August Exhibitions
Summer heats up thanks to Calgary’s visual arts community
As the season rolls on, Calgary’s visual arts community continues to program and curate some amazing shows and events. Continuing with loads of safety protocols and adaptability, here are some great events to check out this August!
Summer Broom Making
August 1, 2021, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$155.84
Join local broom maker David Campbell for a one-day workshop in the centuries-old craft of handwoven broom making. Participants are provided with all of the materials, tools, and instruction needed to make their own broom from start to finish. Register early to take part!
facebook.com
BUMP Festival
August 2 – 29, 2021
Various venues
Visit website for full details
Announcing another 20+ local, national, and international artists joining this annual mural extravaganza, the Beltline Urban Murals Project is turning Calgary into an expansive open-air art gallery. Be sure to check out a mural tour, live music and shows, a movie screening, or the always-bumping graffiti jam.
yycbump.ca
Painting Alberta Pop-Up Exhibition
August 4 & 5, 2021
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
By donation
Sabine Lecorre-Moore is participating in the 39th International Contemporary Art Symposium of Baie St. Paul. See a portion of Painting Alberta exhibited in tents outside at Leighton Art Centre. Each small piece represents a snapshot of life in Alberta, building a story bit by bit.
facebook.com
Molly JF Caldwell
August 5, 2021, 6:00pm
Stream online
Free to watch, registration required
Join Molly JF Caldwell for an artist talk and Q&A with assistant curator Elizabeth Diggon, about her work and practice, as well as her current exhibition in the Esker Foundation Project Space. With One Hand Tied Behind My Back reflects Caldwell’s ongoing research on labour, care, gender, and sexuality.
eventbrite.ca
Little Deaths
August 6, 2021
Idle Eyes Gallery (215 36th Ave. NE)
$10
Sebastian Buzzalino offers a voyeuristic view of bodies without boundaries through this long exposure, black and white photography project that attempts to expand ideas around gender, sexuality, and authorship. The opening features music by Mariel Buckley and guests.
facebook.com
As Snug As A Bug
August 7, 2021, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$17.27 – $56.97
Visit the beautiful foothills for a morning of exploring and creating at the Leighton Art Centre! Join its art and nature educators for a nature walk, learn about the native plants and wildlife, and create a nature inspired artwork—this one is all about why bugs are so important.
eventbrite.ca
Felted Bird Feeder
August 7, 2021, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$117.04
Head to the Leighton Art Centre to learn how to work with felt! In this workshop, participants make a sample piece of felt to help us understand the unique, natural properties of wool. Then put your new-found knowledge to use making a felt bird feeder!
eventbrite.ca
Authentically Indigenous Craft Show
August 7, 2021, 10:00am – 5:00pm
Kerby Centre (1133 7th Ave. SW)
$5
Featuring amazing Indigenous artists from Calgary and the Treaty 7 area, take in the wonderful handmade wares, meet the artisans, and watch live artist demonstrations showing how they make and create.
authenticallyindig.com
Wet Felted Sampler Class
August 8, 2021, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$117.04
Wet felting is a method of creating art using wool as your medium. Leah Cathleen Donald explores different breeds of wool and their properties, and participants will make a larger sampler piece of felt while exploring many techniques in this relaxed, experimental felting class!
eventbrite.ca
Wilder Mural
August 8, 2021, 4:00 – 7:00pm
Crescent Heights Community Association (1101 2nd St. NW)
Free to explore
This community mural showcases Alberta’s wildlife and highlights endangered species. Bring your family and friends, listen to some live music, and learn more about Alberta’s nature through stories and games. Come experience Alberta’s uniqueness.
crescentheightsyyc.ca
The 2021 MFA Thesis Exhibition
August 13 – September 17, 2021
Various venues
Free to explore
Nickle Galleries presents the work of eight artists from the University of Calgary’s graduating master of fine arts class of 2021. Through drawing, mixed media, video, photography, and painting, the artists showcase their research-led creations. Be sure to check it out!
facebook.com
Travel Plein Air Sketching
August 14, 2021, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$94.87
Join Michelle Wiebe to learn the secrets of capturing architecture, nature, and indoor scenes while you’re on the road, using watercolour and ink. Discover approaches for quickly capturing the moment, as well as plenty of practical information on what to bring for your adventures!
eventbrite.ca
Meet The Foothills
August 14, 2021, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$11.73 – $28.36
Can you tell the difference between a robin and a sparrow? This is the workshop for you if you’ve ever wished you knew more about birds! Come and walk the Leighton Art Centre’s Bluebird Trail and learn about the special bird adaptations that make each species successful.
eventbrite.ca
Blueridge Arts Walk
August 14, 2021, 11:00am – 4:00pm
Various locations in the Blueridge Community
Free to explore
The second annual Blueridge Arts Walk is coming up at various venues in the community of Blueridge in NW Calgary. The work of many local artists will be on display including paintings, photographs and sculptures. This is a free outdoor event and open to everyone.
facebook.com
Discover the Night Sky
August 14, 2021, 9:00 – 11:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$11.73 – $28.36
Experience the Leighton Art Centre while gazing up into the beautiful night sky! Build your own star map and star map finder, then head into the night with naturalist Jim Critchley to recognize and identify the stars, constellations and zodiac signs that light up the foothills at night.
eventbrite.ca
Art in the Garden
August 14 & 15, 2021, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Art in the Garden (3443 Kerrypark Rd. SW)
Free to explore
The 12th annual Art in the Garden Show and Sale features artists in attendance. Framed and unframed paintings in many mediums and styles, art cards, matted prints and stained glass to choose from. Come out and enjoy a day of art and the beautiful gardens!
facebook.com
Foreigner
August 17 – 28, 2021
EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society (2005 10th Ave. SW)
Free to explore
Foreigner by University of Calgary MFA candidate Yeisen Chang consists in a video and sound installation, divided in two spaces. The show represents her personal experience as a migrant artist and is part of the University of Calgary’s 2021 MFA Thesis Exhibition.
facebook.com
Collaborative Weaving
August 19 – 21, 2021
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to participate, registration required
Join Project Space artist Molly JF Caldwell for an earth-friendly interactive workshop where you will learn how to transform old clothing, sheets, or fabric into textile art. Molly will share her knowledge and skills, including how to warp a loom, weaving techniques, and creating patterns.
eskerfoundation.com
Down in the Weeds
August 20 – October 10, 2021
VIVIANEART (1018 9th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
Winnie Truong’s newest series of works continues her exploration of the female form within natural yet often surreal and imagined worlds. Truong uses intricate pencil crayon drawings to create cut paper collages, resulting in intense and beautiful created environments.
vivianeart.com
We’re Nuts For You
August 21, 2021, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$17.27 – $56.07
Visit the beautiful foothills for a morning of exploring and creating at the Leighton Art Centre! Join art and nature educators for a nature walk, learn about the native plants and wildlife, and explore and create based on the theme of squirrels! Be sure to register early to save your spot.
eventbrite.ca
Festival of Quilts
August 21 & 22, 2021
Heritage Park Historical Village (1900 Heritage Dr. SW)
With admission
Heritage Park wants this year’s Festival of Quilts to be as great as it can be! Hundreds of stunning homemade quilts of all shapes, sizes and techniques will blanket the park in a beautiful array of colour and pattern. Enjoy quilt displays, a Merchant’s Mall, and workshops all under the summer skies.
heritagepark.ca
Youth Earth Art Series
August 22, 2021, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$77.13
Learn how to make jewelry in harmony with nature! Participants learn how to create jewelry from natural materials such as twigs, bark, and seeds. Take home a piece of the land that you can wear wherever you go! Part of the Earth Art Series, come for one session or come for them all!
eventbrite.ca
Collaborative Mural Making Art Camp
August 24 – 26, 2021
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to participate, registration required
Children aged five to eight are invited to join the Esker for a three-day summer art camp experience! Activities include nature walks, games, and working with a variety of art making materials to create a large-scale collaborative mural. Be sure to register early!
eskerfoundation.com
Indigenous Art & Activism
August 26, 2021, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Stream online
Free to watch, registration required
This year’s Calgary Institute for the Humanities LGBTQ2S+ lecture features three celebrated young Indigenous artists and intellectuals: Joshua Whitehead, Billy-Ray Belcourt, and Shawnee Kish. There’s also a roundtable discussion about the intersections of art and activism for queer, trans, and two-spirit indigenous artists.
eventbrite.ca
Plein Air Painting Practice
August 28, 2021, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$83.79
Plein air is painting outside, where the artist experiences a range of new challenges from how to edit views, to setting up a workable palette. A.S. Helwig introduces you to the basics needed, discussing equipment, limited palettes, editing, and blocking in methods.
eventbrite.ca
Travel Plein Air Sketching
August 28, 2021, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$94.87
Join Michelle Wiebe to learn the secrets of capturing architecture, nature, and indoor scenes while you’re on the road, using watercolour and ink. Discover approaches for quickly capturing the moment, as well as plenty of practical information on what to bring for your adventures!
eventbrite.ca
Painting Loose & Free Outdoors
August 28 & 29, 2021, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$250.07
Let’s go painting at the Leighton Centre! Experience two days of sunny outdoor painting and learn to simplify all that Mother Nature has to offer. Composition and colour mixing will be heavily emphasized.
eventbrite.ca
Adult Youth Earth Art Series
August 29, 2021, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
$77.13
Learn how to make jewelry in harmony with nature! Participants learn how to create jewelry from natural materials such as twigs, bark, and seeds. Part of the Earth Art Series, come for one session or come for them all!
eventbrite.ca
Ongoing Exhibitions
Thinking of You
Until August 8, 2021
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
Thinking of You explores writing, connection, and memory through the process of making postcards for friends and family. Youth artists synthesized text and images to capture the sense of missing one another, and an attempt to link with those separated by space and time.
eskerfoundation.com
Unmasking Imagination
Until August 8, 2021
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
Through multiple artistic mediums, children aged eight to 13 worked with artist Katie Green to explore what it meant to embody the mask and character they were creating in art camp. Check out the artistic results these children achieved through mindfulness and creative practice!
eskerfoundation.com
Threading Black
Until August 8, 2021
Alberta Craft Gallery, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free to explore
eva birhanu and Simone Elizabeth Saunders define for themselves, in this body of work, permanent manifestations through practices that reckon with the necessary conversations surrounding race, gender, roots, and identity.
albertacraft.ab.ca
Nasarimba
Until August 15, 2021
VIVIANEART (1018 9th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
The collaborative practice of artists Rachel Ziriada and Mikhail Miller, Nasarimba is a fictional word created by the duo which means playful mischief. They are perhaps most recognized for their dynamic and colourful murals, many of them gracing walls around Calgary, across Canada, and in Mexico City.
vivianeart.com
Unspoken Incantation
Until August 21, 2021
Alberta Society of Artists (222, 1235 26th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
Mao (Kun) Chen’s works explore themes of socio-cultural identity, female representation, and gender politics associated with growing up in a male-dominated society in China. This exhibition explores kawaii culture in Asian-Canadian identity through ceramics and paintings.
albertasocietyofartists.com
You Could be Quoting Shakespeare
Until August 21, 2021
Alberta Society of Artists (222, 1235 26th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
SPECTRA Textile Arts showcases a collection of textile art inspired by Shakespeare quotes, with many of the popular phrases and sayings in common use today. Come be inspired to learn more about Shakespeare’s influence on our language through art! Don’t miss your chance to check it out!
albertasocietyofartists.com
Lands to Travel Through
Until August 27, 2021
Alberta Printmakers Gallery (4025 4th St. SE)
Free to explore
As part of the Lands to Travel Through artist-run gathering, Alberta Printmakers highlights alternative forms of knowledge dissemination and creative exchange with Martha Street Studio’s Trio and a portion of l’Atelier Presse Papier’s Vague démographique: mouvance des cultures.
albertaprintmakers.com
Summer Group Show
Until August 28, 2021
Herringer Kiss Gallery (101, 1615 10th Ave. SW)
Free to explore
Herringer Kiss Gallery presents an in-person rotating exhibition of diverse works by gallery artists, including Howard Lonn, Katie Ohe, Shelley Adler, Harry Kiyooka, Renee Duval,Genevieve Dionne, David Burdeny, Fiona Ackerman, Sara Robichaud, and more. You can also view it online.
herringerkissgallery.com
Chroma
Until August 28, 2021
Christine Klassen Gallery (200, 321 50th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
This summer group and invitational show at Christine Klassen Gallery features artworks by Karrie Arthurs, Ronald Boaks, Heather Close and Sarah Nordean, Rick Ducommon, Julya Hajnoczky, Madeleine Lamont, Robert Pierce, Lori Lukasewich, Carl White and many more! Be sure to check it out!
christineklassengallery.com
Joy
Until August 29, 2021
ATB Art Vault Gallery (102 8th Ave. SW)
Free to explore
Joy is a collaboration between the Alberta University of the Arts and ATB Art Vault. This free exhibition showcases artwork from six AUArts alumni. Each artist shares work in this exhibition that embodies their relationships to the joy they feel in their lives.
auarts.ca
Highlights From the Art Collection
Until August 29, 2021
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Spend some time with a selection of beautiful, surprising, and feel-good artworks from Glenbow’s diverse art collection. Whether you’re seeking a window into another world or a calm moment of contemplation, each of these artworks will reward your attention.
glenbow.org
Maud Lewis
Until August 29, 2021
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Glenbow presents the work of one of Canada’s most beloved folk artists, Maud Lewis, who was famous in her lifetime for her brightly coloured and endearing paintings of rural Nova Scotia, producing hundreds of small works that captured aspects of country life that were rapidly changing.
glenbow.org
Shuvinai Ashoona
Until August 29, 2021
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Take in Mapping Worlds courtesy of Glenbow. Shuvinai Ashoona’s drawings imagine the past and present fused into a prophetic future, populated by human-animal hybrid creatures, women birthing worlds, and mystical or other-worldly landscapes clearly inspired by the terrain of her northern home.
glenbow.org
Beyond Van Gogh: An Immersive Experience
Until August 29, 2021
BMO Centre, Stampede Park (20 Roundup Way SE)
Prices vary
In an imaginative and immersive presentation crafted for our unique times by world renowned audiovisual designers, Beyond Van Gogh uses cutting-edge projection technology to create an engaging journey into the world of Van Gogh. Tickets are selling out so grab yours quickly.
calgaryvangogh.com
Hot Hot Hot
Until August 31, 2021
Wallace Galleries (500 5th Ave. SW)
Free to explore
Wallace Galleries presents a group exhibition with a handpicked selection of works by its roster of artists to celebrate the summer. The show includes work by Dorothy Knowles, Gregory Hardy, Simon Andrew, Hilda Oomen, and more so be sure to check it out this season!
wallacegalleries.com
Birds Eat Mosquitoes
Until September 5, 2021
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
By donation
Inspired by our powerful prairie surroundings, Doug Levitt began a series devoted to painting Alberta. Along the backroads and scenic piques and valleys, Doug fell in love with the birds he inevitably encountered on his explorations. Check his work out at the Leighton Art Centre!
leightoncentre.org
Where Do We Stand?
Until September 5, 2021
Leighton Art Centre (282027 144th St. West, Millarville)
By donation
An exhibition of sculpture and two-dimensional works by Neshka Krusche, the artist finds the driftwood, mostly cedar and fir, on the West Coast and completely transforms it to take on a new, sharp, thought-provoking presence. You won’t want to miss it.
leightoncentre.org
A History For Today
Until September 6, 2021
Gasoline Alley, Heritage Park (1900 Heritage Dr. SW)
With admission
This engaging and inspirational exhibit shares the story of Anne Frank and her family, their life in hiding, WWII, and the atrocities of the Holocaust. The stories unfold through the words of young Anne and her family, with excerpts taken from her diary.
heritagepark.ca
Special Thymes
Until September 29, 2021
Window Installation, EB Centre Street CTrain Station (124 7th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
The Bows presents works by artist Les Ramsay, reflecting images of organic states of fractured evolution, text and figure that mingle in lucid landscapes. Ramsay creates his works by recycling the excess of everyday ideas and domestic objects using constructive and deconstructive strategies.
thebows.org
Eat & Seek
Until September 30, 2021
Southcentre Mall (100 Anderson Rd. SE)
Free to explore
Eat & Seek is an inventive, interactive outdoor dining space featuring artwork from local Alberta artists. Explore vibrant interactive designs and wordplay that will inspire you to hunt for hidden messages in a larger-than-life word search, attempt an unconventional hopscotch, and more!
southcentremall.com
Threads of Living Memory
Until October 3, 2021
Glenbow (130 9th Ave. SE)
With admission
Drawing on Glenbow’s Inuit textiles collection and loans from across Canada, these objects and artworks are manifestations of the dynamic connections between the makers, the viewers, the land, the spirit world, and future generations of memory makers. Be sure to book your visit and check it out.
glenbow.org
With One Hand Tied Behind My Back
Until October 10, 2021
Project Space, Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
A 30-foot tapestry, cherry red and bubble-gum pink, Molly JF Caldwell’s site-specific installation is a love letter to Penelope from Homer’s Odyssey who repeatedly wove, unraveled, and rewove a tapestry to avoid suitors while awaiting her husband’s return.
eskerfoundation.com
Everywhere We Are
Until October 10, 2021
Contemporary Calgary (701 11th St. SW)
With admission
An ambitious exhibition and public program series addressing challenges, merits, impacts, and advantages associated with art collecting, it is intended to express that boundaries are often mutable, flexible and even artificial, and that art is owned by the person who sees it.
contemporarycalgary.com
Notes for Tomorrow
Until October 10, 2021
Contemporary Calgary (701 11th St. SW)
With admission
This exhibition features artworks selected by curators from around the world to reflect on a new global reality ushered in by the COVID-19 pandemic, with artworks addressing spirituality as a grounding mechanism, sharing ways to make sense of the world when so much is in doubt.
contemporarycalgary.com
Stories from Early Chinatown
Until October 17, 2021
Lougheed House (707 13th Ave. SW)
With admission
The Chinese community has been in Calgary since the early days of settlement. By 1885, the year after Calgary became incorporated as a town, the first Chinese residents were settled in the town centre. Despite racism and discriminatory government policies, the community slowly grew. This exhibit explores the stories of these early Calgarians through creative writing, illustrations, audio, and historical photographs.
lougheedhouse.com
Beyond the Edge
Until October 17, 2021
Lougheed House (707 13th Ave. SW)
With admission
Beyond the Edge is a traveling exhibit by artist Kay Burns that looks at the Flat Earth Society of Canada and its later iterations, along with curious details about two of its enigmatic members. The exhibit embodies how inquiry plays an important role in critical thinking and knowledge acquisition.
lougheedhouse.com
RELATIONS: Diaspora and Painting
Until November 27, 2021
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free to explore
This group exhibition explores the multiple and complex meanings of the idea of the diaspora, its condition, and its experiences as expressed in painting, offering a selection of works by artists who address the question from various points of view. Be sure to make it a priority to visit.
eskerfoundation.com
The Boxed Stories Gallery
Until December 1, 2021
Loft 112 (112, 535 8th Ave. SE)
$5
Housed within a vintage card catalogue, the library’s one time answer to organizing a collection of books for readers to locate on a shelf, visitors are encouraged to discover varied artworks as they open each drawer. This gallery is curated by 32 Calgary artists and writers.
loft112.org
Have a visual arts event that’s not listed? Email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or fill out this form.
