On Exhibit On Exhibit

Rocky Mountain Wild

Tammy Taylor

September 16 to November 3 | Large Gallery

One of Alberta’s greatest treasures is the Rocky Mountains, with all their breathtaking beauty and incredible wildlife. This exhibit is meant to inspire with its beautiful and realistic paintings, and pay homage to the unbridled spirit of Alberta’s Rocky Mountain Wildlife. It is Taylor’s objective to create life-like images of subjects in their natural environment. She uses a limited earth tone palette and loose, gestural brushwork.

Ergon..Parergon (?)

Gerry Ruecker

September 23 to November 3 | Small Gallery

This exhibit features a body of mixed media constructions utilizing materials commonly considered junk, presenting them in a new context. Discarded and cast-off objects, such as fragments of old furniture and building materials, rusted pieces of metal, and various other disused and disposed of items are prominent, highlighting a generally unappreciated, well-worn sense of beauty. These crude, rough objects are blended within a mash-up of cheap, highly decorative baroque-influenced picture frames, and other related materials. The resulting works embrace layers of harmony and contradiction, and function as a caricature of, but also an homage to a centuries-old style still viewed as ‘classy’.

Spirit of Christmas

OAG Members

November 17 to December 23 | Large Gallery

During the holiday season, the Okotoks Art Gallery will be transformed into the Spirit of Christmas, your best choice for holiday gift shopping, all crafted by local artisans. The Spirit of Christmas showcases one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments, jewelry and cards, and the walls will be filled with original, local artwork for sale. Everything in this holiday showcase will be priced under $250 so you can enjoy the brilliant and affordable art.

Tree of Warmth

Share the warmth this holiday season with our Tree of Warmth. You can bring in your brand new, unopened gifts to the Okotoks Art Gallery to decorate our Tree of Warmth. Most needed items include: toys/games/art supplies/warm clothes for children and adults, gifts for seniors and adults, gift cards for teenagers and baby items. All of the items collected will be donated to local and regional charities.

Gingerbread Station

November 17 to December 16 | Small Gallery

The Okotoks Art Gallery will become the Gingerbread Station for the holiday season. Drop in to see some fantastic gingerbread creations. Everyone is welcome to participate with a creation of their own! Pre-registration required for participation and accepted until November 11. Prizes will be awarded based on public voting. Viewing and voting begins on November 17.

Visit www.okotoks.ca/gingerbread for details and to register!

On Exhibit On Exhibit

Nitsitapiisksakoo: Nitsitapii Landscapes Part 2

September 1 to September 30 | Main Floor

Since time immemorial, the people of the Blackfoot Nations have called southern Alberta home. Their traditional territory stretches north to the North Saskatchewan River, south to the Yellowstone River, west to the Rocky Mountains, and east to the Cypress Hills. The Blackfoot believe strongly in learning from the land. This exhibit is the second of a trilogy of exhibits that highlight the special sites in Blackfoot Territory. The 10 sites featured in Part 2 include Ohkohtoki (Okotoks Erratic), Soyioh’powah’ko (Blackfoot Crossing), Napi ootsisti’ kowanhpi (Napi’s Playground) and Kipitakiipis’kun/ Akiipis’kun (Old Women’s/Women’s Buffalo Jump), among others.

This travelling exhibit is curated by Ninna Piiksii (Mike Bruised Head), Itsinohtss Piyaki (Rebecca Many Grey Horses) and Akaiksims’staki (Bobbie Fox). It was created by Galt Museum & Archives, Lethbridge.

A History of Sport in Okotoks

Until December 22

Sports have always played an integral part in the town’s history. From cricket and lawn bowling to hockey and baseball, this exhibit allows us to reflect on past athletes and the games they have played.

Dr. Morris Gibson – The Artist

September 1 to September 30

Many people remember Dr. Morris Gibson as a family doctor in Okotoks and some know him best as an author. Did you know he was also an artist? To celebrate Month of the Artist, this exhibit shines the spotlight on Dr. Morris Gibson’s artistic talents.

Lost & Endangered Arts

September 1 to September 30

There is an incredible history of traditional craft and trade in Canada. Many early Okotoks residents were talented craftspeople like milliner Affi Metcalfe. However, commercial mass production is endangering some traditional crafts. This exhibit features a few of these crafts, as part of our Month of the Artist programming.

An Old-Fashioned Christmas

November 17 to December 22

Celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas at the Okotoks Museum and Archives. Rooms will be filled with the sights, sounds and memories of a heritage Christmas.

Aprilseptember

October

Calendar of Events

September to December 2023

November December

Sept. 1 Nitsitapii Landscapes Part 2 Opens PG 5

Sept. 1 Dr. Morris Gibson – The Artist Opens PG 6

Sept. 1 Lost & Endangered Arts Opens PG 6

Sept. 5 Acoustic Night PG 12

Sept. 7 OAG Art Club Session 1 PG 17

Sept. 12 Painting Landscapes (9-12) PG 14

Sept. 14 OAG Art Club Session 1 PG 17

Sept. 14 Painting Landscapes (6-9) PG 14

Sept. 16 Art on the Lawn PG 18

Sept. 16 Champion Park Open House PG 18

Sept. 19 Acoustic Night PG 12

Sept. 21 OAG Art Club Session 1 PG 17

Sept. 22 Yuk Yuk’s PG 9

Sept. 23 Creating Community Art (8-14) PG 14

Sept. 27 Indigenous Beading: Fringe Earrings PG 15

Sept. 27 Pavlo PG 9

Sept. 28 OAG Art Club Session 1 PG 17

Sept. 29 Face to Face PG 18

Sept. 30 National Day for Truth & Reconciliation PG 18

Oct. 3 Acoustic Night PG 12

Oct. 5 OAG Art Club Session 1 PG 17

Oct. 7 Creating Community Art (8-14) PG 14

Oct. 11 Mountainscapes with Christine W. PG 17

Oct. 12 OAG Art Club Session 1 PG 17

Oct. 14 Painting Fall Landscapes PG 17

Oct. 14 Creating Community Art (8-14) PG 14

Oct. 14 Rocky Horror Picture Show PG 10

Oct. 18 Mountainscapes with Christine W. PG 17

Oct. 19 OAG Art Club Session 1 PG 17

Oct. 20-21 Dewdney Players: PG 11

Oct. 21 Creating Community Art (8-14) PG 14

Oct. 21 Watercolour Pet Portraits PG 16

Oct. 25 Mountainscapes with Christine W. PG 17

Oct. 26 OAG Art Club Session 1 PG 17

Oct. 26-28 Ghost Tours PG 18

Oct. 26-28 Dewdney Players: PG 11

Nov. 2 OAG Art Club Session 2 PG 17

Nov. 2-4 Dewdney Players: PG 11

Nov. 4 Family Museum Scavenger Hunt PG 13

Nov. 4 Mixed Media Exploration (5-11) PG 14

Nov. 7 Indigenous Beading: Harry Potter PG 15

Nov. 7 Acoustic Night PG 12

Nov. 9 OAG Art Club Session 2 PG 17

Nov. 14 Indigenous Beading: Harry Potter PG 15

Nov. 16 OAG Art Club Session 2 PG 17

Nov. 17 Spirit of Christmas/Gingerbread Opens PG 4

Nov. 17 An Old-Fashioned Christmas Opens PG 6

Nov. 17 Light Up Okotoks PG 18

Nov. 18 Mixed Media Exploration (5-11) PG 14

Nov. 20 The McDades PG 12

Nov. 21 Indigenous Beading: Harry Potter PG 15

Nov. 21 Acoustic Night PG 12

Nov. 23 OAG Art Club Session 2 PG 17

Nov. 25 Mixed Media Exploration (5-11) PG 14

Nov. 30 OAG Art Club Session 2 PG 17

Dec. 2 Winter Birds with Ashley Gaboury PG 16

Dec. 4 Card-Making: Poinsettia PG 17

Dec. 5 Acoustic Night PG 12

Dec. 6 Heebee-jeebees PG 12

Dec. 7 OAG Art Club Session 2 PG 17

Dec. 14 OAG Art Club Session 2 PG 17

Dec. 17 Owl Be Home for Christmas PG 13

Dec. 19 Acoustic Night PG 12

Dec. 21 OAG Art Club Session 2 PG 17

Upcoming Performances

Yuk Yuk’s on Tour

Friday, September 22 | Doors 7 pm, Show 7:30 pm

$20 in advance, $30 at the door

Live Uncut Comedy. Yuk Yuk’s is renowned as some of the best comedy in Calgary!

Headliner: Kevin Stobo | MC: Dale Ward | Featuring: Leah Scheitel

*RATED R, 18 years and older.

Pavlo

Wednesday, September 27 | Doors 7 pm, Show 7:30 pm

$50 in advance, $60 at door

For being all instrumental, Pavlo’s Mediterranean music speaks for itself. Over the span of his 20-year career, Pavlo, the internationally renowned, award-winning recording artist, performer and songwriter, has released 15 albums and 4 PBS TV concert Specials. Born in Toronto to Greek parents, Pavlo has made a name for himself by offering a musical amalgam he simply calls “Mediterranean music” – a blend of Greek, flamenco, Latin, and Balkan flavours wrapped in contemporary pop. His music has taken him all around the world. Along the way he’s performed for royalty in the likes of Prince Charles and worked and toured with artists such as José Feliciano, Jon Secada, Olivia Newton-John and The Tenors.

It has never been more convincing, Pavlo is a TRUE WORLD artist, and has become famous for bringing every audience to their feet.

Upcoming Performances

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Saturday, October 14 | Doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm

$20 in advance, $30 at the door (includes props package)*

Get ready, set...let’s do the time warp again!! This popular event sells out every year, so get your tickets early! Dress up, win prizes at the costume parade and howl the night away!

This low-budget freak show/cult classic/cultural institution concerns the misadventures of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss inside a strange mansion that they come across on a rainy night. After the wholesome pair profess their love through an opening song, their car breaks down in the woods and they seek refuge in a towering castle nearby. Greeting them at the door is a ghoulish butler named Riff Raff who introduces them to a bacchanalian collection of partygoers dressed in outfits from some sort of interplanetary thrift shop. With special guest hosts this year, Indigo Down and Birthday Girl!

*RATED R, 18 years and older

Upcoming Performances

Dewdney Players presents: Bullshot Crummond

October 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, November 2, 3, 4 | Doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm General $20 in advance, $25 at the door | Senior $15 in advance, $20 at the door

Bullshot Crummond by Ron House, Alan Shearman, Diz White, John Neville Andrews, Derek Cunningham. This parody of low-budget 30s detective movies typifies British heroism at its dumbest. Teutonic villain Otto Von Brunno and his evil mistress Lenya crash their plane in the English countryside and kidnap Professor Fenton, who has discovered a formula for making synthetic diamonds. Bullshot Crummond is called to the rescue by the professor’s daughter Rosemary. Wildly outrageous antics enuse, with Crummond saving the day!

The McDades

Monday, November 20 | Doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm $40 in advance, $50 at the door

Punching through the walls of tradition, the McDades’ celtic-rooted music fuses the spontaneity of jazz improvisation and infectious global rhythms. The Juno award winners cutting-edge sound is the perfect complement to their fiery performances. At the heart of the group are siblings Shannon, Solon & Jeremiah who grew up playing Canadian folk music alongside their parents and among artists from around the world; a unique upbringing that led to a love and respect for all music. Their ground-breaking compositions and innovative arrangements are characterized by stunning virtuosity and a near-telepathic interaction on stage.

Upcoming Performances

Heebee-jeebees Christmas!

Wednesday, December 6 | Doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm

$30 in advance, $40 at the door

The Heebee-jeebees™ are an internationally acclaimed, award-winning, comic a cappella group born and raised in Calgary. Celebrating 30 years together in 2023, they have released 8 CDs and have won 3 international CARA awards – the Grammys of a cappella. The Heebee-jeebees have performed live thousands of times and have appeared on local, national, and international radio and television

The group has a reputation for being hilarious, entertaining and extremely talented. You can find their studio recordings on iTunes & Spotify. They are the most FUN you’ve ever heard!

Acoustic Nights

September 5, 19, October 3, November 7, 21, December 5, 19 7:00 - 9:00 pm | FREE to attend

The Okotoks Arts Council and the Town are excited to invite you to Acoustic Nights at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre. An open mic for players and listeners!

Please bring your instrument to this night of musical merrymaking at RPAC. It’s a safe place to learn, play, sing and enjoy. Open to all ages and all levels of performer.

Child Programs

Halloween Toddle Down to the Art Gallery!

Saturday, October 28 | 10 am to 12 pm

$5/Family | Okotoks Art Gallery

Come down to the Okotoks Art Gallery for a morning of fun. Experience the exhibitions as your child enjoys a number of activity and crafting stations. Costumes are welcome. Recommended for ages 1 – 5. Space is limited. Drop-In or Pre-Register.

Course #19853

Family Museum Scavenger Hunt

Saturday, November 4 | 10 am to 5 pm

Free | Meet at Okotoks Museum & Archives

Join us at the Okotoks Museum & Archives for a rousing scavenger hunt! An excellent opportunity to explore current exhibitions in an engaging and accessible way –scavenger hunts are fun for the whole family!

Child Programs

Mixed Media Exploration with Yiting Creatives (Ages 5 - 11)

Saturdays, November 4, 18, 25, Dec 2 | 4:30 to 6 pm

4 Classes | $180 | Okotoks Art Gallery Studio

Join local artist, Yiting Hui of Yiting Creatives for a four-day adventure introducing kids to the infinite world of creativity through different art projects. The classes are designed to encourage children to try new ways to express their creativity, spark their imagination and open up them up to all sorts of new possibilities!

Course #19852

Creating Community Art: Painting Picnic Tables with Yiting Creatives (Ages 8 – 14)

Saturdays, September 23, October 7, 14, 21, 28 | 3 – 6 PM

5 Classes | $225 | Okotoks Art Gallery Front Lawn

Local artist Yiting Hui of Yiting Creatives will lead participants through the process of planning, designing, and painting a community art project. Youth will explore and develop their artistic skills while discovering how to transfer concepts and sketches from paper to a much bigger scale. The collaborative team effort will result in a work of art in the heart of Okotoks for the community to enjoy for years to come. This unique opportunity will be an empowering experience for youth to create a functional art piece they can be proud of!

Week 1: Introduction of the project, planning and design; Week 2: Priming + Prepping + Painting; Week 3: Painting; Week 4: Painting; Week 5: Final touch + sealing + celebration!

Course #19854

Teen & Adult Programs

Indigenous Beading: Harry Potter

Keychains

Tuesdays, November 7, 14, 21 | 6 to 8 pm

$75 (Supplies Included) | Okotoks Art Gallery Studio

Join Métis artist, Lena McFaul of Rose & Clover Beadwork as you learn how to two-needle flat stitch bead around a cabochon in the creation of your very own Harry Potter House keychain! Beginners welcome. All supplies included. Ages 13+.

Course #19855

Indigenous Beading with Shermayn Menicoche: Fringe Earrings

Wednesday, September 27 | 5:30 to 9:30 pm

$50 (Supplies Included) | Okotoks Art Gallery Studio

Dehcho Dene artist, Shermayn Menicoche will lead participants through the process of beading in the creation of their very own beaded fringe earrings with the four directions colours. A supply kit is included in the cost of registration.

Course #19851

Teen & Adult Programs

Watercolour Pet Portraits

Saturday, October 21 | 1 to 4 pm

$50 (Supplies Included) | Okotoks Art Gallery Studio

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to paint your pet with watercolours and capture your pet’s unique personality this is the class to take. Join GOLDEN (& QoR) Artist Educator Ashley Gaboury for this mini-class and she’ll show you how to create one-of-a-kind keepsakes of your four-legged family members. Have fun exploring watercolours and pen & ink using a variety of texturing techniques. Please bring a selection of black and white photocopies (approx. 5 x 7 or roughly 1/2 of an 8.5 x 11 page) along with your favorite pet photos (colour). All supplies included. Adult/ teen. Beginners welcome.

Course #19852

Winter Birds with Ashley Gaboury

Saturday, December 2 | 1 to 4 pm

$50 (Supplies Included) | Okotoks Art Gallery Studio

Join GOLDEN Artist Educator Ashley Gaboury as she takes you step-by-step through the process of painting Winter Birds in Watercolors. Discover how to use Watercolors effectively and how to get the most out of this unique medium. This class is great for students who want to develop their brush-handling and a variety of aquarelle techniques. We will be using QoR paints (Artist Quality) and exploring alternative painting surfaces to create our very own winter birds. Please bring a selection of black and white photocopies (approx. 5 x 7 or roughly 1/2 of an 8.5 x 11 page) along with images of your favorite birds (color). This workshop is suitable for artists of most levels of experience but is not designed for young children; however mature pre-teens/teens are welcome to join. All supplies included. Beginners welcome.

Course #19849

Adult Programs

OAG Art Club

Thursdays | 11 am to 2 pm

Session 1: Thursdays, Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 | Course: 19844

Session 2: Thursdays, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21 | Course: 19845

8 Classes | $240/session | RPAC

Join local artist Christine Walker weekly for a weekly art session with friends! Enjoy time to work on your own art project or develop an idea and receive help with composition, colours, and techniques. Beginners welcome.

Card-Making: Watercolour Poinsettia

Monday, December 4 | 6:30 to 8:30 pm

$40 (Supplies Included) | Okotoks Art Gallery Studio

Local artist, Christine Walker will guide participants through the process of painting their very own set of watercolour poinsettia cards – just in time for the holidays! No experience necessary. All supplies included. Ages 16+.

Course #19846

Painting Fall Landscapes with Shirley Hauck

Saturday, October 14 | 10:00am to 4:00pm

1 Class | $85 | Okotoks Art Gallery Studio

Join local artist Shirley Hauck and create a fall landscape of your choosing using mixed media, acrylic paint, and acrylic pens. No experience necessary. Some supplies included. Ages 16+.

Course #19843

Upcoming Events

Alberta Culture Days

September (all month)

Alberta Culture Days is an opportunity to discover, experience and celebrate arts and culture through free local events and activities.

Art on the Lawn

Saturday, September 16

Join us on the front lawn of the Okotoks Art Gallery to shop local art from the OAG member artists.

Champion Park Open House

Saturday, September 16

Check Okotoks.ca/Events for details!

Face-to-Face Conference

Friday, September 29

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation

Saturday, September 30

Ghost Tours

October 26-28 | Various timeslots | $5

Discover what lurks downtown after dark during the annual Ghost Walk, hosted by the Okotoks Museum and Archives and the Okotoks and District Historical Society. Tickets are required and are available at okotoksculture.ca. They go on sale September 1, 2023.

Light Up Okotoks

Friday, November 17

Held on the 3rd Friday in November, the Light Up Okotoks celebration kicks off the Christmas season downtown. The event includes lighting of the community Christmas tree, live entertainment, wagon rides, a sugar shack, ice sculpture demos, cookie decorating, craft sales, late night shopping, fireworks & more!