Arts Commons Magazine - Spring/Summer 2016 | #3

Using circus to transcend poverty p.4 | Sinners and saints at Arts Commons p.10 Taking kids beyond the screen p.12 | Inside theatre seat design p.16 | Your guide to Kidsfest p.23

M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G /S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 | #03

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue TUESDAY SEP 27 2016

Dee Dee Bridgewater with Theo Croker

THURSDAY NOV 17 201 6

Dianne Reeves

THURSDAY FEB 23 201 7

Bobby McFerrin

THURSDAY APR 27 201 7

Jack Singer Concert Hall | Show 7:30 pm

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LETTER FROM JOHANN

O

ver the past year, Arts Commons and our resident companies have created opportunities for more than 53,000 students to experience the transformative magic of the arts. That is more than 200 students EVERY school day!

We do this because we are inspired by the moment a student’s imagination connects with a sound, a sight, a word, a song, a dance, a work of art, or a story – and to see their eyes light up at the discovery of something full of wonder. We know that these experiences often change lives, because students, parents, and teachers have all shared their stories with us.

We never know when this is going to happen. When that spark will be ignited. When the next Einstein, Michelangelo, or Steve Jobs is inspired – but we DO know that exposing the next generation to these moments of creative experiences WILL change their futures. They will learn how to think creatively, how to be curious about the other, how to look at possibilities, and how to see others with compassion. They will become the kinds of human beings our future needs. And they will also simply have a great time while they are here!

Arts Commons Presents, Alberta Theatre Projects, the Calgary International Children’s Festival, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Downstage, One Yellow Rabbit, and Theatre Calgary, join in our collective commitment to collaborate with our education professionals and parents to prepare the next generation. This issue covers some of the ways in which we carry out this very enjoyable responsibility.

While we are very passionate about our kids, we are also passionate about your comfort.

During the summer we will install new seats in the Max Bell, Martha Cohen, Motel and Engineered Air Theatres, with the Jack Singer Concert Hall following in the summer of 2017.

This will enhance your experiences here for the next 30 years, and we can’t wait for you to test our improved spaces this fall!

In addition to our seven resident companies, we also provide a home for more than 300 community groups, artists, and companies each year. One such partner is Fire Exit Theatre, whose new production Shadowlands is featured in this edition. This is an example of a partnership of over a decade that we cherish – as we do so many others. At your Arts Commons, you will find a great diversity of experiences on offer – some even for free – and your presence is what it is all about. Being Calgary's official “Year of Music,” we will join many in our city to ensure the year starts and ends on a high note.

We know many are going through a tough time, and we thank you for your continued support – this enables us to provide quality experiences that will brighten your lives as we ride this out together.

Johann F. Zietsman President & CEO, Arts Commons

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Documentary filmmaker Susan Gray captures the story of circus troupes battling poverty on opposite sides of the globe.

What’s new and notable this spring and summer at Arts Commons.

Circus Without Borders

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Yes, Yes, Y'all A glimpse into next season’s music offerings, bringing more fun, funk, and happy at a time when we need it the most.

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Sinners & Saints A unique partnership between two theatre companies tells the unlikely love story between C.S. Lewis and Joy Gresham.

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Beyond the Screen

What’s on at Arts Commons

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A Sense of Belonging Volunteering, donating, and effecting change, Rod Vilanueva has been a proud supporter of the arts for over ten years.

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Year of Music We asked YOU what your favourite music memory in Arts Commons was, in honour of 2016’s Year of Music.

37 Map

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

Reminiscing on summer days without iPads, and finding environments for kids that inspire creativity.

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Deep-Seated Design Dive into the DNA of theatre spaces and find out the complex process of choosing which chair to sit in.

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 Spring/Summer 2016

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contributors

TASHA KOMERY Editor-In-Chief

ALEX BONYUN (maternity leave) Managing Editor

RICHARD LAM Managing Editor

Rhys Dowbiggin Rhys has worked six years in the public relations industry rubbing shoulders with anyone from movie stars (who ignored him), athletes (who tolerated him), to fashion designers (who dressed better). He is the co-founder and publisher of Not The Public Broadcaster, a culture website.

KAIJA DIRKSON Creative Manager / Graphic Design

ERIN BELTON Graphic Design

CONTRIBUTORS Rhys Dowbiggin, Tasha Komery, Stephen Hunt, Hilary Angrove, Saskia Knight, Richard Lam 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

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

Stephen Hunt Former Calgary Herald reporter and theatre critic Stephen Hunt has relaunched his career as a freelancer writer for a variety of outlets, including The Stage in the UK and Arts Commons Magazine. He currently teaches playwriting at UBC’s optional residency program as part of their MFA in Creative Writing. stephenbhunt@gmail.com or follow on Twitter @halfstep.

Hilary Angrove Hilary Angrove was born in Calgary, went to school in Montreal, lived abroad, and made it full circle back home. When she’s not working as Digital Content Coordinator at Arts Commons, she’s either exploring every available outdoor activity or tending to her obsessive love of podcasts.

© 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 Order of Canada member, JUNO award-winner, and national music icon for a quarter-century, Fred Penner has obtained a truly universal appeal across generations, where today’s parents can relive “The Cat Came Back” with their kids at this year’s Calgary Kidsfest. Learn more on page 23.

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iolence. Poverty. Depression.

These tremendously subversive forces shape the people and places they touch.

Circus Without Borders documents the inspiring story of Yamoussa Bangoura and Guillaume Saladin, two best friends and world-class acrobats from remote corners of the globe: Guinea, West Africa and Nunavut, Canada. The pair met while working on Cirque Éloize in Montreal and shared with each other a dream: to bring hope and change to their struggling communities through the art of circus. They independently formed their own troupes: Kalabante and Artcirq, respectively.

Filmmaker Susan Gray, who is based in Boston, learned of the story of Artcirq from a Winnipeg-born intern at the Boston Globe. This led Gray to seek out and meet Guillaume and Yamoussa. An independent film project was born. The film itself took 7 years to produce.

The original plan was for Gray and her team to accompany Guillaume’s Artcirq troupe to Guinea for a ‘circus exchange’. But, says Gray, “As luck would have it, it was the first election in Guinea in 23 years and the losers

were really unhappy they lost. There was gunfire on every street corner. The Artcirq [couldn’t] get into the country.”

The more time Gray spent with Yamoussa and Guillame, the more she realized how remarkable they truly were. For Guillaume, he spent summers as a boy in Nunavut because his father was an anthropologist.

As an adult, despite success on the world stage, he chose to make his home there and give back to his community. Yamoussa’s case is much the same. “A lot of times when people have success leaving Africa, they become big-shot superstars, really rich — and never come back,” says Gray. “Yamoussa was all about going back (to Guinea) and bringing more people over.”

Gray and her film crew, however, could.

They arrived and began filming Yamoussa’s troupe and realized, “These are some of the best acrobats in the world.”

The film continues to follow the troupes’ respective stories. Artcirq struggles to reconcile their cultural heritage and also grapple with the loss of a troupe mate. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Kalabante acrobats earn the opportunity of a lifetime to work in Montreal with the world-renowned human-and-horse production Cavalia.

In most parts of the world, the human condition is considerably fragile. Communities are shaped over years by forces greater than what can be controlled. Circus Without Borders reminds us that something healthier and more hopeful can result, if given time.

We only need individuals like Yamoussa and Guillaume to inspire us to take action, to follow our passions, to have faith in ourselves, and to never give up.

Much of the story has a bigger, anthropological scope. Seemingly small moments reverberate beyond their borders. For instance, when Yamoussa brings a group of seven acrobats from his troupe to Montreal, the confused manner in which one acrobat contorts his arm to turn the door lock reveals just how foreign an experience it is (the same acrobat thereafter uses his wages to purchase a new door and lock for his parents in Guinea). The skilled acrobats are rendered curious children by the simplicity of things we take for granted in the Western world.

~ Circus Without Borders is screening on June 9 as part of Arts Commons Presents Art!Flicks.

Arts Commons Presents

who what

Art!Flicks: Film Series Circus Without Borders

June 9, 2016

when

where

Engineered Air Theatre

403-294-9494 artscommons.ca tickets

Left to right: Kalabante members practicing in Conakry | Yamoussa Bangoura (L), founder of Kalabante; and Guillaume Saladin, founder of Artcirq ©Michele McDonald | Members of Artcirq ©Michele McDonald

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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.

速

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

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

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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

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BUILDINGS

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CIVIL

INFRASTRUCTURE

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SPECIAL

PROJECTS

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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

Spring/ Summer 2016 Arts Commons

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YES, YES, Y’ALL WRITTEN BY TASHA KOMERY

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

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t’s confirmed. The Year of Music is upon us. In April, Arts Commons Presents announced their new season lineup and as much as I love summer, I can’t wait for fall when the shows begin!

2016-17 brings more fun, funk, and happy than we’ve ever seen, and luckily at a time when we need it the most.

The season kicks off with a BD&P World Music Special Presentation, featuring the legendary Mavis Staples, performing songs from her new album, Livin’ on a High Note.

Crowned one of Rolling Stone’s “100 greatest singers of all time,” Staples was the musical and spiritual voice of the civil rights movement, with a solid career of hits ever since.

This is one for the bucket list, so be sure not to miss out.

Expanding to five shows, the BD&P World Music series regular season begins with Ludovico Einaudi, a contemporary classical pianist famous for his ethereal soundtracks.

Rokia Traoré is a singer/songwriter and guitarist, whose beauty is only surpassed by her unique breathy voice, blending the sounds of her native Mali with almost every musical genre. Australian Aboriginal arts super-group, Black Arm Band, will perform as part of One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo. Jake Shimabukuro, named “one of the hottest axemen of the past few years who doesn’t actually play guitar,”

by Rolling Stone Magazine, delights us with his ukulele, playing a mix of island sound, anthem rock, and pop. The BD&P World Music season wraps up with a celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, featuring Michael Kaeshammer’s fun, boogie-woogie piano party.

channels Janis Joplin; Martin Harley, slide guitarist and vocalist from the UK (but certain to have had a previous life in the deep south); Jack Broadbent, the longhaired, former street artist influenced by

TD Jazz brings four critically acclaimed and award-winning artists. Once part of Lenny Kravitz’s horn section, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, blends hip hop, soul, and spoken word with a powerful brass

"2016-17 brings more fun, funk, and happy than we’ve ever seen, and luckily at a time when we need it the most." performance. Three-time Grammy winner, Dee Dee Bridgewater is a character, known not only for her powerful voice, her unique spin on jazz classics, and her breadth of talent (she also acts and is a UN Ambassador), but also for her collection of funky eyeglasses and her tireless performance style.

She will be joined by trumpet innovator, Theo Croker. Next up is five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves, showcasing her oldschool scat stylings and delighting us with her Beautiful Life album. The season wraps with Bobby McFerrin. Known for “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” this 10-time Grammy Award winner is internationally acclaimed as a vocal improviser, a symphony conductor, and dubbed the “godfather of Beat Box.”

the likes of John Lee Hooker and Jimi Hendrix, with shades of Canned Heat; and lastly, Popa Chubby, the Bronx-raised, tattooed, electric guitar playing singer/ songwriter, with a serious mission to keep the blues dangerous.

So, tough times may be upon us, but if you need a little pick-me-up, this season of Arts Commons Presents will be certain to put a smile on your face, carry your worries away, and might even have you dancing your way to happy.

The Blues series continues to bring diversity and range. There is no single kind of Blues, after all. This coming season features Reverend Peyton, without his Big Damn Band, inviting us onto his front porch for his unique take on the Delta Blues; the powerful and honest, Eric Bibb performing with Michael Jerome Brown; Angel Forrest, the fiery French-Canadian vocalist that

Arts Commons Presents

who what when

2016-17 Season

Tickets on sale June 1

where

Venues vary

403-294-9494 artscommons.ca tickets

Opposite page left to right: Trombone Shorty. Rokia Traoré © Frank Socha.

Reverend Peyton. Eric Bibb. Mavis Staples. Jake Shimabukuro. Theo Croker.

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WRITTEN BY STEPHEN HUNT

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

FIRE EXIT THEATRE TEAMS UP WITH HIT & MYTH PRODUCTIONS TO BRING SHADOWLANDS TO THE STAGE

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hey aren’t as high profile as some of the resident companies, but Fire Exit Theatre is a longstanding member of the Arts Commons community and Calgary’s arts groups.

When Lieske caught wind of this, she suggested teaming up on a co-production.

Cochrane agreed, not only to producing but also performing the lead role of C.S. Lewis, a famous writer, lifelong bachelor, and university professor who’s married to his habits, until Gresham arrives in his life and turns it upside down.

The company - created by artistic director Val Lieske (using the severance she received when her bank job ended) - has been producing faith-based dramas at the Engineered Air Theatre for 13 years now.

“We’re calling it the sinners and saints,” Lieske says, “and you can guess which one we are.”

As the company prepares to launch season 14 with a large (11 cast members), ambitious co-production (with Hit & Myth Productions) of Shadowlands, Lieske says she thinks of Fire Exit a little differently these days.

“We’re calling it the sinners and saints,” Lieske says, “and you can guess which one we are.”

For director Barrett Hillerman, Shadowlands’ appeal lies in its exploration of the unpredictable nature of love.”

“Love isn’t always convenient,” Hillerman says. “It surprises you and it sneaks up on you in ways you couldn’t plan.”

“It’s taken us a really long time to build a stable donor base, a patron base,” she says.

“I (like to) say I’m very much not dependent on government grants. We’ve never worked a casino. We just got our charity status last year, and we have survived and thrived (for 13 years) off of pure ticket sales and donations.”

“That’s part of the universality of the story,” he adds, “and also the intrigue and the exciting part too.”

For Lieske, who may not have made the most economically shrewd use of her bank severance all those years ago, Shadowlands represents the next chapter in one of Calgary’s many unlikely arts success stories.

“Last year,” she adds, “was the first season that I was able to draw a small salary.

I worked for free for 13 years and I was (also) extraordinarily blessed.”

“I want (Fire Exit) to be a place where artists can come,” she adds, “wherever they are on their journey - and just feel as if it’s a safe place to explore their art and their faith.”

For Shadowlands - playwright William Nicholson’s exploration of the unlikely love affair between novelist C.S. Lewis and American poet Joy Gresham - Lieske teams up with award-winning Calgary actor Joel Cochrane’s Hit & Myth Productions, better known for producing and acting in any number of funny - and frequently raunchy co-productions with Ryan Luhning’s Ground Zero Theatre.

Fire Exit Theatre and Hit & Myth Productions

who

what when

Shadowlands

where

It turns out that a couple of years ago, while working on a show with Theatre BSMT, Cochrane let slip to a colleague that he was a huge admirer of the writing of CS Lewis, the creator of the Narnia series.

May 12 - 22, 2016

Engineered Air Theatre

403-294-9494 artscommons.ca tickets

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WRITTEN BY HILARY ANGROVE

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or kids growing up pre-Netflix, back when the time we arrived home from school dictated what our favourite television shows were, we were left to our own devices. No, not iPad and iPhone devices, but creativity and imagination.

As an act to avoid boredom, our every space was transformed into an imaginary world. Today, imaginary worlds are easily accessible by way of a screen, but creative thinking is still an essential part of life. In our fast-paced world – where the average kid today will have seven careers in their lifetime – having environments that foster creativity are more important than ever.

This is not to say technology is not a remarkable tool for education and innovation. But because of the ease of these tools, we often sideline the importance of screen-free time.

Engaging in the arts helps cultivate physical dexterity, hones the ability to negotiate group dynamics, and fosters problem-solving skills (sans Google).

Growing up with working parents and no cable, I frequented environments structured for creativity: guitar lessons, dance class, drama camp, after-school art programs, you name it. It is often thought that the usefulness of creativity is limited to these activities—I am not a musician nor am I an actor—but exposure to the arts enriched my education to manoeuvre the ‘real-world.’

Luckily, our very own Calgary Board of Education and Catholic School Districts see the need for such creative learning, and partnered with Arts Commons last year for their Campus Calgary/Open Minds program. Now, children from across the city join us in the Hub for Inspired Learning - a space built to inspire - for an entire week of arts education beyond the four walls of their classroom.

Throughout the summer, similar programs are available at Arts Commons. As an exciting arts-infused learning experience for children ages 7-13, SummerACT is a great way to ensure some screen-free time. This musical theatre program offers a safe space for children to meet others, take risks in a controlled environment, and immerse themselves in creative discovery. It isn’t simply the subject matter that is important – though I can attest to its prowess. Rather, it is about the fostering of resourcefulness and confidence, giving kids a foundation of skills before they are needed.

And of course, there are year-round programs that show kids what the adults are up to.

Alberta Theatre Projects, Arts Commons Presents, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and Theatre Calgary all have events where they perform just for students and youth, often supplemented with talk-backs and educational context. Additionally, every May, the Calgary International Children’s Festival throws a block party just for kids! (see pg. 23 for more info).

Times have changed for me. I stopped practicing guitar once I reached high school and lacked the time for creative writing in University. But I now shamelessly brag about attending a once per week dance class, as I know the value and breadth it brings to my life. Arts education programs, similar to those above, enriched and still enrich my professional and personal development.

After all, it wasn’t without a little imagination that my sociology degree translated into a career in digital marketing. I credit these programs, and being forced to think outside the box (or outside of the screen), for contributing to who I am today.

SummerACT participants engaging in hands-on arts, musical theatre and dance, learning unique skills in safe environments structured for creativity.

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

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

www.bdplaw.com

WE KNOW HOW TO WARM UP A CROWD.

Photo by Carsten Peter

Warm up before the show with cocktails at Sandstone Lounge and complimentary, heated parking at Hyatt Regency Calgary.

112 Stephen Avenue at Hyatt Regency Calgary

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ARTS COMMONS EXPLORES THE WORLD OF CHAIR DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

WRITTEN BY RICHARD LAM

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ftentimes, when we go into a theatre, we are focused on the show in front of us, the detail of the production, the delivery of the lines. But the seats we sit in have also been through a quiet yet crucial set of considerations for our experience: Where is the armrest?

How curved is the seatback? How high does it go? How deep is the seat pan?

What is the tilt of the seat angle? Does it comply with the fire code? Are there cup holders? Where will they go? What will the diameter be? What fabric should be used?

What colour?

“The level of detail is remarkable,” explains Director of Facilities Wes Jenkins, who is a year into a massive project to replace the 3,000-plus seats in Arts Commons. “Each theatre has its own DNA…all of these elements play into what the design is going to be.”

As the seats in the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Max Bell Theatre, Martha Cohen Theatre, and Engineered Air Theatre near the end of their 30-year lifecycle, Jenkins and his team have been researching what options exist, in a surprising new world of chair design and technology. After all, if you compare the stiff movie theatre seats you sat in as a kid, to today's, you'll see how far we’ve come.

“We involved a theatrical planning consultant who has done seats for theatres around the world, who helped guide us in our selection, our bidding process, and finally our seat selection,” says Jenkins.

After seeing chairs from America, Columbia, China, Mexico, and Belgium, it was ultimately a Canadian vendor that won out.

“We’re very proud of that.”

With their readings and recommendations, a plan can be made as to how to refurbish existing chairs, or which types of chairs to replace them with to match the original acoustic signature.

With all of this information in hand, work can finally begin. Over the summer, the seats in the Max Bell, Martha Cohen, and Engineered Air Theatres will be replaced with new, meticulously custom-picked seats, chosen for each space’s unique characteristics. The Jack Singer will receive a similar treatment in the summer of 2017, making for other opportunities that can be tackled at the same time.

Another thing you may not have known: the seats can actually affect the sound of the theatre!

“This is a great chance to add handicapped seating where we can, make it more accessible, deal with awkward seat conditions, refresh the room, increase comfort, and add drink holders,” explains Jenkins.

“It’s improving the customer experience.”

Another thing you may not have known: the seats can actually affect the sound of the theatre! Every room has something called an ‘acoustic signature’. For a space like the Jack Singer Concert Hall, everything down to the type of wood and the padding of the seat foam contributes to the exquisite sound quality you hear.

So the next time you sit in a chair, think about where it came from. How it fits with the room you are in. Do you like it? Does it work? What design considerations must have been taken? When you think about it, there can be just as much to dissect in the art of a chair as the art on stage.

“We sent off 16 [original] chairs to Chicago to an acoustician and put them in an anaerobic chamber to test them,” says Jenkins.

AND WHAT OF THE OLD CHAIRS? Those that can still function will be made available in seat sales for community centres and home theatres for continued use, while those past their due will have their wood and metal parts recycled, as per our green policies.

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

The Calgary, September 1st – 4th, 2016 … at the Westin

erica’s IONA: Am B an d Pan-Celtic the Westin

8:30pm - T

Including: Seminars, displays, informal singing, Cinema Wales, Market-place and tearoom, Noson Lawen [Open mike for poetry, song etc], banquets, etc etc.

hursday at

Welsh Male

7:30pm – Sat

Voice Choir

urday at Kn

ox United

‘GYMANFA GANU’

Participate in ‘4-part harmony’ traditional hymn singing [up to 700 voices]

2:00pm and/or 7:00pm – Sunday at Knox United Church

For Festival program details go to www.nafow.org or check out calgarywelshsociety.com

See what’s possible with us at: UnicomGraphics.com McAra.com

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Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

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2016-02-22 10:17 AM

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)

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what’s on

March 9 – May 27, 2016 visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

Power and Gender A curated selection from artists Zac Slams, Melissa Skowron, Marzieh Mosavarzadeh and melinda topilko, whose works revolve around ideas of gender, identity, and power dynamics. where

Window Galleries

when

Always open artscommons.ca

info

April 26 – May 22, 2016 March 1 – May 30, 2016

theatre

Theatre Calgary

visual and media arts

The Light in the Piazza

Arts Commons Presents Gallery of Alberta Media Arts

It’s Italy, 1953. Margaret Johnson and her daughter Clara are touring the sundrenched squares of Florence when a gust of wind carries Clara’s hat to the feet of a handsome Tuscan man. A winner of six Tony Awards.

Wingman, A Woman Comes Into the Room, and M22. 079 Jadda Tsui, Heather Kai Smith, and Joel Hamilton present their short films that explore the medium by using animation, abstractions, and scratched film stock.

where when

Arts Commons

where when

artscommons.ca

music

Calgary Girls Choir

CELEBRATE!

visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

The Calgary Girls Choir is celebrating 20 years! This showcase of young girls and women age 4 and up is made up of five extraordinary choirs: Prima, Bella, Dolce, Viva, and Brava. Giving young women a voice, this performance will warm your heart and touch your soul.

A collaboration between Calgary artists Cassandra Paul and Nate McLeod, who will create paintings, sculptures, found objects, and video. The exhibition will continuously evolve, with new works being added every week to have an ongoing and changing installation.

Ledge Gallery

Always open artscommons.ca

may 20

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

© Sasha Foster

Faux-Naif

info

artscommons.ca

May 1, 2016

March 9 – May 27, 2016

when

Show times vary

tickets

Always open

tickets

where

Max Bell Theatre

where when info

Jack Singer Concert Hall

2pm artscommons.ca

May 2, 2016

May 5, 2016

free public program

lecture

Arts Commons Presents

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Life Drawing

From the Podium Lecture: Triple Threat: The Composer/Soloist/ Conductor, Then and Now

Join us for a completely unique drawing experience that gives you the chance to be inspired by the rich and detailed costumes of the stage. Each free session is themed around Theatre Calgary and Alberta Theatre Projects’ vast costume collection.

Pre-registration required. where when info

Many of the great composers – Mozart, Wagner, Liszt – were also renowned soloists and conductors in their own right.

Discover the overlapping roles of the musical greats and how modern artists are continuing the tradition.

The Hub

6:30pm artscommons.ca

where when

tickets

May 2 – August 31, 2016 Arts Commons Presents

music

Spectral Sound System

Arts Commons Presents

PCL Blues: Ray Bonneville

Artsist Michael Trommer creates a harmonic meshing of field recordings in busy districts of Toronto, Tokyo, Berlin, and Montreal. Spatial factors such as wind, humidity, and architecture contribute to the musical symbiosis between manufactured and natural environments. when

info

6:30pm calgaryphil.com

May 6 & 7, 2016

visual and media arts

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

Smooth caramel and gritty timbre comes together with this Juno-winning bluesman.

As a dedicated road warrior, Bonneville has honed his craft crisscrossing the world for the past 40 years – and he’s showing no signs of stopping.

+15 Soundscape

where

Always open artscommons.ca

when

tickets

Engineered Air Theatre

7:30pm artscommons.ca

May 4, 2016

May 6 & 7, 2016

music

music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Expect the unexpected as renowned Canadian poet/musician Sarah Slean joins Calgary’s bold chamber music provocateurs The Wild West New Music Ensemble for a performance of Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire.

Acclaimed violinist Karen Gomyo returns to the CPO bringing her fiery technical prowess and virtuosic finesse to Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Prokofiev’s challenging and heroic Symphony No. 5 showcases the composer at the height of his powers, and rounds out the evening triumphantly.

Calgary Phil Presents: Wild West New Music Ensemble Featuring Sarah Slean

where when

tickets

Prokofiev & Tchaikovsky with Karen Gomyo

Jack Singer Concert Hall

7:30pm

where

calgaryphil.com

when

tickets

may

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

Jack Singer Concert Hall

8pm calgaryphil.com

Spring/ Summer 2016 Arts Commons

21

May 10 – 15, 2016

May 13, 2016

dance

music

Wild Rose Dance Arts Association

Shantero Productions

WRDAA Competition

The WRDAA is a competition founded in 1983 that provides a safe atmosphere for dancers to compete and show their talents off to their fellow peers in a competitive and festival environment.

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

& Martha Cohen Theatre Show times vary tickets wildrosedancearts.com when

John McDermott – Traditionally Yours John McDermott is an international tripleplatinum star and household name. Featuring songs from his latest release, Traditionally Yours, as well as variety of audience favourites, this will be a delectable evening of story and song, delivered with charm and grace. where when

tickets

May 11 – 22, 2016

Jack Singer Concert Hall

7:30pm artscommons.ca

theatre

May 14, 2016

Fire Exit Theatre and Hit & Myth Productions

music

Shadowlands

C.S. Lewis is smug in his convictions about God and His plan for the world until Joy Davidson and her young son enter his life and the bewildered theoretician of abstract love finally confronts its direct presence.

How does he reconcile his belief in a benevolent God with pain and suffering?

Engineered Air Theatre

where when

tickets

Saturdays – 2:30pm, Sundays – 2pm fireexit.ca

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Mandolin Master Avi Avital Avi Avital, the world’s leading classical mandolinist, joins guest conductor Daniel Cohen in a showcase highlighting two of Israel’s brightest talents. Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, a 20th-century masterwork infused with jaunty Hungarian folk melodies, balances the evening providing a large and lively workout for the Orchestra. where when

May 12, 2016 music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Rush Hour: One Man, One Mandolin Mandolin sensation Grammy®-nominated Avi Avital is wowing audiences around the world with his jaw-dropping agility and versatile playing. This adventurous young Israeli star and Deutsche Grammophon recording artist takes stringed instrument mastery into another realm.

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

6:30pm tickets calgaryphil.com when

may 22

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

tickets

Jack Singer Concert Hall

8pm calgaryphil.com

May 19 – 21, 2016 dance

One Yellow Rabbit

beautifulyoungartist Ensemble Radiohead’s album Hail to the Thief is re-imagined through the bodies of 20 of Calgary’s most talented young artists – this is your bedroom dance party, and all your friends are invited. where when

tickets

Big Secret Theatre

8pm oyr.org

May 25 & 26, 2016

May 27 & 28, 2016

dance

music

Calgary International Children’s Festival

Calgary International Children’s Festival

Get ready for a fast-paced, breath-taking exhibition of acrobatics, martial arts, costume, and dance. Fusing Afro-Brasilian music and Capoeira dance, this high-energy group entertains and educates all ages.

This JUNO-nominated Treehouse TV duo return to Calgary with a fresh line-up of fun, educational, and upbeat tunes that will have parents and children alike dancing in the aisles.

Aché Brasil

where

Splash’N Boots

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

12:30pm tickets calgarykidsfest.ca when

when

Max Bell Theatre

Show times vary

tickets

calgarykidsfest.ca

May 25 & 26, 2016

May 25 – 28, 2016

music

theatre

Calgary International Children’s Festival

Calgary International Children’s Festival

Canadian music icon Fred Penner returns to Calgary with his hit The Cat Came Back and many more classic songs. One of the most beloved children’s entertainers of all time with 25 years of music mastery and multiple JUNO Awards.

Canada’s longest running play explores the joyous yet challenging experiences of Morgan the Clown as he experiences the ups and downs of childhood and growing up.

A powerful Canadian classic that will resonate with kids.

Fred Penner

where

Morgan’s Journey

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

Show times vary tickets calgarykidsfest.ca when

when

tickets

Engineered Air Theatre

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

May 25 – 28, 2016

May 25 – 28, 2016

dance

dance

Calgary International Children’s Festival

Calgary International Children’s Festival

Integrating classical ballet, jazz, Latin, and traditional East Indian dance, this colourful show uses four dancing zoo friends – precise peacock, sociable tropical bird, patient turtle, and demanding tiger – to tell the story of Alberta’s recent flood.

Celebrating the artistic expression of Tlingit culture, this energizing and beautiful performance inspires and educates with a powerful blend of dance, music, and storytelling, all while maintaining the utmost respect to ancestral art forms.

Zoo Dance

where

The Dakhkà Khwaàn Dancers

Motel Theatre

where

Show times vary tickets calgarykidsfest.ca when

may

when

tickets

Stage Door Theatre

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

Illustrations by Marin, Age 7

Spring/ Summer 2016 Arts Commons

23

May 25 – 27, 2016

May 27 & 28, 2016

theatre/puppetry

science

Calgary International Children’s Festival

Calgary International Children’s Festival

Montreal’s brilliant puppeteers re-imagine the classic Brothers Grimm story with new found humour, whimsy, and charm. Artfully executed puppetry, amusing characters, and a heartfelt underlying message. Also available in a French presentation.

Explore the nature of electricity with the (slightly) mad, scientifically ingenious Doktor Kaboom. With Tesla coils, Van de Graaff generators, and a ping pong shooting robot, Kaboom explains everything from voltage and current, to conservation of energy.

Under the Stars (Hansel and Gretel) / À la belle étoile (Hansel et Gretel)

Big Secret Theatre

where

Show times vary tickets calgarykidsfest.ca when

Doktor Kaboom: Live Wire! The Electricity Tour

where when

tickets

Jack Singer Concert Hall

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

May 25 – 28, 2016

May 29, 2016

theatre

dance

Calgary International Children’s Festival

Ultimate Dance Company Inc.

This heartfelt show explores the world of a young girl with a big imagination and her struggle to make social connections.

A play that teaches children about autism.

Also available in a French presentation.

Ultimate Dance Company’s annual year-end recital “showcase of Stars” is a wind-up to the dance season and demonstrates the talents of all the dancers and students in the studio.

Not open to the public.

Celestial Being / Extra-Céleste

Martha Cohen Theatre

where

Show times vary tickets calgarykidsfest.ca when

Year End Recital

where when

info

Jack Singer Concert Hall

All Day ultimatedanceco.com

May 25 & 26, 2016

May 30, 2016

science

speaker series

Calgary International Children’s Festival

The Walrus Foundation

The Ugly Animal Roadshow

Biologist Simon Watt explores the most incredible and monstrous members of the animal kingdom, from the aptly named blob fish, to the strangely disfigured naked mole rat. Featuring video, demonstrations, and lots of audience participation.

Max Bell Theatre

where when

tickets

Show times vary calgarykidsfest.ca

The Walrus Talks – What is Art Anyway?

Join The Walrus for a discussion exploring the role of art, creators, and culture in today’s society. Featuring a line-up of leading Canadian thinkers: Anne Flynn, dance professor; Margie Gillis, choreographer; Corb Lund, musician; Sage Paul, indigenous fashion incubator; Guy Vanderhaeghe, author; and more! where

Max Bell Theatre

when 7pm tickets

may 24

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

artscommons.ca

Illustrations by Marin, Age 7

June 1 – August 26, 2016

June 5, 2016

visual and media arts

comedy

Arts Commons Presents

FunnyFest

Mountain High and Inhospitably ours

All Ages Funny Part of the 16th annual FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival, this all ages comedy event is a family-friendly laugh fest featuring 8 local comics, including Jamie Hutchinson.

The 11-day festival is city-wide with 70 performers, so check out all the events on their website!

A joint exhibition featuring painting and photography by artists Donna Millar and Philip Kanwischer, interpreting the spiritual power of natural landscapes and the narratives that surround human intervention and habitat loss, resulting in new perspectives in Canadian landscape art. where when

info

where

Window Galleries

when

Always open artscommons.ca

info

Engineered Air Theatre

5pm funnyfest.com

June 5, 2016

June 3 & 4, 2016

music

Calgary Civic Symphony

dance

Crown Jewel Classics

Jeunesse Classique Ballet

Coppélia

The Calgary Civic Symphony is closing their glittering 40th anniversary season with the crown jewels of classical repertoire: Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, and Mahler’s Symphony No 3.

Dr. Coppelius has made a life size dancing doll. Franz, a village youth falls in love.

His true heart’s desire, Swanhilde, dresses up as the doll to make it come to life.

A special presentation from Calgary’s youth ballet company. where when

info

where

Martha Cohen Theatre

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 2:30pm

Show times vary artscommons.ca

tickets

artscommons.ca

June 6 – August 26, 2016

June 3 & 4, 2016

visual and media arts

Arts Commons Presents

music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Shared Singularity

Celebrate TV’s most memorable music from yesterday and today featuring singer/ comedian Nicole Parker from MADtv and Broadway's Wicked. With Pops conductor extraordinaire Steven Reineke at the helm, hear music from sitcoms, soaps, dramas, game shows, variety shows, and more.

Artist-in-residence Natural Real Supreme, consisting of Calgary collaborative duo Sara Rennie and Sean Teal, use immersive installations of sculpture and video to break down ideas around the natural and the artificial.

Their created spaces follow an unwritten aesthetic criteria that results in spontaneous and playful work.

As Heard on TV

where when info

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

8pm calgaryphil.com

may/june

when info

Ledge Gallery

Always open artscommons.ca

Spring/ Summer 2016 Arts Commons

25

June 6 – August 29, 2016

June 12, 2016

visual and media arts

dance

Arts Commons Presents

Diversity Dance & Performing Arts

Calgary artist Janine Bennett examines how the ‘feminine’ manifests in nature through detailed graphite drawings, photographs, and the installation of found objects.

The continuously evolving exhibition will be a romanticized garden full of beauty, femininity, death, and decay.

Diversity holds year-end recitals to showcase what their dancers have learned over the course of the dance season. The recital is a positive experience for all involved and gives students the opportunity to show off their progress throughout the year.

Not open to the public.

The Graces of Wilderness

where when info

Lightbox Studio

Always open artscommons.ca

Year-End Recital

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when info

All Day diversitydpa.com

June 9, 2016

June 15, 2016

film

film

Arts Commons Presents

Brooks & Dodd Consulting

This inspiring documentary tells the story of two best friends and world-class acrobats from opposite sides of the earth.

Despite poverty and struggling communities, Nunavut’s Artcirq and West Africa’s Kalabante find hope and social change through the art of circus.

A powerful new documentary telling the story of what should have been the Canadian dream: a small prairie town kid scouted by a famous Junior-A coach. Except the coach was the now-infamous sexual predator Graham James, and the kid was Sheldon Kennedy, a Swift Current Broncos NHL player who barely survived his childhood trauma.

Art!Flicks: Circus Without Borders

where

Engineered Air Theatre

when 7pm info

artscommons.ca

Swift Current

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 7:15pm

June 10 & 11, 2016 music

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Symphony of a Thousand: Mahler Eight - 60th Anniversary Season Finale Mahler’s magnificent Symphony No. 8 is an uplifting and grand conclusion to the Orchestra’s 60th Anniversary Classics Season. One of the largest productions ever staged by the CPO, numerous guest soloists and hundreds of choral voices join the Orchestra and Calgary Philharmonic Chorus in a spectacular celebration. where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 8pm info

calgaryphil.com

june 26

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

tickets

artscommons.ca

"Sheldon’s story has changed Canada for the better forever. His raw bravery in coming out, turning his life around slowly, painfully sharing how much effort it takes to overcome the scars of abuse is inspiring. He embodies the fragility of life and the triumph of the human spirit. We need to keep this difficult conversation alive to protect our children.

We need to continue to equip ourselves to protect against this life devastating threat.

Swift Current describes a journey that all Canadians should understand."

Lorraine Lafrenière CEO - Coaching Association of Canada

June 18, 2016

June 27, 2016

dance

music

Urban Dance Projects

Live Nation

Dancers aged 3 -17 years perform a year-end recital to showcase the results of their classes in Tiny Tots, Kinder Combo, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre, Lyrical and Contemporary Dance.

Not open to the public.

Venerable songwriter Joe Jackson returns with a new album, Fast Forward, and his career-spanning show with a full band including longtime collaborator Graham Maby on bass, guitarist Teddy Kumpel (Rickie Lee Jones, Feist), and drummer Doug Yowell (Suzanne Vega, Ari Hest).

Recital Day

where when info

Joe Jackson

Jack Singer Concert Hall

All Day urbandanceprojects.com

where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 7:30pm tickets

June 24, 2016

June 29, 2016

speaker series

TEDxYYC

special event

TEDxYYC 2016: Expanding Horizons

Best of Calgary

Best of Calgary

In its seventh year, TEDxYYC is looking forward. The speakers on this year’s stage — including gaming advocate Julia Hardy, disability fashion stylist Stephanie Thomas, and ice climber Will Gadd — are all focused and driven relentlessly towards an expanding horizon. where

Throughout the day, in the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgarians will have the opportunity to attend a conference tackling the major issues affecting the city. That evening, based on survey results, Best of Calgary will celebrate the best our city has to offer in food, drink, music, arts, and culture.

Jack Singer Concert Hall

where

when 1pm tickets

artscommons.ca

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when

artscommons.ca

tickets

All Day artscommons.ca

June 26, 2016

July 11, 2016

dance

free public program

Sergei Tumas Productions Inc.

Arts Commons Presents

Tango Nuevo Cabaret – A Tribute to Astor Piazzolla

Life Drawing

Join us for a completely unique drawing experience that gives you the chance to be inspired by the rich and detailed costumes of the stage. Each free session is themed around Theatre Calgary and Alberta Theatre projects’ vast costume collection.

Pre-registration required.

Be prepared to experience sensual performances and magnificent costumes rooted in the barrios of Buenos Aires – this breathtaking tango extravaganza is not to be missed! where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 7pm info

sergeitumas.com

where

The Hub

when 6:30pm info

june/july

artscommons.ca

Spring/ Summer 2016 Arts Commons

27

July 19, 2016 music

Live Nation

Brit Floyd: Continuum World Tour Following a hugely successful 146 concert date tour in 2016, the World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show returns to North America, covering fifty years of Pink Floyd favourites, and also featuring show-stopping rendition of “Echoes” in its entirety, taken from their landmark album Meddle. where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 8pm tickets

artscommons.ca

July 24, 2016 music

Live Nation

Chris Cornell One of the chief architects of the ‘90s grunge movement (Soundgarden, Audioslave) has gone on to forge a unique solo identity over three decades as a Grammy award-winning, Golden Globe-nominated singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, and lyricist. where

Jack Singer Concert Hall

when 7:30pm tickets

artscommons.ca

August 11, 2016 art party

Arts Commons Presents

Happenings #5

You’re invited to an art party! See new work and live performances, featuring local and national artists: Natural Real Supreme, Donna Millar, Philip Kanwischer, Janine Bennett, Michael Trommer, and more! where

Arts Commons

when 6pm info

artscommons.ca

july/aug 28

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

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.

Spring/ Summer 2016 Arts Commons

29

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

Big Print Sign Company Inc. Supporting Sponsor, Re-branding Campaign

Founders Circle is Arts Commons’ premiere donor engagement program.

Arts Commons’ donors play a critical role in our work to bring the arts…to life.

Arts Commons Endowment Fund through The Calgary Foundation

Big Rock Brewery Inc. Official Brewery

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

CBC Media Sponsor

HONOURARY MEMBERS

Burns Memorial Fund Supporting Partner, Hub for Inspired Learning

Calgary Herald Media Sponsor

Cabra Consulting Supporting Sponsor,

Fresh Kitchen Sponsor, VIP Receptions, BD&P World Music

ALSA Road Construction Ltd. Supporting Sponsor,

EXPLORE National Geographic

The Calgary Foundation Partner, Hub for Inspired Learning Cenovus Energy Inc. Student Engagement Sponsor, National Geographic Live

ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.

Major Sponsor, Arts Commons Box Office Student Engagement Sponsor, National Geographic Live Lead Sponsor, Arts Education Program

Dinner Optimist Club of Calgary Supporting Partner, Hub for Inspired Learning PCL Construction Management Inc. Title Sponsor, PCL Blues Repsol Oil & Gas Supporting Sponsor,

Great Events Group Corp.

Sponsor, VIP Receptions, TD Jazz Hyatt Regency Calgary Official Hotel McAra Unicom Official Printer Red Tree Sponsor, VIP Receptions,

National Geographic Live

Teatro Sponsor, Founders Circle ZGM Collaborative Marketing Supporting Sponsor, Re-branding Campaign

GOVERNMENT

EXPLORE National Geographic

Government of Canada through the departments

Royal Bank of Canada Series Presenting Sponsor,

Government of Alberta through Alberta

National Geographic Live

Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals Inc. Supporting Sponsor, EXPLORE National Geographic

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

Title Sponsorship, TD Arts Access Pass

TELUS Supporting Sponsor,

EXPLORE National Geographic

of Canadian Heritage and Service Canada

Foundation for the Arts, and the department of Culture and Tourism

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 Alberta for a grant through the Community Facility Enhancement Program that enables us to undertake critical lifecycle initiatives that enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the 560,665 square foot Arts Commons.

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. Nicola Dawes at 403-294-7455, ext.1468 or ndawes@artscommons.ca.

30

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

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

LEGACY BUILDER MEMBERS Forst Family in loving memory of Steven Harris Henry Sykes, QC & Molly Naber-Sykes

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

VISIONARY MEMBERS Bob & Sue Benzen Michel Bourque & Bryan Clarke Greg Epton & Greg Robertson John McWilliams, QC & Susan McWilliams Randy & Luba Pettipas Stu & Vicki Reid C.A. Siebens Roderick Villanueva Evelyn Wigham Tharrie & Johann Zietsman

MEMBERS Angela Avery & Dave Newby Leslie Biles & Robert Armstrong Reid Brodylo & Carri Clarke Patricia Dalk & Terry Burton Norm & Colleen Dickson Anna Ells & Finn Pedersen Jane Golubev & Igor Tesker Brian & Annette Hester Joni Hughes & John Thompson Wes Jenkins Jennifer Johnson & Trev Habekost Dr. Arun Lakra & Dr. Roopa Lakra M. Ann McCaig Rodney & Karen McCann Brian Mills & Susan Tyrrell James & Janice Morton Jock & Diana Osler Holy Schile Nielsen & Dave Nielsen Margaret Southern

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, Gorongosa Reborn: A Cameraman’s Journal by Bob Poole Ken & Chris (in memoriam) Havard, Blue Ocean by Dr. Sylvia Earle

MEMBERS Sandra & Simon Barker Bennett Jones LLP Michel Bourque & Bryan Clarke James & Bev Butler Cabra Consulting Ltd. David & Roxanne Dunlop Jane Durango & Dr. Beverly Frizzell Greg Epton & Greg Robertson Jane Golubev & Igor Tesker Brian & Annette Hester Devin & Shelley Spackman 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.

A Sense of Belonging WRITTEN BY SASKIA KNIGHT

W

hen it comes to donating to charities, Roderick Villanueva believes it is more effective to choose one single cause to donate to, for a more substantial impact, rather than giving smaller amounts to a variety of causes.

This increases his ability to effect change. So how did he reach the decision to support the arts?

Rod’s appreciation for theatre and the stage started at a young age, but he always thought of performing arts as highbrow and relatively inaccessible for regular people like himself. He did not truly understand them, how performances worked, and the intricacies involved in putting on a live show until he volunteered for the Calgary International Children’s Festival (Kidsfest) during university. Volunteering at Kidsfest was eye-opening for Rod, showing him how the arts work, how performances happen, and truly seeing the breadth of performing arts for the first time.

“I learned that they are accessible and that got me into it,” says Rod. He was eighteen at the time, and has since kept ticket stubs for every live show he has seen. From classical piano to jazz to a play, Rod says he loves live theatre and music because of the power of art to move one to tears.

Roderick Villanueva

Fast-forward to today: Rod has been actively involved at Arts Commons for over ten years. He attends at least two shows every season in each of the TD Jazz, BD&P World Music, and PCL Blues, and regularly attends National Geographic Live. Rod is also a member of Arts Commons’ Explorers Circle and Founders Circle membership giving programs.

To Rod, the Arts Commons membership giving programs are about more than donating money; they allow him to support the community while receiving a sense of belonging. He has had many networking opportunities at Arts Commons events, and is always made to feel welcome and special. With that, Rod concludes, “when I attend an event at Arts Commons there is nothing [else] I would rather do.”

Spring/ Summer 2016 Arts Commons

31

Your music memories at Arts Commons Did you know? 2016 is the Year of Music for Calgary, celebrating not only the amazing music happening this year, but also recognizing the fantastic local music scene we’ve fostered over the years and the incredible artists that have graced our city’s stages. We asked what your favourite music memory at Arts Commons was. Here are some of your responses:

"My favorite was seeing Chris Hadfield play "Space Oddity" at the opening of Beakerhead in 2013!!"—Katie

"My favourite moment was when Mayor Nenshi took the stage and introduced the band." — Michael Bernard Fitzgerald

32

Arts Commons Spring/Summer 2016

Favourite music moment was listening to the amazing score for The Little Prince premiere with two 8 year olds. —Sonja

Gregory Porter. Hands down. Magical. —Doug Turangalîla. CPO. Amazingly unpredictable.

And Whitehorse. Juno nominees. Fascinating vocals. They were so grateful to play in such a beautiful hall. —Anita

Loved playing at E.P. Scarlett's Winds from the South concert in jr. high...so much fun —Rita

I REALLY enjoyed Martin Short’s performance. He sang, he danced, he was AWESOME. —Wendy

Lila Downs! Beautiful, powerful woman with a voice of angels that transports you to other places, to our inner core and touches great places within us.

—Orlyn

"Handel's Messiah was my favorite music moment. The last 30 seconds of the encore - great venue” — Crackmacs ­

Johnny Gaudreau's anthem in Calgary. I Love You, But You're Killing Me. Still laughing.

—Julia

Taking 50 music students and some of the parents to see the Civic Symphony on Feb 28 to see the Soundtrack concert.

Forever grateful for the chance to show the beauty of the symphony to our students. —Challena

Great to see locally grown talent Ellen Doty with Josh Crowhurst opening for jazz's new ‘it’ boy Gregory Porter!!!! —James

Yamato Taiko!! Incredible energy!!

—Karen

Bahamas - the energy in the Jack Singer that night was practically electric. The captivating music, Afie's humble but oh-so-sexy stage presence, his raging sense of humor .... Perfect for a cold autumn night.

—Anita

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) service has a 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