Alberta Arts Days 2011 poster
Among the pumpjacks and fields of canola, beside the farms and ranches and along the lonely roads through the badest of the badlands, the agri-industrial lifestyle of southeastern Alberta is shot through with a creative spirit that can’t be missed. You see it everywhere – from the Royal Sproule Art Gallery in Rosebud to the hive in Medicine Hat and from the kilns at Medalta to That’s Empressive in the tiny village of Empress.
Alberta Arts Days was created in 2008 to celebrate that creative spirit. It started as a one-day event “to recognize the value of Alberta’s arts and cultural communities” and has since expanded to a three-day, province-wide festival showcasing Alberta’s artists, arts organizations and cultural industries.
Here are some highlights of the 2011 “Three wildly creative days” in the Canadian Badlands.
Rosebud, home of the Rosebud Theatre and the Rosebud School of the Arts hosts the official opening of photographer Harry Palmer’s “A Portrait of Rosebud” featuring the people and places of Rosebud shot in the early 1980s and in 2010 and 2011. The gala opening will be displayed in the brand new Encana conference centre space at Rosebud Centre for the Arts. Saturday, October 1, 2011 is Music and Spoken Word Night at the Thorny Rose Café, Wild Horse Jack’s Bistro and Grill and the Rosebud Country Inn.
In Lethbridge you’ll find everything from Japanese drumming to Metis jigging to Scottish country dancing. The 4th annual 3D Sculpture Show at the Galt Museum includes three-dimensional pieces in a range of materials including wood, metal, clay and multi-media. Afternoon demonstrations are planned on all three days. Visitors can also view the Chinook Winds mural by Alex Pavlenko in the Discovery Hall and special exhibits in the main level hallway. For info contact Wendy Aitkens at wendy.aitkens@galtmuseum.com or call 403-320-3907.
Drumheller – Depth of Field, Sept 30th at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, – the Museum’s resident photographer welcomes visitors to the outdoor amphitheatre for a lesson on how to capture the unique beauty of the Canadian Badlands on film. Visitors can enter their favourite shots in the Museum’s photo contest on Flickr. Contact Information: tyrrell.info@gov.ab.ca or call 403-823-7707.
Medicine Hat – starting at 7pm, the Downtown Medicine Hat Art Walk continues, featuring the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre, Framing and Art Centre, The Clay Trade, the hive Artists’ Hub, Inspire Studio Gallery & Café, Luna Fresca, Remenda Designs and Street Art Works. Contact Tobie Laliberte at toblal@medicinehat.ca or call 403-502-8786.
Medalta, the pottery centre of Canada, will be hosting a Raku Festival during Alberta Arts Days. Participants will have the opportunity to glaze a piece of pottery and watch it fired before their eyes. There will also be free admission to the museum. Call 403-529-1070 for program details.
Castor – all weekend – The Lang Gallery features local art, photography, and wood carving. Look for entertainment and refreshments on the Saturday. Contact Sandi Jackson at sandi@townofcastor or call 403-882-3215.
For more information, check the Government of Alberta’s Alberta Arts Days website, or contact artsdays@gov.ab.ca 780-427-6315.