August Exhibitions
Cap off your summer with Calgary’s visual arts programming
Get to know Calgary’s awesome visual arts community this summer as August brings the heat. With a mix of ongoing exhibitions, pop-up gatherings, and special events, there’s plenty to see and do.
You can even grab a newly released contemporary art map and get exploring! Celebrating the important contributions that artist-run centres, commercial galleries, creative spaces, and institutions are making to the cultural life of Calgary, this self-guided tour provides a comprehensive overview of Calgary’s diverse and vibrant contemporary art community.
We can’t wait to get out there!
Mini Masters
August 1, 2019, 11:00 – 11:45am
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required
Calling Calgary’s newest contemporaries! Join the Esker Foundation on the first Thursday of every month for a hands-on art class. Parents and guardians are invited to bring their little ones, ages two to five, to explore art making in this fun and social program. All are welcome to participate, just dress for mess.
eventbrite.ca
Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Cultural History Collection
August 1, 2019, 2:00 – 3:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required
Glenbow’s Cultural History collection holds just over 100,000 objects ranging from atomizers to zithers, and includes a modern Alberta-made toilet and a beautiful 1920s Flapper dress. Join Glenbow Collections Technician Marcia Slater on a tour of this amazing and fun collection thanks to Chinook Country Historical Society and Historic Calgary Week.
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Free First Thursday Nights
August 1, 2019, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission
Get into Glenbow without paying a dime and check out its popular Thursday night affair, the first day of August offers a great chance to explore all the current exhibitions including Nick Cave: Feat. and Ed Pien: Our Beloved.
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A Lecture on Eric Harvie: The Founder of Glenbow
August 2, 2019, 10:00 – 11:00am
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required
Lawyer, oilman, soldier, philanthropist, collector; Eric Lafferty Harvie was all of these things. He was also the founder of Glenbow Museum and the guiding force behind its first collections. Join Daryl Betenia, Glenbow’s Manager, Collections, as she talks about the history and evolution of collecting at Glenbow.
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Bring the Baby Art Tour & Tummy Time
August 2, 2019, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended
A relaxed, social tour, bring your baby to the Esker Foundation and have tot-friendly fun while discussing the exhibitions. This program starts with a casual half-hour tour of the current exhibitions, followed by a half-hour of tummy time social fun for both baby and guardian!
eventbrite.ca
The Ocean Inside
August 2 – September 13, 2019
EMMEDIA Gallery (2005 10th Ave. SW)
Free admission
An installation based on Eveline Kolijn’s first-hand experience of witnessing the devastating effects of climate change and other human-made environmental stresses on the coral reefs, check out the opening reception from 6:00 to 9:00pm on August 2 or swing by the closing reception on September 13 from 7:00 to 10:00pm.
emmedia.ca
The Brutal Tour
August 4, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Family of Man Statue (1st St. & 6th Ave. SE)
$15
Join Contemporary Calgary for a guided walking tour of Calgary’s premiere downtown brutalist architecture sites of the 60s and early 70s. They’re acclaimed and maligned, controversial, and concrete.
eventbrite.ca
The Gender Queery
August 7, 2019, 5:00 – 6:30pm
Humainologie Gallery + Store (1514 7th St. SW)
Free admission
This series of vibrant oil paintings by Jane Pierce explores the evolving concept of gender, expanding from a narrow binary understanding, to embracing a more diverse, fluid spectrum. Swing by this opening reception to learn more.
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Artist Talk and Beading Demonstration
August 8, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW)
Free admission, registration required
Hear Alberta Rose Williams/Ingnuk discuss her practice and demonstrate beading techniques on a loom. Guests even have the opportunity to tour Alberta’s studio and experiment with techniques on a selection of looms.
eventbrite.ca
Salon Series: Tia Halliday
August 8, 2019, 7:00 – 10:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
$31.50 – $35
Tia Halliday uses performance, photography, and dance as a way of physically negotiating abstraction. Spend an evening exploring big ideas and having great conversations with this Calgary-based artist.
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ArtRecruits
August 8 – 27, 2019
Studio C, cSPACE King Edward (235, 1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free admission
Join Studio C for an exhibit by ArtRecruits, a program that uses art to connect individuals with mental health barriers to employment. Featuring mixed media artwork and a mural collaboration with the Royal Bank of Canada, the opening reception takes place from 5:00 to 7:00pm on August 8.
studiocprospect.ca
Artist Talk with Kablusiak
August 9, 2019, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended
Presented in conjunction with the exhibition of their work in both Qiniqtuaq and Among All These Tundras, hear Kablusiak discuss their artistic practice as a whole.
eventbrite.ca
Art in the Garden
August 10 & 11, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Art in the Garden (3443 Kerry Park Rd. SW)
Free admission
Featuring work by Rosemary Bennett, Linda Lalonde, Fran Sayles, Gloria Chow, and guest artist Sharron Bowen, find framed and unframed paintings in many mediums as well as art cards, matted prints, and stained glass. Be sure to bring a donation for the Calgary Food Bank.
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Adagio
August 10 – September 22, 2019
Tower Gallery, Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
Admission by donation
Adagio describes the quiet pace of Bobbi Dunlop’s paintings, how they evolve, and the process of creating/building an abstract visual idea on canvas, sculpting it with brush marks, and being in the moment with brush and medium. Check out the show at its opening reception, 2:00 to 4:00pm on August 10.
leightoncentre.org
In the Open Air
August 10 – September 22, 2019
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
Admission by donation
The act of outdoor painting from direct observation continues to be popular. This exhibition showcases the work of a number of accomplished Alberta artists, all of whom enjoy creating art en plein air. Swing by the opening reception from 2:00 to 4:00pm on August 10.
leightoncentre.org
Cinematic Sunday: Nick Cave AS IS
August 11, 2019, 1:00 – 2:30pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
$8 – $25
This behind-the-scenes documentary shows how one man brought people from all walks of life together using the power of art. Screened in conjunction with Glenbow’s exhibition Nick Cave: Feat., see the film then take in the exhibition.
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The Brutal Tour 2
August 11, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Family of Man Statue (1st St. & 6th Ave. SE)
$15
Join Contemporary Calgary for a guided walking tour of Calgary’s premiere downtown brutalist architecture sites of the 60s and early 70s. They’re acclaimed and maligned, controversial, and concrete.
eventbrite.ca
Laughter Increases the Pain Threshold
August 15, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW)
Free admission, registration required
In conjunction with the Collider Artist Residency at Contemporary Calgary, join Ashley Bedet to discuss the recurring facet of failure as a theme in her process as well as her artist practice as a whole.
eventbrite.ca
I carry it in my heart
August 17, 2019, 1:00 – 2:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended
An exhibition tour with Naomi Potter, explore Among All These Tundras and consider questions of cultural legacy and sovereignty in the polar regions by looking at the work within a generous and generative ecology of care and love.
eventbrite.ca
Wish You Were Here
August 18, 2019, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
By donation
Wish You Were Here is a special event that allows people from all over the world to participate in the construction of the Vital Lines tapestry. If you live far from the beautiful hills of the Leighton Art Centre, send your wishes to vitallinesproject@gmail.com. You can even join artists Sabine Lecorre-Moore and Patricia Lorti as they inscribe the ribbons weave into their work.
leightoncentre.org
Master Class for Families
August 18, 2019, 1:00 – 2:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required
Head to the Esker Foundation for an afternoon of family fun at the gallery and delve into new mediums with art projects that relate to the current exhibitions. This is an educational, energetic, hands-on program for kids ages five to 10. An adult is required to stay for the duration of the workshop and all materials are provided.
eventbrite.ca
Concrete Monoliths
August 18, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW)
$10
A kid-friendly tour of the Brutal Visions exhibition, explore the rich history of the Centennial Planetarium and key characteristics of brutalist style architecture. Children can explore the building, capturing the unique and varied textures of concrete surfaces through drawing and rubbing.
eventbrite.ca
Art Baby Tour
August 21, 2019, 10:00 – 11:00am
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
Free – $5
Make some time for you and take a relaxed one-hour tour of Ed Pien: Our Beloved and Second Skin with your wee one in tow. This tour is designed to allow parents and caregivers of small children, aged two and under, an opportunity to engage with Glenbow’s content in a baby-friendly environment.
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Balancing Art and Political Statements in Artistic Practice
August 23, 2019, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration recommended
Join Sámi photographer, filmmaker, video, and visual artist, Marja Helander, as she discusses Indigenous rights and environmental issues in both her creative practice and in her work in Among All These Tundras.
eventbrite.ca
Dérive
August 25, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW)
$10
Collider artists-in-residence Cody + Ali host this kid-friendly tour of the Centennial Planetarium. Children can even create their own paintings and drawings or contribute to a group artwork inspired by the physcogeographical concept of Dérive.
eventbrite.ca
PLACEHOLDER: An Unconventional Book Club
August 27, 2019, 6:00 – 7:30pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission, registration required
How can we characterize our relationship to the land we live in? Join the Esker Foundation for an informal conversation facilitated by members of d.talks. PLACEHOLDER is an unconventional book club designed to generate conversations among strangers, where a question is as important as an answer.
eventbrite.ca
Ongoing Exhibitions
Roam
Until August 3, 2019
Central Library (800 3rd St. SE)
Free admission
Finger painter Prameesha Abeysekera and sculptor Gordon Pengilly caress the heart of the horse and the magic of their movement in this series of paintings and sculptures. Explore this show in the west window of the Central Library.
prameeart.com
A Point on the Horizon
Until August 4, 2019
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
Admission by donation
Each with a unique perspective, this exhibition showcases the work of a series of emerging artists as they look around themselves and respond to their surroundings and personal histories.
leightoncentre.org
These Threads Hold Memory
Until August 10, 2019
The New Gallery (208 Centre St. SE)
Free admission
Carrie Allison uses beading in her practice to connect to ancestors, to gain insight with Indigenous epistemologies and methodologies. This exhibition utilizes beading as a tool to share statistics, thoughts, and contemplate stereotypical and perhaps unknown narratives.
thenewgallery.org
500 Shades of Summer
Until August 13, 2019
Knox Contemporary Gallery of Art (200 Barclay Parade SW)
Free admission
The Knox Gallery presents a pop up exhibition of leading edge contemporary visual art by artists Chlan Grant, Jane Lochrie, Mao (Kun Chen), Matt Trinh (a.k.a. Hawk), Terry Gregoraschuk, and its newest artist J. Broz.
knoxgalleryofart.com
In Between and the Resolve
Until August 17, 2019
Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50th Ave. SE)
Free admission
Jennifer Weihmann is a Calgary-based nature lover and emerging photographer. Her extreme close-up images of decomposing leaves, mushrooms, moss sprouts, and petals harken back to a childlike wonder in the smallest of details.
christineklassengallery.com
Chroma: Group Show
Until August 17, 2019
Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50th Ave. SE)
Free admission
Christine Klassen Gallery’s annual group show celebrates colour and the diversity of their artists has an emphasis on experimentation and deviation. Featuring intimate drawings from well-known photographer Diana Thorneycroft, innovative large-scale paperworks by Carl White, pattern exploration from Michael Schreiner, and experimental mark-making by Verna Vogel, don’t miss this show.
christineklassengallery.com
Water Features
Until August 18, 2019
The Peanut Gallery, John Fleuvog Shoes (304 8th Ave. SW)
Free admission
An obsession with the river and its evolution from day to day, season to season inspired Chris Brooks to explore new materials and methods for creating landscapes. The foundation of each piece in the exhibition is fine resin for its ability to retain fluid properties as a solid.
chrisbrooks.art
Portraits
Until August 24, 2019
Alberta Craft Gallery, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free admission
From quirky self-portraits to iconic personalities, this exhibition is as diverse as each person depicted. Portraits features the work of 33 fine craft artists.
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Spotlight YYC: Mackenzie Kelly-Frère
Until August 24, 2019
Alberta Craft Gallery, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free admission
Mackenzie Kelly-Frère is an artist and educator whose work has been exhibited across Canada and internationally. Explore some of his new work in the Alberta Craft Gallery’s Spotlight YYC exhibition.
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Hand Pic’d 2019
Until August 29, 2019
VIVIANEART (1114 11th St. SW)
Free admission
Celebrating emerging artists and recent graduates within the local Calgary arts community, see works by Alyssa Ellis, Adriane Vant Erve, and Jessie Fraser, three artists who are using fibre as a key element in their visual art practice.
vivianeart.gallery
ᐊᕙᑖᓂᑦᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᑦᓄᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂᑦ Among All These Tundras
Until August 30, 2019
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission
Among All These Tundras is a title taken from the poem My Home is in My Heart by famed Sámi writer Nils-Aslak Valkeapää and features contemporary art by Indigenous artists from around the circumpolar world.
eskerfoundation.com
CHANNEL 51: IGLOOLIK – Celebrating 30 Years of Inuit Video Art
Until August 30, 2019
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission
Curated by asinnajaq, this is the first large-scale tour of Igloolik Inuit video art from the Isuma and Arnait Women’s Video Collective. It celebrates a young cinematic tradition that has its own distinct voice and worldview.
eskerfoundation.com
Cache
Until August 31, 2019
Herringer Kiss Gallery (101, 1615 10th Ave. SW)
Free admission
Curated by Kevin Kanashiro, this exhibition shines a light on a group of talented, well established artists that are not necessarily familiar to the public eye.
herringerkissgallery.com
together but apart
Until August 31, 2019
Jarvis Hall Gallery (333B 36th Ave. SE)
Free admission
Featuring new works by Robin Arseneault, Laura Findlay, Larissa Tiggelers, Mark Dicey, Jeff Nachtigall, Corri-Lynn Tetz, Rachel MacFarlane, and many more, check out this summer group show.
jarvishallgallery.com
Vistas of the West
Until August 30, 2019
Framed on Fifth (1207 5th Ave. NW)
Free admission
A collection of poetry and visual art that celebrates the beauty and spirit of the Rocky Mountains, Western foothills, celebrate the launch of this new book and art show from 6:30 to 9:00pm on August 29.
framedonfifth.com
Futurology
Until September 6, 2019
Alberta Printmakers (4025 4th St. SE)
Free admission
Celebrate Alberta Printmakers’ beginnings, where they’ve come through the years, and the many members, partners, and supporters who have helped them get to where we they are now.
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A Closer Look Tour: Mavericks
Tuesdays until September 10, 2019, 1:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Each Tuesday throughout the summer, join Glenbow’s educators as they share some of their favourite stories about the maverick spirit that continues to characterize contemporary Alberta.
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A Closer Look Tour: Niitsitapiisinni
Thursdays until September 12, 2019, 1:00pm
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Journey through the award-winning Niitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life gallery and uncover the traditions, values, and history of the people who have lived for thousands of years in the northwestern plains of Alberta and Montana. The Blackfoot share their story in their own words with interactive displays that guide visitors through Nitsitapii history.
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Second Skin
Until September 15, 2019
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Second Skin is an exhibition of contemporary art that features work by five Canadian artists—Brendan Fernandes, Skeena Reece, Barbara Astman, Winnie Truong, and Tia Halliday—who explore the transformative potential of adornment, costume, and disguise.
glenbow.org
Kent Merriman Jr.: Remnants
Until September 15, 2019
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
The ninth installment in curator Nancy Tousley’s ongoing series One New Work features new work by emerging Calgary artist Kent Merriman. The exhibition features highly laborious sculptural paintings that fool the eye by masquerading as flattened cardboard boxes, poured concrete, and clear plastic baggies.
glenbow.org
Ed Pien: Our Beloved
Until September 22, 2019
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Ed Pien’s 144 framed photographs of flowers are hung together in a monumental, wall-filling installation. The artist photographed the flowers at grave sites at a cemetery in Sanitiago, Chile which is the final resting place for many of the political dissidents and victims of the murderous dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
glenbow.org
Nick Cave: Feat.
Until September 22, 2019
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Organized by the Frist Art Museum, Nashville, Tennessee, Nick Cave is one of America’s most acclaimed contemporary artists. This major touring exhibition makes its only Canadian stop and features the artist’s signature sound suits as well as sculpture, video, and installation works.
glenbow.org
Vital Lines
Until September 29, 2019
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
Admission by donation
Vital Lines is a land-based installation conceived by Calgary francophone artists Sabine Lecorre-Moore and Patricia Lortie, who together form the artistic duo known as Conversation. They have designed this interactive installation specifically for the Leighton Art Centre landscape, creating an artwork that offers a receptive site where visitors can rest their dreams, wishes, and life affirmations.
leightoncentre.org
Collider
Until September 29, 2019
Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW)
Free admission
Taking a cue from particle accelerators, Collider serves as a catalyst for collaborative experimentation and discovery through a collision of ideas and actions. This inaugural project employs a peer nomination process to invite 30 local artists to make Contemporary Calgary and the former Centennial Planetarium their studio and community hub.
contemporarycalgary.com
Brutal Visions
Until September 29, 2019
Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW)
Free admission
Providing a rich and engaging context for the recently reawakened Centennial Planetarium, Brutal Visions invites viewers to explore the history, architecture, and future ambitions of Contemporary Calgary’s new home.
contemporarycalgary.com
A Future City from The Past
Until September 29, 2019
Contemporary Calgary, Centennial Planetarium (701 11th St. SW)
Free admission
Clemens Gritl’s body of work, A Future City from The Past, is based on a mystifying vision of a radically aggressive urban dystopia—an uncompromising design in the brutalist dogma. Explore it as Contemporary Calgary opens every Sunday and Thursday starting on June 2.
contemporarycalgary.com
Recent Acquisitions
Until October 11, 2019
Centre Street CTrain Station (1st St. & 7th Ave. SE)
Free admission
Exploring ideas of theft and authorship, Collin Zipp’s Recent Acquisitions is made up of 11 seemingly identical forgeries from an art reproduction company based in China. Seeing the paintings side-by-side encourages the viewer to further investigate their similarities.
uascalgary.org
Kablusiak: Qiniqtuaq
Until October 20, 2019
Project Space, Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free admission
Qiniqtuaq (searching/looking) invites viewers to peer through a multi-eyed ghost sheet to witness a looping projection of a video collage screened in front of a piece of oil-stained cardboard. Inviting a presence of nostalgia, spectatorship, and diaspora, the piece was created by Kablusiak, an Inuvialuk artist and curator based in Mohkinstsis.
eskerfoundation.com
Artist In Residence: Albertine Crow Shoe
Until January 5, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Glenbow’s artist-in-residence program invites multidisciplinary artists to interact with Glenbow’s vast collection of art and cultural material to inspire new works. Albertine Crow Shoe is known primarily for her exquisite jewellery and this exhibition features highlights of her past work as well as entirely new creations based on her discoveries from working with Glenbow’s collection.
glenbow.org
Ladylikeness: Historical Portraits of Women by Women
Until January 5, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Presented in partnership with Library and Archives Canada, head to Glenbow to see a varied selection of portraiture produced over a 200-year period, with works dating from 1768 to 1960. Ladylikeness offers a fascinating look at how these artists chose to work within the genre in different ways, making it their own.
glenbow.org
Art of Resilience
Until March 2, 2020
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
The result of four art workshops held at Glenbow for children and families served by Kainaiwa Children’s Services Corporation Prevention and Support, explore their work in this unique showcase.
glenbow.org
Have a visual arts event that’s not listed above? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
