Arts Commons Magazine Spring / Summer 2018

Percussion and pints during the Philharmonic Rush Hour. p.12 | Jet-setting gypsies with a jolt of jazz. p.16 Blood, sweat, and character acting in the city’s most intense workshop. p.18

M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G /S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 | #09

FPO Finished ad here will be provided at the printer proof stage

LETTER FROM JOHANN

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n this issue we are inspired by the work of many artists and groups whose drive and desire is to unlock the creative potential in us all. They compel us to gather, dare us to imagine, and invite us into a life filled with more compassion, understanding, imagination, and knowledge.

On April 4, 2018, three days before her 102nd birthday, Calgary lost a lady whose life was driven by this same desire: to make the world a better place through the arts (and specifically music). Vera Swanson had two very different lives; she spent her formative years living in the south of England where she met her first husband, who was taken from her by the Second World War before they could celebrate their first anniversary. At the end of the War, she met and married Frank Swanson, who was working in London, England as a war correspondent.

After the War, Vera made the courageous decision to move to Canada with Frank and lived in Ottawa for ten years, supporting Frank in his role as a senior journalist with the Southam News Service. While in Ottawa, Vera was involved in the local performing arts community and, in particular, the Ottawa Philharmonic. In 1962, Frank and Vera, along with their son David, moved to Calgary, which became her home for the rest of her life. Never one to take no for an answer, Vera became a tireless champion of the creation and development of the Calgary Centre for Performing Arts – now Arts Commons – which stands today as a testament to her commitment and determination. Vera was also a patron and supporter of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, which remained her love until she passed away. Vera also spearheaded the creation of the Calgary International Organ Festival, the Arts Centre Guild, and was an active member of the Churchill Society. In 2001, Vera received the Order of Canada in recognition of her tireless volunteer work.

Being a warm and gracious hostess, and a lifelong learner, Vera understood that our basic human desire to be social, as well as our natural curiosity, inspires us to seek out experiences to satisfy these impulses. The arts, and specifically LIVE performing arts experiences provide unique and important fulfillment of these desires, and the fruits of her dedicated labours have been enjoyed by millions who have attended performances at Arts Commons.

We humbly dedicate this edition to the memory of a remarkable, passionate, visionary, energetic, compassionate and gracious lady: Vera Swanson.

Johann F. Zietsman President & CEO, Arts Commons

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

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contents

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The electrifying performers at the Calgary International Children’s Festival have a lot to teach – and a lot to learn. The festival's three biggest show creators talk passion, creation, and labours of love.

Pull up your bootstraps – this acting intensive isn’t for the weak-hearted. Experience what a day in one of the city’s most celebrated acting camps is like with One Yellow Rabbit.

A Doctor, a Fish, and a Dog Walk Into a Festival

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Do-it-Yourself Theatre Emerges from the Attic If you want to see a conversation sparked, you have to do it yourself! A new theatre company is pushing the boundaries of the Motel space.

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Happy Hour and Rush Hour Collide Beers and symphonies! The Calgary Philharmonic Rush Hour series is for a new kind of concert goer – one who likes to tweet from their seat and kick back with a craft brew.

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The Gypsies are Inbound Colombian gypsy-jazz musicians – with French influences – Monsieur Periné is leading the rise in a new kind of Latin pop music. Discover their whimsy with this intimate chat.

Drop Down and Give Me a Three-Week Artist Intensive!

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Destination: Laughter They’re traveling across the country with often hilarious acrobatics and jaw dropping stunts. Machine de Circue brings their unique circus show, centred around a custom-built trailer, to Calgary this summer.

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What’s on at Arts Commons The where’s what and what’s where of Arts Commons.

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Hopped Up on Big Rock Dreams The big plans that led to Big Rock Brewery’s booming Alberta beer business.

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Free Music Lessons for Canadians It’s easier than ever to learn music now that Meludia is giving free lessons to Canadians for 2018. See you in the spotlight, rock star!

ONS CO M M A RTS G IN Z A H IS A M N L IN E ! ring, O YES! T by sha tion IN E IS Z A G rience e ca p li MA x b e u r you this p Expand and enjoying ns.ca o , g m readin t s co m ns Visit ar ommo online. #artsc

@yyca

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

rts

contributors

Busola Fapojuwo

TASHA KOMERY Editor-In-Chief

Busola is Arts Commons’ resident social media genius.

With her knack for witty tweets and finding the perfect viral video, Busola is the curator of the hilarious, informative, and awe-inspiring. A current student at the University of Calgary, she looks forward to a career in marketing.

AARON CHATHA Managing Editor

KAIJA DIRKSON Creative Manager

ERIN BELTON Graphic Design

Jennifer Friesen

CONTRIBUTORS

Most often found behind the lens, Jennifer Friesen is a writer and photographer with a wide range of credits. Her work has appeared in Metro Newspaper, Red Bull, Avenue, Westjet Magazine, Toronto Star, L'Oeil de la Photographie, SPUR magazine, Dementia Connections magazine, YLW Connect magazine and Essential magazine.

Alex Bonyun, Busola Fapojuwo, Shane Flug, Jennifer Friesen, Shone Thistle, 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

Shane Flug Shane Flug is a local writer and editor. A graduate from Mount Royal University, Shane has a strong pulse on the Calgary arts community. He served as managing editor and web producer at Beatroute and a web producer at Freq Magazine. He’s currently covering the scene with Local Drop.

PUBLISHED BY Arts Commons 205 – 8th Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 0K9 Phone: 403-294-7455 Fax: 403-294-7457 artscommons.ca © Copyright 2018 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. with a jolt of jazz. | Jet-setting gypsies Rush Hour. p.12 workshop. p.18 Philharmonic most intense pints during the acting in the city’s Percussion and and character Blood, sweat,

p.16

I N E M A G A EZ #09 R 2018 | SPRING/S

UMM

ON THE COVER The bombastic Doktor Kaboom wows kids with real science on stage as part of Kidsfest 2018.

Learn more on page 5!

PLEASE ADD FSC LOGO

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A doctor, a fish, and a dog walk into a festival The Calgary International Children’s Festival WRITTEN BY AARON CHATHA

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fter months and months of planning, late nights, and wrangling the most popular kids performers across the globe, there’s one special moment that makes it all worth it for Curator Christy Offer: looking across the dim theatre as children laugh, interact with performers, and witness something deep and awe-inspiring.

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

“The artists know their young audiences and they know how to speak to kids” she explained.

“They know what sense of humour a four-year-old has, versus an eight-year-old. They have the timing down.

“Sometimes the parents are surprised by their kids – but the artists are not. They know what reaction they’ll get.”

This year’s Calgary International Children’s Festival is all about discovery. From real-world science to undersea adventures, there’s a ton to learn and enjoy this season — for kids and adults.

inside the laboratory of doktor kaboom

It’s easy to get swept up in Doktor Kaboom’s latest, jaw-dropping experiments.

After all, it’s not rocket science.

Or is it?

“We like to say, ‘you can do it – it’s not rocket science.’ I don’t like that phrase,” said the Doktor, sometimes known as David Epley. “It implies that science is hard and rocket science is hard. They’re not hard, they’re just work. So I try to use aspects of rocket science to show that science is for everyone – not just the people who are already good at it.”

For example, at his upcoming Kidsfest performance, Kaboom will have an audience member hold a jump rope tied to a cutting board. On the cutting board will be a glass of water. The audience member will then spin the cutting board around – without spilling the water.

“Literally swinging something around on a string is rocket science,” laughed Kaboom.

He’s a strong believer that science is for everyone – whether you’re a kid learning about centrifugal force in the sixth grade, or an adult trying to remember what you learned in the sixth grade. It just takes a bit of work and a willingness to have fun.

Kaboom’s show is regularly filled with aweinspiring visual feats and an off-kilter sense of humour – the kind where kids don’t even realize they’re learning something. After all, his name is Kaboom, with an emphasis on the BOOM. In real life, Epley has held a lifelong passion for science, but was dismayed to find kids (and adults) shied away from ‘tough’ subjects like math or engineering.

“I think we’ve developed a cultural mindset that science is something mysterious and hard and only for a select few,” he explained. “I want people to understand that they can empower themselves by accepting the fact that they can do science too.”

Lesson Learned Science isn’t hard when you’re having fun!

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it’s a dog’s world in new owner Lesson Learned The best stories come from a place of authenticity

For Tim Watts, the trick to creating a great kids show is to not create a kids show at all.

Watts resisted labelling his shows, produced through The Last Great Hunt, as kids shows. His goal was just to create something relatable, fun, and exciting on stage. That was the case with his first show, The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer.

“It was actually after the fact that people thought the shows may be suitable and asked, ‘Can I bring my daughter to this?’” he recalled. “I kind of resisted that for a while, because I didn’t make it with young audiences in mind, but it sort of worked.

We just had wonderful times performing for younger audiences and I started to really love the fact that we had a show that I thought was good, and we weren’t talking down to younger audiences, but we were just making a good show.”

For this year’s Calgary International Children’s Festival, Watts is premiering his newest hit for the city: New Owner. The play is told largely without words, instead

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

relying on powerful music, sound, puppetry, and animation to tell the story of the young puppy Bernie, who is separated from his elderly owner.

Suddenly alone, Bernie explores the sometimes scary world around him, learning about love, loss, and the happiness of finding your perfect home. Although he knew New Owner was going to be aimed at an audience of kids, his design philosophy actually hasn’t changed much.

“When making New Owner, that was the first time we thought, it’s probably going to be appropriate for kids anyway, so let’s keep that in mind from the get go,” he explained.

“But really, it’s just about trying to make the best show possible, and trying to make a show that I would want to watch, as a 33-year-old man.”

Watts cited the works of Jim Hensen, Pixar, and Disney as stories that can speak to humans regardless of age. At the end of the day, there’s a bit of Bernie the puppy in all of us.

enchantment under the sea with the rainbow fish

a show where the objects look like they live on their own.”

Nova Scotia’s Mermaid Theatre has a well-earned reputation for bringing children’s book classics to life, and they do so by having the utmost respect for the source-material.

Morrow believes there’s a special power in producing children’s theatre. “Adults can be critical, cynical, and quick to dismiss ideas. Children, however, don’t see the limits, yet are brutally upfront and honest – they’ll tell you right away if they like something or not.”

“We try not to change much about the story. We don’t change any of the narration.

We simply bring the story to life,” smiled Jim Morrow, artistic director.

“I think anyone who has worked in children’s theatre understands they’re the most beautiful, most perfect audience,” he laughed. “If you can reach them, there’s no audience that’s more appreciative, because they’re not jaded by life experiences. Their eyes are wide open, and they love and believe everything that’s happening. It’s really quite enchanting.”

This time they’re tackling the beloved tale of The Rainbow Fish, written by Marcus Pfister. The story of the multi-coloured fish who protects his beautiful scales, at the cost of his friends. Naturally, he goes on a heartwarming adventure to the depths of the ocean, where he learns the true meaning of friendship.

Morrow tells the story through unique black light effects, which means the performers are practically invisible, and the puppets float in a beautiful, shining, liquid world.

With its unique visual effects and timeless story, The Rainbow Fish is sure to be a standout at this year’s Kidsfest.

“It seemed so appropriate,” he said. “When you look at the book, the colours pop out at you, and I thought it would be fun to have

Lesson Learned If you can earn their attention, kids make the best audience members

Calgary International Children's Festival

who

what when

Kidsfest 2018

May 23 – 26, 2018

where tickets

Arts Commons (venues vary)

403-294-9494 calgarykidsfest.ca

Spring/ Summer 2018 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.

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

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

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

Explorers help us find the future.

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

saskatchewanminingandminerals.com

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

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do-it -yourself theatre emerges from the attic WRITTEN BY ALEX BONYUN

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

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ucked away in the Motel Theatre in Arts Commons, you may not have heard of DIY Theatre, formerly known as Attic Players. Their boutique performances entertain a small crowd of eager theatre goers each run, with their most recent production. Genesis, a coproduction with Artist Collective Theatre, is garnering five-star reviews. So who is DIY Theatre, and why the name change?

Founder and Artistic Director of DIY Theatre, Shelby Nicole, founded Attic Players eight years ago with the dream of presenting unique programming that would give a platform for young up and coming actors and designers to showcase their work. Through a series of fits and starts, and after a long hiatus, Attic Theatre presented two seasons of productions, gaining critical acclaim and a small, but dedicated, audience.

The idea for the rebranding of Attic Players, and the emergence of DIY Theatre, came out last year during the prep stage for Sex with Strangers by Laura Eason. “I began to explore ways that allowed the audience to become more involved in the experience,” said Shelby. “The idea really came out of our decision to produce the show ‘in the round,’ which enabled our audience to feel like a fly on the wall throughout the production. I found myself really attracted to the idea of creating an ‘experience,’ rather than just creating another option for an evening out.”

“I found myself really attracted to the idea of creating an ‘experience,’ rather than just creating another option for an evening out.” ~Shelby Nicole, Artistic Director, DIY Theatre Margulies, in which a photojournalist and a foreign correspondent try to find happiness in a world that seems to have gone crazy. Theirs is a partnership based on telling the toughest stories, and together, making a difference. But when their own story takes a sudden turn, the adventurous couple confronts the prospect of a more conventional life.

In rebranding to DIY Theatre, Shelby hopes to push the envelope of audience engagement, creating both pre and postshow discussions, as well as interactive elements during the show that draw the audience in and make them feel involved in the stage experience.

Through all of this though, she strives to maintain the original dream of the company: to act as a jumping off point for young and emerging artists.

–– Learn more at diytheatre.org.

“Calgary can be a hard place to break into as an emerging artist, so we want to help make that shift a little bit easier for them, and help them make those connections for the future,” said Shelby. One of the ways that DIY Theatre has already started to accomplish this was by extending personal invites to all of the Artistic Directors in Calgary to attend Genesis, with the goal of showcasing the talent on stage.

“Almost every artistic director in Calgary came out to that show,” Shelby recalled.

“It was fantastic to see that support for our goal.”

DIY Theatre

who

This June you can see DIY Theatre’s latest production, Time Stands Still by Donald

Below, left to right: DIY Theatre's Artistic director Shelby Nicole and Communications Director Christi Dos Santos-Wing are making their mark in the Arts Commons Motel space.

Photo ©Aaron Chatha. | Production image from Genesis.

what

Time Stands Still

when

June 8 – 16, 2018

where tickets

Motel Theatre

diytheatre.org

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Rush Hour and Happy Hour Collide WRITTEN BY JENNIFER FRIESEN

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

THE CALGARY PHILHARMONIC THROWS A LESS FORMAL AFFAIR

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medley of hops and harmonics, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s Rush Hour concerts aren’t your typical golden age shows. No tux or tails, long concertos, or intermissions.

The Rush Hour concerts are abbreviated versions of longer shows, perfectly sandwiched between the end of the work day and the end of rush hour, allowing you to skip the traffic and unwind after a hectic work day, with some live music and… beer!

“Something that all musicians have in common is that they love to drink beer – and a lot of it,” CPO’s Michael Hope said before heading into the Jack Singer Concert Hall. “Beer and classical music have a rather profound musical and philosophical connection.”

The CPO partners with a new microbrewery each concert. This time it was with Tool Shed Brewing Co., who brought their People Skills cream ale and Star Cheek IPA to pair with the melodies.

As each Tool Shed beer comes with its own revealing story, the Rush Hour crowd settled in with their barley-full fables in hand, to get a taste of the Philharmonic with the three movements Saint-Saëns’ concerto.

Before bringing her instrument to her chin, violinist Diana Cohen told the audience about Saint-Saëns, a precocious 19th century child prodigy, and one of her favourite composers. For classics lovers, Saint-Saëns has an immediately

recognizable style whose technical fluency has rarely been matched.

The audience stood with their applause before filing out the doors, bellies still full of beer and ears ringing with high notes, murmuring to one another about the stories they each thought they heard within the concerto.

The first movement pulled the audience into an uneasy setting with a quickening pace before coaxing them back to a dreamy, pastoral world. The emotional to and fro continued through the remaining half hour of the concerto, instilling listeners with a sense of danger, sadness, and romance.

This summer, Rush Hour returns with The Great Human Odyssey, an award-winning documentary about the origins of human life. This cinematic and live musical exploration of our human origins will be hosted by anthropologist Niobe Thompson.

And if that’s not enough to grab you, don’t forget – there will also be beer.

As the grand finale neared, conductor Roberto Minczuk waxed poetic with his hands as the strings built in speed like an army of hummingbirds, until the percussion blasted through a crescendo with the flick

THE RUSH HOUR

“Beer and classical music have a rather profound musical and philosophical connection.”

Unwind after your hectic workday – the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s Rush Hour shows start at 5:30 p.m. with a happy hour, featuring a local craft beer. The show itself is a one-hour, abbreviated version of the concert.

And the CPO tweets alongside the performance, so you can engage on your phone, ask questions and enjoy your drink while you enjoy the show.

of his wrist. Up front and centre, Cohen was bending her body with the music’s emotional waves as her bow manically surged, playing 30 notes in less than 2.5 seconds.

You read that correctly: 30 notes in less than 2.5 seconds.

For this summer’s Rush Hour schedule, visit calgaryphil.com/rushhour.

And then it was over. The effect was dizzying and enthralling.

Above: Acclaimed violinist Diana Cohen leads the orchestra through Saint-Saëns' work, pulling off 30 notes in 2.5 seconds.

Photo ©Jennifer Friesen.

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May 14, 2018 Arts Commons, 6–9pm Mezzanine Level

COLOUR & WHIMSY Learn more and invite your friends at artscommons.ca/happenings

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

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

Photo by Mark Thiessen

www.bdplaw.com

TD Arts Access Pass Title Sponsor

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The gypsies are inbound WRITTEN BY BUSOLA FAPOJUWO

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onsieur Periné is reminiscent of a modern day band of gypsies.

The musical group travels the world, unafraid of letting new influences seep into their music, creating a constant state of evolution. Hailing from Colombia, Monsieur Periné’s lead singer Catalina Garcia sings in several languages, including Spanish, French, and Portuguese. A colourful, one-of-a-kind musical group, they mix Latin, European, and Afro-Colombian sounds to produce what they affectionately call “gypsy-jazz”.

They caught their first big break when Puerto Rican band Calle 13 (legends in the Latin music scene) contacted them on Twitter to open for a few shows. Periné quickly became an international hit, winning a 2015 Latin Grammy for Best New Artist.

Their shows are energetic and beautiful.

They strive to deeply connect with their audience while on stage.

Curious about their name? Putting a humourous and even naughty spin on words, they took the word periné (Spanish word for perineum) and added monsieur to the front, because everything sounds more refined with a touch of French.

They play at Arts Commons' Jack Singer Concert Hall as part of the BD&P World Music Series on June 4, 2018.

Writer and band member Santiago Prieto talked us through the band’s mindset going into 2018.

Q: How much joy do you get from performing live?

in Portuguese. To sing in different languages is the possibility of expressing ourselves in other ways and to reach other audiences, and that is a very enriching experience.

A: We love to play. That’s the thing we like the most in our lives. For us, it’s a ritual in which we connect with the audience and exchange good vibes. It’s a beautiful experience to sing and dance all together with people.

Q: Why is it important for your music to reach the world in 2018?

A: Our new album is our third one. We feel that the fruit is ripe. Our music and our show and our abilities as performers are in a mature moment, in which we feel prepared to show our music throughout the world.

We loved to play last year on the main stage of the Monterey Jazz Festival. It was the 60th edition. When we finished the concert, a lot of people came to us to tell us that our music and our show was one of the best they saw there in many years. We were happy to hear that because we were the first Colombian artist to play in this renowned festival.

Q: What can people look forward to at a Monsieur Periné concert?

A: We want always to share, to make people feel deep emotions, make them

“Our music is based on evolution, change.

It is by definition gypsy, nomad.” move and shake, and sing and scream and jump.

Q: How has your music evolved since you first started playing together?

We like them to forget about their phones and be there with us in the joy of music. We don’t expect anything of the audience, just respect for the music itself, because music will be the bridge to connect them with us, and all of a sudden we will be overcome by the power of sound and art.

A: It’s always changing. Our music is like a living entity within us. It’s made of our experiences and our feelings of the aesthetic vision, which is always seeking, exploring, and crossing boundaries. Our music is based on evolution, change. It is by definition gypsy, nomad. And it will keep changing and evolving as we do.

Q: What makes you want to sing in both Spanish and French?

Arts Commons Presents

who what

A: (Lead singer) Catalina (García) went to a French school in Cali when she was a child.

She learned French really well. And when we started, we were exploring different genres in music as languages, we sung also

when

BD&P World Music: Monsieur Periné

June 4, 2018

where

tickets

Opposite: Monsieur Periné.

Jack Singer Concert Hall artscommons.ca

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

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Drop down and give me a three-week artist intensivE!!!

WRITTEN BY AARON CHATHA

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

A DAY IN THE ONE YELLOW RABBIT SUMMER LAB

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here are acting classes.

Then, there are acting intensives.

For the past twenty years, the One Yellow Rabbit theatre company has used its annual Summer Lab Intensive to throw down the gauntlet. Aimed at established arts professionals (the particular art is up to you), the lab focuses on One Yellow Rabbit’s punk rock, performer-first ethos.

Costumes and sets are just the dressing – an average day in the Summer Lab is all about YOU.

Move it!

Every morning in the three week lab begins with a physical practice. What does it mean to be the player on stage? Who are you, how do you move, how do you stand?

“That’s one of the keys to what we’re doing with our practice,” stated Summer Lab director Denise Clarke. “We’re making it much more like the rock band ethos, where the personalities of who’s playing the music count. Quite often you think the music matters and the players can be anyone.

With us, no, no, it’s the players that make the music that matters.”

Even for the writers in the lab, it’s important to remember you’re still a body in space.

Bodies were made to move.

WRITE it!

After exploring your body language, it’s on to your writing language.

Artistic Director Blake Brooker takes the students through OYR’s body of work, and the techniques they use to devise text for the stage.

The point here is just to write and write and write. Don’t worry about doing it right.

Just write.

“The admonition is not to write well, but just to generate text as a first step,” Clarke explained. “The methodology lets you get cracking, get something on the page, and the judging and discerning comes later.”

How do you observe and how are you observed? Because both are important in theatre-making.”

The idea is to be generous observing – and comfortable being observed, which ties into the final part of the day.

Do it Each day, every artist is responsible for 10 minutes on the stage. It could be a solo exploration or a little group piece. You could explore lessons from the day or take the time to summon the cosmic entity Cthulhu to wreak havoc on our dimension while the class watches.

Really, it’s up to you.

CONSIDER it!

Renowned visual artist Chris Cran then takes your perceptions around art and challenges them harder than Frodo challenged Mount Doom.

Cran breaks art creation down to the observer, the observed, and the process of observation – making distinctions between the three.

“It’s tremendously gratifying to see people inspired and motivated,” beamed Clarke.

“Sometimes we just need an atmosphere and a place to get going, to re-awaken something that’s quiet or speaking to you on a creative level. The lab is a place of activity. It’s active research for all the participants – me included.”

–– The OYR Summer Lab Intensive runs June 18 to July 7, 2018. Applications are due by June 1 through oyr.org.

“It’s kind of a wake-up call to aesthetic and to what you are interested in,” Clarke said.

“What would be your mark as an artist?

How do you approach your art making?

Opposite: Arm With Dynamite, Charcoal on ragboard, 32" x 40", 1988 ©Chris Cran.

Right: As intense as the annual Summer Lab can be, a room full of smiling artists is always the end reward. Photo ©One Yellow Rabbit.

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Looking for optimal flexibility? But still want a full season of arts in your calendar? With so many great concerts and speaker presentations, why choose just one? The Design Your Own (DYO) series allows you to curate a custom package of shows while enjoying some of the benefits of subscribing.

Flexibility to customize your own Arts Commons Presents experience

Tickets mailed right to your door

Promotional discounts and offers throughout the season

A custom season of the best international and Canadian talent at a great price

The more you choose, the more you save!* Buy 3 performances, save the GST Buy 5 performances, save 10% Buy 7 performances, save 15% *Discount applied based on number of performances, not number of tickets purchased. While PCL Blues or National Geographic Live performances may be included in your DYO package, discount does not apply. Potted Potter is not eligible for discount or DYO.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Title Sponsor, BD&P World Music

NGL Engagement Sponsors

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

Presenting Sponsor, National Geographic Live

Title Sponsor, PCL Blues

Title Sponsor, TD Jazz

Public Sector Support

Supporting Sponsors

TD Arts Access Pass Title Sponsor

NGL Student Engagement Sponsor

Media Sponsors

NGL EXPLORE National Geographic Sponsors

Official Suppliers

Curate your own series today!

Visit artscommons.ca/dyo or call our Box Office at 403-294-9494 to learn more

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

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: n o i t a n i t s e D r e t h g u a L WRITTEN BY SHANE FLUG

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

MACHINE DE CIRQUE HITS THE ROAD IN TRUCK STOP: THE GREAT JOURNEY

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etween belting out terrible pop song renditions in the car and taking blurred Facebook photos by the campsite bonfire, Canadian summer road trips make for hilarious memories.

Bonus points if the modern comforts of a tiny home trailer are added to the mix.

A custom-tailored tiny-home trailer and truck are the central props in Québec City-based Machine de Cirque’s new outdoor performance, Truck Stop: The Great Journey.

Circus artists Vincent and Raphaël Dubé, Yohann Trépanier, Ugo Dario, Maxim Laurin,

mobile show would be great,’” explained artistic director Vincent about the concept.

humankind’s salvation. YouTube-famous for its bath towel prop routine, the show has toured across North America and Europe in dozens of cities.

Passing by a truck stop area during his drive sealed the idea of bringing the troupe’s inventive acrobatics to smaller communities nationwide.

Vincent said the key to a successful cirque show – balancing awe-inducing acrobatics and gut-busting comedy – is to park the egos and devote collectively to the best creative ideas.

“A show about people crossing Canada would be so powerful,” Vincent said. “It just came very naturally.”

“The more the artist feels that the show belongs to them,” he shares, “people will feel a big difference onstage.”

Putting both his civic engineering degree and two decades of performance experience to practical use, Vincent and team custom built the show’s trailer to appear like a run-of-the-mill camper on

Canadian cirque fans can look forward to making fond summertime memories with Truck Stop. Just leave the window jumping and campsite guitar playing to the professionals.

“Audiences will see how we can use a set in an inventive way.”

and musician Frédéric Labrassuer will hit the road across Canada this summer, with a stop in Calgary.

From concrete jungles to breathtaking mountain views, the not-for-profit troupe will be keeping the drink cooler full and the music loud as they take audiences on a 50-minute trek from east-to-west, using acrobatics and their own off-kilter sense of humour.

“I was driving my car between Montreal and Québec (City) and I just realized that Canada is so big and there’s so much time we spend in our car. I thought, ‘Oh yes! A

–– Truck Stop arrives at Municipal Plaza on August 10, with two shows at 5 pm and 8 pm and will be completely free of charge.

the outside. Inside, however, rests all the sets that will be unveiled to audiences throughout the show as the trailer opens up, becoming a mobile stage. Vincent adds there will be some parkour antics to start, as the acrobats come in and out of the camper’s doors and windows.

FREE FAMILY SHOW!

“(Audiences) will see how we can use a set in an inventive way,” he said.

Machine de Cirque

who

Truck Stop precedes Machine de Cirque’s eponymous show, which laughs in the face of Armageddon as survivors navigate a post-tech world, scouring for spare parts to make a machine that would lead to

what when

Truck Stop: The Great Journey

August 10, 2018

where info

Municipal Plaza artscommons.ca

Opposite: Hats off for a summer of travelling as Machine de Cirque takes their Truck Stop show across the country.

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

23

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

24

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

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)

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

25

what’s on

March 2 – May 25, 2018 visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

©Darija S. Radakovic

Line Dance, The Dwindling Dispute, and Infinitude Three visually powerful short films from Scott Portingale, Melanie Kloetzel, and John Osborne come to the Broadcast Lab monitors in Arts Commons, telling stories through animation, dance, and time lapse. where

Broadcast Lab

when

Always open artscommons.ca

info

March 2 – May 25, 2018

March 1 – August 31, 2018

visual and media arts

visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

Arts Commons Presents

Arts Commons Presents brings a new media art sound installation to the +15 Soundscape that will take you on a journey of meditation.

This 15-speaker multiambient music installation was designed specifically for the Arts Commons +15 Walkway. Tona Ohama's piece is dedicated to the memory of Richard McDowell and Michael Green.

Arts Commons showcases unique exhibits in the Window Galleries from artists Darija S. Radakovic, Carrie Phillips Kieser, Rachel Ziriada, Mikhail Miller, and Anna BurgerMartindale that explore the use of physical space, from minimalism to complex visual clutter.

Circlestances, Continuum, The Microverse, and Contained Flow

where when info

+15 Soundscape

Always open artscommons.ca

March 2 – May 25, 2018 visual and media arts

©Jillian Daschuk

A Moment of Quiet Reflection

where

Window Galleries

when

Always open artscommons.ca

info

April 17 – May 9, 2018 theatre

Arts Commons Presents

Theatre Calgary

Through a series of sculptural paintings, Jillian Daschuk's Block Parent explores the idea that our homes can act as masks. A happy neighbourhood filled with cute character homes would instill a sense of comfort to many pedestrians walking by, however the mask does a good job of hiding the truth behind these walls.

This beloved classic children's book comes beautifully to life in this stunning and heartwarming Broadway musical. A young orphan girl discovers the key to a neglected garden, and reawakens the magic locked inside!

Block Parent

where when info

Ledge Gallery

Studio times vary artscommons.ca

may 26

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

The Secret Garden

where

Max Bell Theatre

when tickets

Show times vary theatrecalgary.com

May 4 & 5, 2018

May 11 & 12, 2018

music

music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Arts Commons Presents

Embark on a passionate journey into the fiery, exotic world of flamenco with this stunning display of emotion, sound, and colour. The raw energy and rhythms of professional dancers from the acclaimed Campania Azul are dynamically paired with symphonic arrangements, creating an exciting union of movement and orchestra.

Born and raised in the windy city of Chicago, Toronzo Cannon’s music is inspired by his life driving a bus on the West side by day, and performing live in the blues clubs at night. Singer and songwriter, guitarist and storyteller, his electrifying music ranges from soulful ballads to swinging shuffles and searing blues anthems.

Fandango: Sizzling Flamenco

where

PCL Blues: Toronzo Cannon

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

when 8pm tickets

Martha Cohen Theatre

when 8pm

calgaryphil.com

tickets

artscommons.ca

May 4 – June 29, 2018

May 14, 2018

visual and media arts

art party

Arts Commons Presents

Arts Commons Presents

Rachel Zwambag creates an intimate space where stories are told, dreams are formed, and curiosity is explored, which she uses to make believe and tell ambiguous narratives. She indulges in magic and makes something out of nothing like a potion or an imaginary friend.

At these visual and media art receptions, you will see new work, meet local artists, mingle with fellow art lovers, and engage in FREE and fun arts activities, all in an open, social atmosphere. Bring your friends!

Magic Girl

where

Happenings 12

where

Lightbox Studio

when

Always open artscommons.ca

info

Arts Commons,

Mezzanine Level & +15 Walkway

when 6-9pm

artscommons.ca

info

May 11 & 12, 2018

May 15 – 19, 2018

music

theatre

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Downstage

Mozart’s dark and impassioned Piano Concerto No. 20 helped inspire the turbulent music of oncoming Romanticism’s greatest figure – Beethoven. Fast forward a century and we come to Bruckner, whose hero was another enfant terrible – Richard Wagner – in whose memory the massive, broad-sweeping, and brass-laden Symphony No. 7 was written.

Downstage proudly presents the Tiny Bear Jaws production of this hilarious drama, written and performed by Elena Belyea. Your teacher, Miss Katelyn, knows the world is a dangerous place and her life-saving lesson is about to begin.

Mozart & Bruckner

where

Miss Katelyn's Grade Threes Prepare for the Inevitable

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 8pm tickets

Motel Theatre

when tickets

Show times vary downstage.ca

calgaryphil.com

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

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

27

May 18, 2018

May 23, 2018

comedy

theatre

Just For Laughs

Calgary International Children's Festival

Jimmy Carr

Mistatim

A man who has devoted his life to crafting perfect jokes and has left a trail of laughter in his wake, Jimmy Carr’s new tour will distil everything we love to laugh at and be shocked by into one incredible, unparalleled night of entertainment.

Though only a simple wooden fence separates Calvin on his ranch and Speck on her reservation, they may as well live an ocean apart – that is, until a wild horse named Mistatim turns their worlds upside down.

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 7pm tickets

where

Max Bell Theatre

when tickets

10:15am & 12:30pm calgarykidsfest.ca

artscommons.ca

May 19, 2018 fundraiser

May 23 – 25, 2018 theatre

Calgary International Children's Festival

Get Amped Accessories

Amped Up!

The Path of Dreams/Le sentier des rêves

From the people who brought you Amped Accessories, and with the support of the Sheraton Hotels, we bring you Amped Up!, a great evening of action-packed entertainment from three of Rupaul's Drag Race Top Favorites: Farrah Moan, Detox, and Ongina!

Cultures connect in The Path of Dreams, the story of a young Innu boy who plunges into the dream-world in search of his grandmother’s lost necklace. There he finds himself in the strange world of the Oni in 7th century Japan and meets a little girl with a very special destiny.

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall Lobby

when 10pm tickets

artscommons.ca

where

Martha Cohen Theatre

when tickets

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

May 23, 2018

May 23 – 26, 2018

fundraiser

theatre

Calgary International Children's Festival

Calgary International Children's Festival

Let your inner child mingle with your outer adult at the exclusive Kidsfest After Hours.

Starting with a creative cocktail gathering, guests can snap up a stuffed balloon prize at the raffle, or try their hand at a unique ‘experience’ inspired silent auction.

Bernie is a boisterous puppy who loves to play, and when he’s separated from his elderly owner, he finds himself suddenly alone.

Explore the world through the eyes of a dog looking for his place within it as he learns about love, loss, and the happiness of finding a perfect home.

Kidsfest After Hours

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall Lobby

when 6pm tickets

calgarykidsfest.ca

New Owner

where

Stage Door Theatre

when tickets

may 28

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

May 23 – 26, 2018

May 24, 2018

dance

music

Calgary International Children's Festival

Calgary International Children's Festival

A baby bug suddenly finds himself a long way from home. Who can he trust to help him find his way back? This interactive show encourages kids to help little buggy navigate the big wide world.

Energetic and powerful, Uzume Taiko combines traditional Japanese taiko drumming with a uniquely theatrical blend of dance and storytelling. Based out of Vancouver, Uzume Taiko has brought their performance to audiences around the globe and close to home, garnering rave reviews worldwide.

Big Buggy World

where

Uzume Taiko

Motel Theatre

when tickets

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when

May 23 – 26, 2018

10:15am & 12:30pm calgarykidsfest.ca

tickets

theatre

Calgary International Children's Festival

May 24 – 26, 2018

Thumbelina/Tommelise

Born in the heart of a mysterious flower, Thumbelina is thrust into a colossal world of peril and adventure, and within it all she finds the strength and courage to fly off on her own. Thumbelina combines puppetry, dance, and music in the enormous world of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale. where

theatre

Calgary International Children's Festival

The Rainbow Fish

Using innovative puppetry and black light effects, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia brings children's classics to life through breathtaking visuals. This is an adaptation of the award-winning story The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister.

Big Secret Theatre

when tickets

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

where

Max Bell Theatre

when tickets

May 23 – 26, 2018 theatre

May 25 – 26, 2018

Calgary International Children's Festival

The Bookbinder

music

Calgary International Children's Festival

The award-winning company Trick of the Light Theatre weaves storytelling, shadow play, and puppetry together to tell the enthralling and sometimes eerie tale of The Bookbinder. where

The Okee Dokee Brothers

Saddle up and embark on an adventure through music with GRAMMY® Award winning musical group The Okee Dokee Brothers. This four-time Parents’ Choice Award winning duo has been called “two of family music’s best songwriters,” garnering praise from publications including the Huffington Post to USA Today.

Engineered Air Theatre

when tickets

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when tickets

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

29

May 26, 2018

June 1 – August 31, 2018

theatre

visual and media arts

Calgary International Children's Festival

Arts Commons Presents

Doktor Kaboom!

It's Just Rocket Science

In Still Time

The Treaty 7 Film Collection, run by four women of colour, is dedicated to uplifting the stories of local filmmakers from minority communities. The grassroots initiative will be sharing videos centred around identity, empowerment, and collaboration.

The (slightly) mad, scientifically ingenious Doktor Kaboom is back by popular demand for more wacky science…Kaboom style!

Learn about the physics of space exploration with a hearty dose of laughs, audience participation, and a DIY hovercraft! You won’t want to miss Doktor Kaboom!

4pm calgarykidsfest.ca

June 1 – August 24, 2018 visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

Smoke Show

Using beauty to veil subversive intent, Dana Buzzee's Smoke Show manifests a narrative about queer femme identity, nature, survival, fortification, protection, and the desire for a community of like-minded thinkers through the use of domestic handicrafts.

The Ledge Gallery

where

info

info

Studio times vary artscommons.ca

©Blake Chorley

tickets

when

when

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where when

where

Broadcast Lab

Always open artscommons.ca

June 1 & 2, 2018 music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Take Flight: The Firebird & Cantus Arcticus Timing, elegance, humour – qualities that make Mozart’s “simple” music perhaps the most difficult of all to play – are the same qualities that Israeli-born Sharon Kam imbues into every note. Widely regarded as one of the leading solo clarinetists in the world today, Ms. Kam joins the Orchestra. where when

tickets

Jack Singer Concert Hall

8pm calgaryphil.com

June 1 – August 24, 2018

June 4, 2018

visual and media arts

music

Arts Commons Presents

Arts Commons Presents

Arts Commons Presents showcases three unique exhibits in the Window Galleries this June 1 – August 24, 2018 from artists Blake Chorley, Brittany Nickerson, and Susanne Aaltonen, that showcase the beauty of the Canadian wilds and unique moments from rescued antique and family photos.

A gypsy jazz band with French influences hailing from Colombia – there’s a reason Monsieur Periné is seen as a breath of fresh air for the Latin music scene. Known for their colourful costumes and theatrical performances, the band is leading a new, progressive movement from Latin America, boosted by a 2015 Latin GRAMMY® win for Best New Artist.

Seven, The Shadow & The Trance, and Dear Aino

Window Galleries

where when info

Always open artscommons.ca

BD&P World Music: Monsieur Periné

where when

tickets

may/june 30

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

Jack Singer Concert Hall

7:30pm artscommons.ca

June 8 & 9, 2018

June 21, 2018

music

producing and engagement

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Arts Commons Presents, Sled Island, IRIM, & Drum Beat

If It Ain't Got That Swing!

National Aboriginal Day

Inspired by Harlem’s iconic musical hot spot, The Cotton Club, this swingin’ night of sensations highlights the era when Duke Ellington’s orchestra was the hottest band in New York, accompanying the iconic vocals of Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ethel Waters. where when

tickets

Celebrate National Aboriginal Day with a ton of FREE events right here at Arts Commons: workshops, films, performances, and a mini pow wow! where when

Jack Singer Concert Hall

info

10am to 7pm artscommons.ca

June 22, 2018 speaker series

TEDxYYC

TEDxYYC

music

Calgary Civic Symphony

Over the last eight years, TEDxYYC has welcomed an impressive list of the world’s brightest minds, representing all that is new and inspiring in the fields of Technology, Entertainment and Design. As Calgary’s largest and most well-attended independently-organized TED event, TEDxYYC is geared to bring the very best to our stage for its ninth year.

Civic Symphony: Rising Stars Fasten your seatbelts for Short Ride in a Fast Machine, 4½ minutes of the most adrenalinepacked “pedal to the metal” music in the repertoire! The Calgary Civic Symphony continues its commitment to encouraging the best of young Alberta talent as it presents the winners of the C3 Competition.

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

2:30pm tickets artscommons.ca when

Centre Court

8pm calgaryphil.com

June 10, 2018

where

when

tickets

Jack Singer Concert Hall

1pm tedxyyc.ca

July 6 – August 27, 2018

June 15 & 16, 2018

visual and media arts

music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Arts Commons Presents

Ode to Joy

The Water Collector

In 1989, to mark the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Leonard Bernstein conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, changing the word Joy (“Freude”) to Freedom (“Freiheit”). No other work could so greatly encompass all of humanity’s struggles to live freely and joyfully. It is introduced by his First Symphony, the endeavour which began Beethoven’s eternal, unsurpassed symphonic legacy.

the Lightbox Studio is going to become a temporary laboratory for the collection and experimentation of water. During this period, artist Lane Shordee will be plotting out regular trips to different locations that are part of Calgary’s watershed. The database of samples will help build a picture of water in Calgary.

where when

tickets

where when

Jack Singer Concert Hall

info

Lightbox Studio

Studio times vary artscommons.ca

8pm calgaryphil.com

june/july

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

31

August 10, 2018 music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra 26 September 2018 / 7:30PM Jack Singer Concert Hall

Live Nation

Ry Cooder Ry Cooder is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film score composer best known for his unparalleled skill on the slide guitar. Cooder has been the recipient of six GRAMMY® Awards including Best World Music Album, Best Pop Instrumental Album, and the 1997 Best Tropical Latin Performance GRAMMY® for his work producing the classic album Buena Vista Social Club.

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where when

8pm

tickets

artscommons.ca

August 10, 2018 circus show

Calgary Downtown Association and Arts Commons Presents

Truck Stop by Machine de Cirque In this outdoor circus, a motley crew of campers in search of adventure hitch up their trailer and set out across the American continent. The electrifying Machine de Cirque take you on a coast-to-coast tour in under an hour with high-flying acrobatics, music, and a healthy dose of hilarity.

Municipal Plaza

where when info

5pm & 8pm artscommons.ca

August 13, 2018 art party

Arts Commons Presents

Happenings 13

At these visual and media art receptions, you will see new work, meet local artists, mingle with fellow art lovers, and engage in FREE and fun arts activities, all in an open social atmosphere. Bring your friends!

tickets

Subscribers receive early access. Add this and other hot ticket concerts to your subscription order today!

Subscriptions start at $100.

Call 403.571.0849 to order.

6-9pm artscommons.ca

august 32

Renée Fleming

Arts Commons, various locations

where when

An Evening with

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

calgaryphil.com

Join today! 403-294-7455 ext.1465 artscommons.ca/founderscircle

Become a member of Founders Circle and discover exceptional benefits and exclusive offers.

We believe the arts inspire innovative communities Imperial supports Arts Commons’ Happenings, the celebration of the visual and media arts. Visit imperialoil.ca/arts to learn more.

5 5

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

Become a member of Founders Circle

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

Become Become a a member member of of Founders Founders Circle Circle and discover exceptional benefits and and discover exceptional benefits and Join today!

Join today! exclusive offers.

403-294-7455 ext.

1465 ora member exclusive offers.

Become ofext.

Founders Circle 403-294-7455 1465 or

Become a member of Founders Circle artscommons.ca/founderscircle and discover exceptional benefits and artscommons.ca/founderscircle and discover exceptional benefits and Join today!

403-294-7455 ext.

1441 403-294-7455 ext.1465 exclusive offers, all while helping us ext.1465 Join 403-294-7455 exclusive offers, all while helping us today! artscommons.ca/founderscircle FOUNDERS CIRCLE GENEROUSLY share the transformative power of the artscommons.ca/founderscircle share the transformative power of the SUPPORTED BY FOUNDERS GENEROUSLY arts withCIRCLE many more in our community. arts with many more in our community.

SUPPORTED BY

All photos ©Will Young

All photos © Will Young

photos © Will Young Join Alltoday!

Join today!

403-294-7455 ext. 1465 or 403-294-7455 ext. 1465 or All photos © Will Young artscommons.ca/founderscircle

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons artscommons.ca/founderscircle

FOUNDERS CIRCLE GENEROUSLY

FOUNDERS CIRCLE GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

33

EVENT SPACES INFUSED WITH THE ARTS Book one of our venues today! artscommons.ca/yourevent 34

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

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 2018. All rights reserved.

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

35

36

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

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 CBNCS Arts Commons ad 7.25x2 v3.indd 1

Proud supplier of Arts Commons

12:46 PM Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts2016-11-07 Commons 37

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

ALSA Road Construction Ltd. Supporting Sponsor,

Founders Circle

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

BD&P World Music and TD Jazz

CBC Media Sponsor

Arts Commons Endowment Fund through the Calgary Foundation

CTV Media Sponsor

Big Rock Brewery Inc. Official Brewery

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

Calgary Herald Media Sponsor

LEGACY BUILDER MEMBERS

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

Great Events Catering Sponsor, VIP Receptions, TD Jazz

CBN Commercial Solutions Official Printer

Hotel Arts Sponsor, VIP Receptions,

Calgary Foundation Partner, Community Accessibility Initiative Cenovus Energy Inc. Student Engagement Sponsor,

National Geographic Live

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

National Geographic Live

Pattison Outdoor Media Sponsor

Community Foundations of Canada & Calgary Foundation Partners, Visual and Media Arts

Teatro Sponsor, Founders Circle

ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.

Naming Sponsor,

GOVERNMENT

ConocoPhillips Hub For Inspired Learning Presenting Sponsor, National Geographic Live

Government of Canada through the Departments of Canadian Heritage, Employment and Social Development Canada, and Service Canada

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

Government of Alberta through the Department of Culture and Tourism, and Alberta Foundation for the Arts

Keyera Corp.

Sponsor, EXPLORE National Geographic PCL Construction Management Inc. Title Sponsor, PCL Blues Repsol Oil & Gas Canada Inc. Sponsor, EXPLORE National Geographic Royal Bank of Canada Series Presenting Sponsor,

National Geographic Live

Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals Inc.

Sponsor, EXPLORE National Geographic

SerVantage Services Inc. Supporting Sponsor, BD&P World Music

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, the Government of Alberta for a grant through the Community Facility Enhancement 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.

TD Bank Group Title Sponsorship, TD Jazz

Title Sponsorship, TD Arts Access Pass

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.

38

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

HONOURARY MEMBERS

Bob & Sue Benzen Betty & David Smith

PIONEER MEMBERS

Don Douglas & Betty Dunphy Douglas David & Roxanne Dunlop R. Scott Hutcheson Greg & Alexa Kudar Henry Sykes, QC & Molly Naber-Sykes Maureen Williams

VISIONARY MEMBERS

Anonymous Lesley Conway Greg Epton & Greg Robertson Ken Havard John McWilliams, QC & Susan McWilliams Brian Mills & Susan Tyrrell Randy & Luba Pettipas C.A. Siebens Roderick Villanueva & Jennifer Kingsbury Tharrie & Johann Zietsman

MEMBERS

Anonymous Colin & Wendy Anderson Leslie Biles & Robert Armstrong Carri Clarke Norm & Colleen Dickson Patricia Dalk & Terry Burton Leslie & Joe Dort Vonny & Liz Frazer-Fast Jane Golubev & Igor Tesker Brian & Annette Hester Wes Jenkins Jennifer Johnson & Trev Habekost Arun & Roopa Lakra Nicole Latimer & David Gustafson M. Ann McCaig Rodney & Karen McCann James & Janice Morton Chadwick & Jillian Newcombe Joe & Judy Osinski Dr. Jeremy Quickfall Stuart & Vicki Reid Holly Schile & David Nielsen Alane Smith Marg Southern Daryl & Cindy Stepanic Shone Thistle & Heather Shaw

Explorers Circle

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

ENGAGEMENT SPONSORS Doug Flaig & Helen Timmons, Social By Nature with wildlife photographer Ronan Donovan Bob & Sue Benzen, A Planet To Call Home with planetary geologist Dr. Ellen Stofan Michel Bourque & Bryan Clarke, Wild Seas, Secret Shores with photographer Thomas Peschak Ken Havard & Rosalind Reid, Adventures Among Orangutans with photographer Tim Laman & anthropologist Cheryl Knott

MEMBERS Maureen Armitage & Shane Matthews Sandra & Simon Barker Cabra Consulting Ltd. Antony, Kathleen & Alexander Deakin 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 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 Mr. Daniel Mills at 403-294-7455, extension 1441, or dmills@artscommons.ca.

WRITTEN BY SHONE THISTLE

I

’m inspired by those who engage in the constant pursuit of excellence.

Athletes do it, artists do it, and, as Albertans know, craft brewers do it too.

Olympic bid controversy aside, I’m a fan of the Olympics, I have stellar tickets to OK Go’s Live Video Tour (visiting Arts Commons this fall!), and, like most Calgarians, when the last snow has melted, I’ll plant myself on a patio and raise a glass of my new favourite brew of choice: Big Rock pear cider with a slice of lime.

Watching athletes achieve extreme heights during the recent Olympics made me think about the countless hours they practice just to push themselves that millisecond faster. I can only imagine how many times internet sensation OK Go band members fell off those treadmills before getting the perfect take for Here It Goes Again, now topping over 41 million views. Similarly, lawyer, farmer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Ed McNally drew upon a lifetime of striving when he founded Alberta’s craft-brewing big brother, Big Rock Brewery.

A man committed to excellence, Ed said, “to create a masterpiece, no compromise can be tolerated.”

Friends and family of Ed say that in creating Big Rock Brewery, Ed brought together his love of art, his sense of taste, and his ability to connect the right minds to the right project at the right time. In 1984, as Calgary reeled in the aftermath of yet another bust, and when many of his contemporaries were retiring, Ed found himself thirsty for something other than the average lager. So, at 65 years young, Ed called on the support of his friends, Otto Leverkus, Cameron Millikin, Bob Hartley, Jim Fair, and Tim Sicks, Right: Ed McNally

to invest in a building he could buy at below cost, picked up equipment that some say no one else would use, and launched Big Rock Brewery – continuing his lifelong pursuit of excellence.

Owning a brewery had been Ed’s boyhood dream and it took a lifetime of business experience, the serendipity of representing barley farmers who inspired him to try his own hand at farming, and the confidence to hear out folks who said the project was too risky before he chose to do it anyway. Eleven years after launching the brewery, Ed was named Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young. Later, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Calgary, and in 2005 he was awarded the Order of Canada.

Just as Max Parrot didn’t start his Olympic snowboarding career with a cab 180 quadruple backflip, and OK Go’s first music videos were not the multimillion viewed one-take-wonders they are today, Ed’s first brew wasn’t available for sale across Canada. But lucky for us, Max Parrot kept at it long enough to take the podium in PyeongChang, OK Go continues to redefine the world of music videos, and Ed’s Big Rock Brewery has become a local-turned-national success story.

Spring/ Summer 2018 Arts Commons

39

Free music lessons for Canadians WRITTEN BY AARON CHATHA

The world’s many cultures may not speak the same language – but everyone can appreciate a good tune.

Since the initiative launched in January, Kleinmann said the positive reaction has exceeded their expectations.

Expand your own musical literacy thanks to a partnership between the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and web-based music platform Meludia. As a gift to Canadians throughout 2018, the Meludia app is completely free of charge to anyone hoping to learn music in an intuitive way.

The Meludia web-app runs you through 625 interactive music-learning exercises.

Instead of teaching specific chords, it starts with basic exercises like identifying if a set of keys are rising or falling, or what emotions certain notes are meant to illicit.

“Music has a profound impact on learning,” said Meludia co-founder Kevin Kleinmann.

“The earlier we are introduced to it, the more profound that impact will be. A child’s emotional perception is above all sensory and that is why the Meludia music app is ideal for them, as it is based on developing an emotional connection to sound.”

Top: Screenshots from Meludia's browser-based application.

Opposite: Meludia's iphone app.

40 Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2018

At its most advanced levels, which Kleinmann said are geared toward professional musicians, Meludia plays a set of notes and asks you to play them back after listening, to better train the ear to pick up melody.

“Meludia is the future of music literacy development,” said Calgary Philharmonic music director Rune Bergman. “People might ask why the Calgary Philharmonic is involved with music education; it’s because in order for an Orchestra to be relevant today and have a future audience, we need to not only be developing how we perform but also how we help our audience understand the music.”

–– Access Meludia free at meludia.com.

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:

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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 .

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August 10 2018 ,

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