Free This Week
Frightening concoctions and spooktacular treats take over the city
- Price: Free
It’s the week before Halloween and Calgary is getting into the spirit with a ton of ghastly free offerings including haunted houses, spooky concerts, and much more. And if Halloween is not your thing, don’t fret. There are great offerings from the Multivision Artists of Calgary, the Esker Foundation, and Shelf Life Books as well.
Here’s what we’re checking out:
Multivision Artists of Calgary Now, Then & Beyond Exhibition
Until October 28, 2017
Level 1 Hallway Gallery, cSPACE King Edward (1721 29th Ave. SW)
Free
A week-long event of inspiration, admiration, and jubilation, join the Multivision Artists of Calgary as they celebrate a new beginning. Throughout the show look for workshop sessions and sketch-offs or attend the closing gala on October 28 to meet and chat with the artists.
multivisionartists.ca
ProArts Presents James Picken
October 25, 2017, 12:10 – 12:50pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free
An Associate Director of Music Ministry at Knox Presbyterian Church and accompanist for the Calgary Men’s Chorus, James Picken enjoys collaborative work, on piano or organ, with solo singers and instrumentalists. Joining him for this free lunch hour concert is cellist Liz Tremblay.
proartssociety.ca
Waking The Sleeping Giant
October 25, 2017, 7:00pm
Gallery Hall, Taylor Family Digital Library, University of Calgary (410 University Ct. NW)
Free for students with ID, community entry by donation
Join Movies That Matter for this screening of Waking the Sleeping Giant: The Making of a Political Revolution. The film follows five individuals as they wrestle with persistent racial injustice, growing economic inequality, and the corrupting influence of money in politics against the backdrop of the last presidential race in the United States. A 30 minute Skype Q&A with Jacob Smith follows the screening. All proceeds go towards the Campus Food Bank.
facebook.com
Artist Talk with Veronica Verkley
October 27, 2017, 7:00 – 8:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration recommended
Join Yukon sculptor and filmmaker Veronica Verkley as she discusses the process and ideas behind her Project Space installation, Second Nature: FERAL. The talk is followed by an opening reception for the piece that details changes in our environment that are usually imperceptible unless they are seen as a time lapse.
facebook.com
Thumb Through Opening Reception
October 27, 2017, 7:00pm
Main Space, TRUCK Contemporary Art in Calgary
Free
Jade Yumang’s Thumb Through is a series of sculptures that reference a 1972 legal scandal in New Jersey where police officers, without warrant, entered a gay bookstore and seized publications that were deemed obscene. Each sculpture represents a page from My-O-My, a 1970s North American gay erotic magazine that was used as evidence in the case.
truck.ca
G.H.O.S.T. (Great Halloween Organ SpookTacular)
October 27, 2017, 7:30 – 8:30pm
Knox United Church (506 4th St. SW)
Free, family-friendly
Join the decomposing musicians for a family-friendly variety show of eerie spooky pipe organ music, groaning humour, and some gothic rock. Hosted by the Royal Canadian College of Organists, dress in your ghastly best and enjoy this free family-friendly concert.
rccocalgary.org
How can you think that?!? A Political Bookclub
October 28, 2017, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Shelf Life Books (1302 4th St. SW)
Free
A book club for conservatives and liberals who want to get out of their bubbles and bridge the great divide. Buy the book, read it, and join in this lively discussion. This month’s book is Robert B. Reich’s Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few, and discussions will be led by local scholar and writer Julie Sedivy.
facebook.com
Stop Motion Animation Workshop with Veronica Verkley
October 28, 2017, 10:00 – 5:00pm
Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. SE)
Free, registration essential
Inspired by Veronica Verkley’s stop motion animation Second Nature: FERAL, this workshop shows participants how to create their own ‘animate-able’ needle-felted animal with an internal, poseable wire armature. Participants must be over the age of 16.
facebook.com
17th Ave Spook-tacular
October 28, 2017, 12:00 – 4:00pm
Tomkins Park (880 17th Ave. SW)
Free
Featuring Market Collective’s Phantom Park, head to the 17th Ave. Retail and Entertainment District for an impressive and spooky activation. Featuring a mini-haunted house, free face painting, a mini pumpkin hunt, games, a bouncy house, art installations, and music throughout the afternoon, it’s sure to be a Halloween treat.
17thave.ca
Burnt Toast Halloween Open House
October 28, 2017, 12:00 – 7:00pm
Burnt Toast Studio (Bay 5, 215 36th Ave. NE)
Free
Get to know Calgary’s own Burnt Toast Studio at its annual Halloween open house featuring local visual artist, illustrator, and musician, Chris Zajko. A number of original works will be available for purchase as well a selection of silk screen collaborations created by Zajko and Burnt Toast.
facebook.com
Autumn Colour Opening Reception
October 28, 2017, 2:00 – 5:00pm
Wallace Galleries (500 5th Ave. SW)
Free
A solo exhibition by local artist William Duma, discover a selection of new works that exemplify his ability to play with light while portraying the beautiful variations of the Alberta landscape.
wallacegalleries.com
Halloween in Kensington
October 28, 2017, 2:00pm – Late
Throughout Kensington
Free
Spend this Saturday in Kensington making your way through the neighbourhood’s culinary hotspots. The day includes a complimentary wine tasting from 2:00 to 5:00pm at Vine Styles, a chance to get pumpkin ale or butterbeer lattes at the Hexagon Board Game Cafe, and an 80s themed costume party at the Kensington Pub.
visitkensington.com
Bee Kingdom Glass Glassblowing Sale
October 28 & 29, 2017, 12:00 – 5:00pm
Bee Kingdom (427 22nd Ave. NW)
Free, family-friendly
With glassblowing demonstrations and a sale, this weekend is a great time to visit the Bee Kingdom. Pick up your own piece of cute, funky art or simply watch how it’s made with a frightening and free demo.
facebook.com
Field Station Community Celebration
October 29, 2017, 1:00 – 3:00pm
Tuscany School Gymnasium (990 Tuscany Dr. NW)
Free
Celebrate the completion of Field Station with this showcase looking at the process and creative outcomes of this community-based public art project. Take part in arts activities for all ages and explore the release of a multi-media, digital publication created by the artist team.
facebook.com
Critical Cinema Series: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
October 29, 2017, 2:00 – 4:00pm
John Dutton Theatre, Calgary Public Library (616 Macleod Tr. SE)
Free, registration required
Part of its 11th season programming, Calgary Cinematheque has partnered with the Calgary Public Library to present this series of Sunday afternoon screenings. Up next is Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Directed by Mike Nichols, the black comedy-drama film won five Academy Awards and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
calgarypubliclibrary.com
Free Fall
October 29, 2017, 3:00pm
Strathcona Christie Aspen Community Association Centre (277 Strathcona Dr. SW)
Free
Join the award-winning Calgary Boys’ Choir at this concert the whole family will enjoy, Featuring both the Gentlemen’s and Masters’ choirs, refreshments will be served at this beautiful afternoon of music-making,
calgaryboyschoir.com
