the crown. where when

tickets

where when

tickets

Max Bell Theatre

Show times vary

Engineered Air Theatre

Show times may vary

fireexit.ca

February 2, 2017

theatrecalgary.com

music

One Yellow Rabbit and Arts Commons Presents

January 27, 2017

BD&P World Music: Black Arm Band – dirtsong

music

One Yellow Rabbit

Part of One Yellow Rabbit’s 31st Annual High Performance Rodeo

The Plainclothes: Tapping the Audience

This Australian Aboriginal collective uses traditional instruments, film, dance, and 11 languages to shed light on Indigenous issues worldwide and tell stories of endurance, challenge, unity, and the triumph of the spirit.

The listening party that goes undercover with you. From your front door to your theatre seat; your night out is remixed with wild theatre sounds and on-site reporting.

Come hear what we overhear! where when info

where

Motel Theatre (Laycraft Lounge)

Jack Singer Concert Hall

7:30pm HPRodeo.ca tickets artscommons.ca when

9:30pm HPRodeo.ca

info

January 27 & 28, 2017

February 4, 2017

music theatre

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Paquin Entertainment

Dreamworks Animation in Concert

Bubble Guppies Live: Ready to Rock!

Experience the thrilling music from Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and more as DreamWorks Animation’s stories and beloved characters inspire and delight audiences of all ages. where when

tickets

What time is it? It’s time for Bubble Guppies!

Dive into a bubbly world of learning and laughter with Nickelodeon’s Bubble Guppies Live: Ready to Rock! Koba Entertainment is making a splash with its theatrical tour starring the lovable guppy friends!

Jack Singer Concert Hall

January 27: 7:30pm | January 28: 2pm calgaryphil.com

where when

tickets

jan/feb

Jack Singer Concert Hall

1pm artscommons.ca

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

23

February 5, 2017

February 10 & 11, 2017

music

music

Calgary Civic Symphony

The Resurrection

Join the Calgary Civic Symphony and the combined forces of 300 performers for this powerful combination of the rarely heard Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody and Mahler’s monumental and spiritually inspiring “Resurrection” Symphony (No. 2).

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where when

2:30pm

artscommons.ca

tickets

Arts Commons Presents

PCL Blues: Eric Bibb with Michael Jerome Browne With a career spanning five decades, 36 albums, and non-stop touring, New Yorkborn Eric Bibb has tirelessly played his way to blues royalty. His warm voice is paired with Montreal’s Michael Jerome Browne, an award-winning multi-instrumentalist described as “arguably the finest acoustic blues artist in this country.” where

February 8, 2017

when

tickets

Engineered Air Theatre

8pm artscommons.ca

comedy

Live Nation

February 11, 2017

Hot on the heels of a new season of radio and string of viral videos, including “Thought Leader” & “Riderless Bikes”, Pat Kelly & Peter Oldring are hitting the road with a new version of their popular live show – This Is That LIVE!

music

This is That LIVE!

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where when

tickets

8pm artscommons.ca

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Symphonic Pink Floyd: The Wall & Dark Side of the Moon Experience the progressive and psychedelic genius of “Dark Side of the Moon” played in its entirety, plus highlights from “The Wall” in this symphonic rock evening featuring your Calgary Philharmonic and Jeans ‘n Classics. where

February 9, 2017

when

tickets

Jack Singer Concert Hall

8pm calgaryphil.com

music

Calgary Phil Presents

February 12 & 13, 2017

Violin superstar Gidon Kremer redefines “leading edge” with the Kremerata Baltica, Eastern Europe’s most active and pioneering chamber orchestra.

speaker series

Kremerata Baltica – New Seasons

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

8pm tickets calgaryphil.com when

Arts Commons Presents

National Geographic Live: The Risky Science of Exploration

with environmental anthropologist Kenny Broad

It takes a special kind of person to laugh about being stranded on a remote island, running out of oxygen in the Bahamas' blue holes, or chasing venomous snakes across both land and water. Fortunately, environmental anthropologist Kenny Broad is an extra special kind of person. where when

tickets

february 24

Arts Commons Winter 2017

Jack Singer Concert Hall

February 12: 2pm | February 13: 7:30pm artscommons.ca

February 14 – 25, 2017

February 24 & 25, 2017

theatre

music

Theatre Calgary

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Skylight

Ultimate Country Legends

By David Hare. Directed by Valerie Planche.

Featuring Dean Paul Gibson.

A toe-tappin’ tribute to the greatest names in country music, including songs by famed singer-songwriters like Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Kenny Rogers, and Dolly Parton – along with newer stars Carrie Underwood and Billy Ray Cyrus.

On a crisp London evening, two former lovers from vastly different worlds find themselves locked in a dangerous battle of opposing ideologies and mutual desire.

Watch, up close, as the embers of a broken relationship spark, ignite, and illuminate.

Skylight is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. where when

where when

Jack Singer Concert Hall

8pm

tickets

calgaryphil.com

Engineered Air Theatre

Show times vary

February 27, 2017

theatrecalgary.com

tickets

art party

Arts Commons Presents

Happenings #7

February 17 & 18, 2017

Inspired by the current exhibitions themed around materiality and processed-based artwork, Happenings #7 will be celebrating tactile intrigue and curiosity with hands-on art activities and projects.

music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Brahms Requiem

A triumph within the choral canon, this masterpiece has a humanist theme of comfort. Composed for an unrequited love, Bartók’s Violin Concerto lay untouched for 50 years. This tribute to a failed romance is masterfully interpreted by Concertmaster Diana Cohen. where when

where when info

8pm

theatre

Alberta Theatre Projects

calgaryphil.com

Gracie

As a young girl living in a polygamous community, Gracie’s world is all about faith and family, but as she becomes a young woman she feels increasing pressure to conform. Will she dare to brave the outside world?

February 23, 2017 music

Arts Commons Presents

TD Jazz: Dianne Reeves With 30 years of music-making and five Grammy® Awards under her belt, Dianne Reeves remains a fearless jazz artist and vocal innovator. Don’t miss this rare Canadian appearance of one of the most singular voices in American jazz. where

6pm artscommons.ca

February 28 – March 18, 2017

Jack Singer Concert Hall

tickets

Arts Commons, Mezzanine Level

where

Martha Cohen Theatre

Show times vary ATPlive.com tickets artscommons.ca when info

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 7:30pm tickets

artscommons.ca

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

25

March 1 – 31, 2017

March 6 – May 28, 2017

visual and media arts

visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

Arts Commons Presents

Arts Commons Gallery of Alberta Media Arts (GAMA) is proud to partner with the $100 Film Festival, and dedicate a month to screening a retrospective on the works of Canadian filmmaker Philip Hoffman.

Arts Commons Presents The Ocean Inside, an installation of printmaking and sculpture that explores nature, water, and our biosphere in the Ledge Gallery, by Calgary-based artist Eveline Kolijn.

$100 Film Festival

GAMA

where when

The Ocean Inside

where

Always open artscommons.ca

info

when

Ledge Gallery

Always open artscommons.ca

info

March 2 – 5 & 7 – 11, 2017

March 6 – May 28, 2017

theatre

visual and media arts

Downstage

Arts Commons Presents

Crime Does Not Pay

Bound, jHartfield Cemeteryj, Cut Out, and Newborns

Calgarians David Rhymer and Kris Demeanor have spun the true story of comic book creator-turned-killer Bob Wood into a brandnew musical that will plant gorgeous songs and explosive ideas in your head.

Engineered Air Theatre

where

Show times vary downstage.ca tickets artscommons.ca when

info

© Felicity Hart

a new musical by David Rhymer and Kris Demeanor

Tackling a variety of taboo and complex subjects through sculpture, textiles, photography, and mixed media, these exhibits feature artists Dayna Ellen, Felicity Hart, Jocelyn Reid, and Violet Costello using the materials of traditional craft-making to talk about the challenges of motherhood, consumerism, and fragility. where when

March 3 & 4, 2017 music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Eroica: Beethoven Symphony No. 3

Heroic marked a pivotal shift in Classical music, redefining the symphony as an art form. Marking his debut with the Orchestra, Roberto Díaz, head of the Curtis Institute of Music, interprets Schnittke’s warmly beautiful Viola Concerto. where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when

8pm tickets calgaryphil.com

march 26

Arts Commons Winter 2017

Window Galleries

Always open artscommons.ca

info

March 7, 2017 music

Live Nation

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, one of the finest roots-oriented bands in North America and a Canadian musical treasure, returns to Calgary for a special concert performance. where when

Jack Singer Concert Hall

tickets

8pm artscommons.ca

March 7 – May 28, 2017 visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

Sankalpa Centre for Dreams and Visions Calgary artist Chelsea Rushton’s Sankalpa Centre for Dreams and Visions explores the use of mark-making to illustrate the information about human bodies and life paths through meditation practices. where when

Lightbox Studio

Always open artscommons.ca

info

March 7 – April 1, 2017 theatre

Theatre Calgary

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Based on the book by Khaled Hosseini. Adapted

by Ursula Rani Sarma. Original music written and performed by David Coulter.

Based on the bestselling novel by the author of The Kite Runner, this hauntingly beautiful story reveals the strength of the human spirit. In war-torn Afghanistan, two women are brought together by fate and cruelty.

Together they will forge an unlikely friendship that leads to an act of unbreakable love. where when

Max Bell Theatre

tickets

Show times vary theatrecalgary.com

March 9, 2017

The Second City Guide to the Symphony WRITTEN BY JAIMEE TURNER Young Canadian and Calgary Philharmonic’s Resident Conductor, Karl Hirzer, conducts this celebration of innovation, humour, and music.

Two worlds collide as The Second City comedy club joins forces with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to present a comedic spin on classical music and the history of symphonic culture. This night will be hosted by the iconic Colin Mochrie.

“The allure of quick-witted improv from world-class actors will offer a new accompaniment and perspective into the world of classical music for the audience,” says Hirzer, who is excited to work alongside a comedic icon from his childhood. “I’m familiar working alongside a soloist but in this case the soloist is a comedian; I’m sure I will be targeted at some point,” he adds light-heartedly.

Originating in Chicago (1959), The Second City’s famous alumni are amongst the world’s most influential comedians including: Tina Fey, Dan Aykroyd, Chris Farley, and Steve Carell. The Second City held its first performance in Toronto, in 1963, and has since become a leading establishment for live theatre in Canada.

As Colin Mochrie and The Second City performers provide the laughs, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra provides the music, with many wellknown classics including Wagner’s cinematic Ride of the Valkyries, as well as Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro.

During this performance, the audience can expect spontaneity, tear-jerking humour, likely a taboo or two, and a very lively evening celebrating performing arts and Canadian talent.

For those unfamiliar with orchestral music, it’s the perfect light-hearted introduction, while regular Calgary Philharmonic attendees can shake up their concert experience with this humorous ode to the genre.

“The wonderful thing about collaboration in arts and culture is it fosters an open mind,” says Hirzer. “It inspires and leads the way in creativity and evocative ideas.”

music

Arts Commons Presents

BD&P World Music: Jake Shimabukuro

March 11, 2017

Jake Shimabukuro became an overnight viral YouTube star with his energetic, complex, and melodic ukulele renditions.

This Hawaiian virtuoso has since gone on to collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma, Ziggy Marley, Lyle Lovett, and more – taking this seemingly simple instrument to new heights. where when

music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

The Second City Guide to the Symphony This concert provides a wry look at the classical world’s musicians, composers, traditions and history, and celebrates symphonic music with a smile (Pre-concert Chat: 7:05pm. Post-concert: Afterthoughts).

Jack Singer Concert Hall

tickets

7:30pm artscommons.ca

where when

Jack Singer Concert Hall

tickets

8pm calgaryphil.com

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

27

March 12 & 13, 2017

March 22 – 25, 2017

speaker series

film

Arts Commons Presents

Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers

$100 Film Festival – 25th Anniversary

National Geographic Live: Beauty and the Bizarre with photographer Anand Varma

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

March 12: 2pm | March 13: 7pm tickets artscommons.ca when

The oldest film festival in Calgary, $100 Film Festival is also notable for being one of the few festivals in the world that still exclusively caters to Super 8 and 16mm film. Check out this unique festival at the Engineered Air Theatre.

© Anand Varma

Anand Varma has devoted years of his life perfecting his techniques to create dramatic, bizarre, and beautiful images of the miniature world around us. Through these truly unique images, he offers us a rare glimpse at our world's small wonders.

where

info

music

Arts Commons Presents

theatre

Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite

Calgary Animated Objects Society

Festival of Animated Objects

A rare meeting of musical minds, Blues Hall of Famers Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite come to Calgary to share the stage for an electric journey through rock, blues, and folk from two of music's most legendary bandleaders.

From puppet shows to film screenings, gallery exhibitions to workshops, for four days and nights Calgary gets animated with original creations, mythical creatures, curious beasts, and thingamajigs.

Arts Commons and

Show times may vary 100dollarfilmfestival.org

March 31, 2017

March 16 – 19, 2017

where

Engineered Air Theatre

when

where

various Calgary locations when Show times vary info puppetfestival.ca tickets artscommons.ca

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 8pm

artscommons.ca

tickets

April 1, 2017 March 17, 2017

music

Calgary Phil Presents

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Ashley MacIsaac & Members of the Barra MacNeils Eastern Canada meets West in this allstar spectacle featuring traditional Irish dancing and some sizzling fiddling from the Orchestra’s Assistant Concertmaster Donovan Seidle.

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

when 8pm tickets

calgaryphil.com

mar/apr 28

Arts Commons Winter 2017

© Francois Miron

music

Sir James Galway & Friends – The Legacy Tour: Globally renowned as “The man with the golden flute” and a flawless interpreter of the classical flute repertoire, Sir James Galway has also crested the popular music charts, with an appeal that transcends musical boundaries. where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 8pm tickets

calgaryphil.com

April 2, 2017

April 6, 2017

music

music

Calgary Civic Symphony

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

For the 37 year, the Calgary Civic Symphony presents the brightest of Calgary’s many young talents, the winners of the Calgary Concerto Competition. Also featured is The Light of Adoration by Calgary Composer and JUNO Award winner, Allan Bell, commissioned for the 40th anniversary season.

Lush with expressive melody and vivid harmonies, the “Unfinished” Symphony is one of Schubert’s defining works. It remains unclear why he never quite got around to completing it, as he lived another six years.

Rising Stars

Time Crunched – The Unfinished Symphony

th

where

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 2:30pm tickets

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when tickets

8pm calgaryphil.com

artscommons.ca

April 7 & 8, 2017

April 3 – June 2, 2017

music

Arts Commons Presents

visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

PCL Blues: Jack Broadbent

Three short films that capture the passion of movement and bring a smile to your face with playful puns. Showcasing young storytellers Mary-Anne McTrowe, Rosanna Terracciano, and The Bum Family.

Twenty-something busker Jack Broadbent was filmed on the streets of the UK showing off his unique slide guitar stylings, suddenly bringing him millions of views online. Broadbent’s gritty, spellbinding performances are now making waves globally. Get ready to exprience one of the most exciting modern bluesmen of our time, coming to Calgary this Spring!

what do you call, WE, and Lily Gets a Pet

where when

GAMA

Always open artscommons.ca

info

where

Engineered Air Theatre

when 8pm tickets

April 4 – 22, 2017 theatre

April 8, 2017

Alberta Theatre Projects

1979

music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

In 1979, Prime Minister Joe Clark is young, idealistic, and stubborn. Based on true events, this hilarious battle of wits examines Canadian politics: the good, the bad, and the ugly. where

Classical Vienna – Mozart, Haydn and Schubert Vienna and the city’s famed composers are the stars of this concert, with Schubert’s expressive “Unfinished” Symphony a bonafide classical blockbuster (Pre-concert Chat: 7:05pm. Post-concert: Afterthoughts).

Martha Cohen Theatre

when

Show times vary ATPlive.com tickets artscommons.ca info

artscommons.ca

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 8pm tickets

april

calgaryphil.com

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

29

April 9 & 10, 2017

April 18 – May 20, 2017

speaker series

theatre

Arts Commons Presents

Theatre Calgary

with Explorer-in-Residence and paleoanthropologist Dr. Lee Berger

Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Book by Ken Ludwig. A Co-production with the Citadel Theatre, Edmonton

National Geographic Live: The Mystery of Our Human Story In a secret chamber of the remote Rising Star cave system near Johannesburg, South Africa, a massive collection of bones was discovered by recreational cavers. Dr. Lee Berger rapidly assembled a team of “underground astronauts” with scientific backgrounds, and the ability to fit in a chute averaging 7.9” in width. What they found was astonishing. where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when tickets

April 9: 2pm | April 10: 7:30pm artscommons.ca

Crazy for You© The New Gershwin Musical

When a young banker is sent to the sleepy town of Deadrock to foreclose a rundown theatre, his heart and his life are turned completely upside down. This hilarious Tony-winning song-and-dance extravaganza features the classics “I Got Rhythm,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” where

Max Bell Theatre

when tickets

Show times vary theatrecalgary.com

April 12, 2017

April 22, 2017

music

music

Arts Commons Presents

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Come celebrate Canada’s 150th with the boogie-woogie pianist that makes “music more infectious than the flu.” Canada’s own Michael Kaeshammer is a JUNO Award-winning pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger, and producer, and he can’t wait to play for you.

Experience the ultimate symphonic rock tribute to Bowie’s five decades of monster classics, including hits Space Oddity, Rebel Rebel, Heroes, Let’s Dance, and China Girl.

BD&P World Music: Michael Kaeshammer

where

Changes – A tribute to David Bowie

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 8pm tickets

calgaryphil.com

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 7:30pm tickets

artscommons.ca

April 23, 2017 music

Paul Mercs Concerts, inc.

Raffi

This tour marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Raffi’s first and still best-selling album, “Singable Songs for the Very Young”.

Raffi is a singer, songwriter, producer, author, lecturer, and tireless advocate for children best known for his classic song, “Baby Beluga”. where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when tickets

april 30

Arts Commons Winter 2017

1pm & 4:30pm artscommons.ca

GET YOUR ART ON!

April 24, 2017

Haven’t checked out Happenings yet? This is your chance to meet visual and media artists as they share their work with you. And that’s just the beginning! Local musicians and performers animate the stage for an evening of art immersion, interaction, and inspiration.

art party

Arts Commons Presents

Happenings #8

This isn’t your grandmother’s craft party!

The current exhibiting artists push the boundaries of what craft can be by using concepts that question social and political concerns. Happenings #8 is a party that you won’t want to miss! where

Arts Commons, Mezzanine Level

when 6pm

artscommons.ca

info

April 25, 2017 April 27, 2017

music

Live Nation

Jackson Browne

music

Arts Commons Presents

Singer-songwriter Jackson Browne comes to Calgary during his (Pretty Much) Somewhat Acoustic Tour. Accompanied by multi-instrumentalist and band member Greg Leisz, as well as singer-songwriters Sara and Sean Watkins, Jackson Browne performs in a one-night-only engagement. where

TD Jazz: Miles Electric Band Breathing new life into the music of Miles Davis’ electric period, the Miles Electric Band has an all-star jazz line-up led by Grammy® winning drummer, former bandmate, and nephew of the late jazz icon, Vincent Wilburn, Jr.

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

when 7:30pm tickets

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 7:30pm

artscommons.ca

tickets

April 26 – 30, 2017

artscommons.ca

April 28 & 29, 2017

theatre music

Fire Exit Theatre

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

An Almost Holy Picture

Broadway Knights – Andrew, Elton & Paul

Samuel Gentle, groundskeeper for The Church of the Holy Comforter, has heard the voice of God, but struggles to comprehend its mystery in light of his own rage at loss. He wants to believe that "grace enters the soul through a wound," and soon he discovers holiness. where

Experience the finest moments of three stellar careers — The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, and Cats; Billy Elliot and The Lion King; and timeless Beatles’ classics and beyond — as the Calgary Philharmonic pays tribute to Broadway’s starry knights.

Engineered Air Theatre

when tickets

where

Show times may vary fireexit.ca

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 8pm tickets

calgaryphil.com

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

31

Dianne Reeves Blurring the lines between jazz, pop, and contemporary R&B

February 23, 2017 Arts Commons, Jack Singer Concert Hall, 7:30pm

TICKETS: 403-294-9494 OR Title Sponsor

Supporting Sponsor

Public Sector Support

Arts Commons Box Office Sponsor

Media Sponsors

artscommons.ca /jazz TD Arts Access Pass Title Sponsor

Official Suppliers

VIP Reception Sponsor

We deliver more than ink on paper.

Formerly known as McAra Unicom, CBN Commercial Solutions is about more than ink on paper.

We’re about you.

OFFSET & DIGITAL PRINTING | WIDE FORMAT | DIRECT MAIL | PREPRESS | BINDERY

(403) 250.9510 | CBNCS.com 32

CBNCS Arts Commons ad 7.25x2 v3.indd 1

Arts Commons Winter 2017

Proud supplier of Arts Commons

2016-11-07 12:46 PM

Helping to Create Well-Rounded Citizens Supporting youth and education is a vital part of ConocoPhillips’ contribution to communities where we operate, for today and for the future. That’s why we support Arts Commons’ efforts to bring arts and culture to students and teachers.

www.conocophillips.ca © ConocoPhillips Company 2016. All rights reserved.

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

33

thank you

Arts Commons wishes to express our sincere appreciation to the following corporations, foundations, governments, and passionate community leaders who give generously to support Arts Commons as we play a key role in the social, economic, cultural, and intellectual life and well-being of Calgarians and visitors.

CORPORATE SPONSORS & FOUNDATION PARTNERS

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS AND SPONSORED GOODS OR SERVICES

Founders Circle

BD&P World Music and TD Jazz

CBC Media Sponsor

Founders Circle is the premiere donor engagement program at Arts Commons.

Our donors play a critical role in our work to bring the arts‌to life.

Arts Commons Endowment Fund through the Calgary Foundation

Calgary Herald Media Sponsor

Big Rock Brewery Inc. Official Brewery

Great Events Catering Sponsor, VIP Receptions, TD Jazz

HONOURARY MEMBERS

Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP Title Sponsor, BD&P World Music

Hotel Arts Sponsor, VIP Receptions,

ALSA Road Construction Ltd. Supporting Sponsor,

CBN Commercial Solutions Official Printer Cenovus Energy Inc. Student Engagement Sponsor,

National Geographic Live

LEGACY BUILDER MEMBERS

Hyatt Regency Calgary Official Hotel

Bob & Sue Benzen Betty & David Smith Henry Sykes, QC & Molly Naber-Sykes

National Geographic Live

Newad Inc. Media Sponsor

ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.

Major Sponsor, Arts Commons Box Office

Our Daily Brett Sponsor, VIP Receptions, BD&P World Music

Student Engagement Sponsor, National Geographic Live Sponsor, Arts Commons Young Minds Initiative Sponsor, Hub for Inspired Learning

Dinner Optimist Club of Calgary Supporting Partner, Hub for Inspired Learning Keyera Corp.

Supporting Sponsor, National Geographic Live PCL Construction Management Inc. Title Sponsor, PCL Blues Repsol Oil & Gas Canada Inc. Supporting Sponsor,

EXPLORE National Geographic

Royal Bank of Canada Series Presenting Sponsor,

National Geographic Live

SerVantage Services Inc. Supporting Sponsor, BD&P World Music TD Bank Group Title Sponsorship, TD Jazz

Title Sponsorship, TD Arts Access Pass

Pattison Outdoor Media Sponsor Rogers Media Media Sponsor

VISIONARY MEMBERS

Teatro Sponsor, Founders Circle

GOVERNMENT Government of Canada through the Departments of Canadian Heritage, and Service Canada Government of Alberta through the Department of Culture and Tourism, and Alberta Foundation for the Arts The City of Calgary through the Department

of Community Services, and Protective Services Arts Commons would also like to express our gratitude to The City of Calgary for a grant through the Capital Civic Partner Grant Program and the Government of Canada for two grants through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund that enables us to undertake critical lifecycle initiatives that enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the 560,665 square foot Arts Commons facility.

TELUS Supporting Sponsor,

EXPLORE National Geographic Please note that only gifts of $10,000 or more are listed above. For a complete list of corporate, foundation and government supporters of Arts Commons, please visit our website at artscommons.ca.

To inquire about becoming a supporter of Arts Commons, please contact Ms. Shone Thistle at 403-294-7455, ext.1468 or sthistle@artscommons.ca.

34

Arts Commons Winter 2017

PIONEER MEMBERS Don Douglas & Betty Dunphy Douglas David & Roxanne Dunlop R. Scott Hutcheson Gregory & Alexa Kudar

Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals Inc.

Supporting Sponsor, EXPLORE National Geographic

Dr. Martha Cohen, CM, LLD (in memoriam) Sandra LeBlanc Vera Swanson, OC

Michel Bourque & Bryan Clarke Patricia Dalk & Terry Burton Greg Epton & Greg Robertson John McWilliams, QC & Susan McWilliams Brian Mills & Susan Tyrrell Randy & Luba Pettipas Stuart & Vicki Reid C.A. Siebens Tharrie & Johann Zietsman

MEMBERS Anonymous Colin & Wendy Anderson Joanna Barstad Leslie Biles & Robert Armstrong Carri Clarke & Reid Brodylo Norm & Colleen Dickson Jane Golubev & Igor Tesker Ken Havard Brian & Annette Hester Wes Jenkins Jennifer Johnson & Trev Habekost Tasha Komery Arun & Roopa Lakra M. Ann McCaig Rodney & Karen McCann James & Janice Morton Jock & Diana Osler Holly Schile & David Nielsen Margaret Southern Shone Thistle & Heather Shaw

Energy and inclusion

Explorers Circle Members of Explorers Circle help National Geographic Society inspire people to care about the planet, and help Arts Commons bring the National Geographic Live speakers’ messages of exploration, discovery, and conservation to Calgary audiences.

ENGAGEMENT SPONSORS Bob & Sue Benzen, I Bought a Rainforest with photojournalist Charlie Hamilton James Ken Havard, The Mystery of Our Human Story with Explorer-in-Residence and paleoanthropologist Dr. Lee Berger

MEMBERS Sandra & Simon Barker Michel Bourque & Bryan Clarke James & Bev Butler Cabra Consulting Ltd. David & Roxanne Dunlop Jane Durango & Dr. Beverly Frizzell Greg Epton & Greg Robertson Lloyd & Riona Freeman Jane Golubev & Igor Tesker Brian & Annette Hester Janine LaBossiere Jordan & Nyssa Moore Devin & Shelley Spackman Shone Thistle & Heather Shaw Joyce Warren & Vanessa Arrate Please note that only gifts of $1,000 or more are listed above. For a complete list of individual donors through Founders Circle and Explorers Circle, please visit our website at artscommons.ca.

To inquire about becoming a member of Founders Circle or Explorers Circle, please contact Ms. Saskia Knight at 403-294-7455, extension 1465, or sknight@artscommons.ca.

WRITTEN BY SASKIA KNIGHT

S

ince 2009, ConocoPhillips Canada (CPC) has been a major sponsor of Arts Commons’ education programs by bringing arts and culture to students and teachers. Supporting youth and education is important to their business and staff, and is a vital part of their contribution to the communities where they work and live. Barbara Simic, Director, Community Investment & Volunteerism at ConocoPhillips Canada explains that, “We are in this community long term. We are living here and working here and we contribute here.”

Barb Simic, Director, Community Investment & Volunteerism at ConocoPhillips Canada with National Geographic Live explorer Charlie Hamilton James.

To Barb and her colleagues, community investment is much more than signing cheques. CPC’s engagement process involves committing time, money, and services; contributing to the overall wellbeing of their communities and employees.

to the world; to other cultures and to other things, and helps them understand there is a bigger world out there and that we all have a responsibility to our world and our planet.”

Barb Simic has been a patron of National Geographic Live since the beginning, and when asked whether a particular speaker stands out to her, she excitedly states, “every speaker has been fabulous in their own way.” Barb reflects back on various presentations, including the most recent speaker, Charlie Hamilton James. James’ presentation, I Bought a Rainforest, bridges the conversation barriers between environmentalism and development by exposing the humanity behind illegal loggers and others who, he discovered, are trying to provide a better life for their family (in the only way they know how). This message is important, because as Barb explains, CPC believes development and conservation can coexist. “ConocoPhillips Canada implements high environmental standards in order to ensure that our actions today will not only provide the energy needed to drive economic growth and well-being, but also secure a stable and healthy environment for tomorrow.”

Furthermore, employee volunteers are the driving force behind ConocoPhillips Canada’s community investment initiatives: “It is their dedication that allows us to continue supporting community organizations and realize our goals of enriching lives and strengthening communities.” In 2015, CPC volunteers committed more than 20,000 hours to their communities. Volunteers are involved in organizations working to solve problems and address social issues related to the three main pillars CPC supports under their mandate: education, environment, and safety.

Nearly half of their annual contributions are directed towards education and youth programs; such as, the Arts Commons EXPLORE National Geographic program.

CPC believes that the best way to prepare a community for the future is to equip its youth with practical skills to help support them achieve their full potential. “We know that exposing children, some who never get to leave Calgary or Canada, to National Geographic Live, exposes them

Winter 2017 Arts Commons

35

WRITTEN BY HILARY ANGROVE

R

ob Knudsen’s origins as an artist go way back, when his report card stated he was, “doodling too much.” From comics to video games, the ‘lowbrow’ side of art appealed to him early on, but he later attended the Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD) to balance that with an understanding of fine arts.

Now having graduated, Arts Commons commissioned Knudsen to create several outdoor public installations to provide more art experiences to passers-by.

They showed me the building and asked me to spice it up, make it fun, make it weird,” says Knudson. “I was given a lot more freedom than I’m used to. They told me there was no limits to my creativity…except I couldn’t paint on the heritage building.”

His pieces include hidden wedges of cheese around the building, a secret staircase message alluding to an underground river, and parking posts turned into HB pencils.

Through his expertise in the selection of materials, Knudson used the relation between colors and textures to connect with the building’s architecture.

For This Feels So Real, his favourite of these projects, Knudsen mounted a square plot of grass with the titular words cut out on a brick wall canvas—minimalist in materials, but complex in deliberate placement and

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Arts Commons Winter 2017

thought-provoking text. The irony of it all?

The grass is artificial.

“Installing This Feels So Real was funny and light-hearted,” says Knudson. “If you’re walking around the city, there’s this strange thought of what is natural versus artificial…

We delineate between the two, when really all of my materials are natural, some are just processed. We’re human and we put everything in a box.”

Ultimately, Knudson’s goal is to stop you in your tracks and make you think, whether you’re an avid art aficionado, or just someone heading to catch the train home.

The exhibition is now part of the fabric of Arts Commons. Have you stopped to take a look?

Top left: There is a River Flowing Beneath Us, Rob Knudsen (1st Street SE) Above: HB Pencils, Rob Knudsen (9th Avenue SE) Left: This Feels So Real, Rob Knudsen (9th Avenue SE)

OUR LOCATION Our address is 205 8th Ave SE. Our main entrance is located off Stephen Avenue, one block east of the Calgary Tower and across from Olympic Plaza.

Located in the heart of Calgary’s vibrant downtown core, Arts Commons is home to the city’s premier performance venues. Offering public art spaces and six distinct performance venues, including the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Arts Commons is home to a variety of artists and an array of resident companies that include the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and annual events such as the Calgary International Children’s Festival.

GETTING HERE BY LRT Calgary’s LRT (light rail train) will take you to City Hall station, one block north of Arts Commons.

GETTING HERE BY CAR

P1

Arts Commons offers underground parking. Enter off Macleod Trail between 9th and 8th Avenues.

$5

OPEN EVENI NGS & WE EKENDS

P U RC H AS E T IC K E TS AT O U R B OX O F F IC E : C E N T RE CO U RT, 2 2 5 8 T H AV E S E

SEE A SHOW

10 to 6

AM

PM

Sundays

CLOSE D

403-294-9494 artscommons.ca

Other parking options include:

P2

Civic Plaza Parkade

P3

TELUS Convention Centre

P4

Palliser Square (access Arts Commons via the +15 network)

P5

Surface parking lots in the 200, 300 and 400 blocks on the south side of 9th Avenue SE

LANDMARKS Calgary Tower

P3

Olympic Plaza TELUS Convention Centre Hyatt Regency Calgary

P1

P4

P5

P2

P5

Glenbow Museum Marriott Hotel City Hall

BE SOC I AL

JO I N US O N FACEB O O K OR FO L LOW U S O N TW IT T E R FO R CO NCERT A NNO UNCEM E N TS , S P EC IA L O F F E RS , A N D M O RE .

#artscommons @yycARTS

©Anand Varma ©Mark Thiessen

The Risky Science of Exploration

©Anand Varma

©Wes Skiles

SUN/MON FEB. 12 & 13, 2017

SUN/MON MAR. 12 & 13, 2017

SUN/MON APR. 9 & 10, 2017

The Mystery of Our Human Story

Beauty and the Bizarre with photographer Anand Varma

with Explorer-in-Residence and paleoanthropologist Dr. Lee Berger

with environmental anthropologist Kenny Broad

Sunday Matinees perfect for the whole family!

Student Engagement Sponsors

Public Sector Support

Engagement Sponsor The Mystery of Our Human Story

EXPLORE National Geographic Supporting Sponsor

EXPLORE National Geographic Sponsors

Media Sponsors

Sunday Matinees 2pm, Monday Evenings 7pm Arts Commons, Jack Singer Concert Hall

Official Suppliers

Arts Commons Box Office Sponsor

Explorers Circle & VIP Reception Sponsor

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! 403-294-9494 artscommons.ca/NGL