If you happen to be in Calgary this week then you have a chance of catching up with David Scott at the Western Art Gallery Showcase Gala at the Calgary Stampede. The gala is one of the cultural highlights of the Stampede as it gives an early look at the gallery with its variety of more than 30 visual artists from across Alberta and the northern United States, most of whom hail from Cowtown, of course.
"It's relatively big!" Scott described. "It has quite a few well-known within the Alberta region. It was quite an honour to actually get in there."
He'll have four works on display based on the theme of Western Canada. His works represent Alberta's past.
The Western Showcase also features creative arts and crafts, a kitchen theatre troupe, a photo gallery, and the Artist Ranch project, described as "an initiative designed to create a discourse about western heritage and values for the 21st century."
Along with his work, the gallery will represent artists including Tracy Burton, Juana Cortez, Christine Ford, Brian Herrick, Maryanne Jespersen, Janie Lockwood, Ross Lynem, Branko Marjanovic, Lee Mayne, Karen Pedersen, Tracy Proctor, Monte Yellow Bird, and Maria Libertad Solis.
A student art gallery is also set up to highlight eight artists at the beginning of their artistic practices.
Scott is thrilled with the temporary exhibit, especially considering the Stampede sees attendance in the hundreds of thousands.
"It's great to be able to showcase in the Calgary area and to have that amount of foot traffic too!"
The gallery can be found at the BMO Centre Stampede Corral (formerly the Roundup Centre) on the Stampede grounds. The Calgary Stampede itself runs from Friday through Sunday, July 13.
People can learn more about the gallery and the contributors at www.westernshowcase.com/gallery-artists.html.
New jewelry from former city councillor
Carol Watamaniuk has always had a flair for fashion and art. Last year, she took those two passions to the world of jewelry design for the first time.
Now she's back with a new series, all inspired by our former national copper money: the now discontinued one-cent piece. Watamaniuk used oxidized Canadian pennies to create some shiny – and patriotic – necklaces and other pieces.
"It seemed appropriate for Canada Day and all that!" she said.
Not only are they timely, but they are also the kind of decorations that represent our own history. That, plus each one is completely unique, she said.
"Of course they are all one-of-a-kind."
Watamaniuk will have a display of these works in the lobby of the Visual Arts Studio Association building during Thursday evening's ArtWalk from 6 to 9 p.m.
VASA is located at 25 Sir Winston Churchill Ave. Call 780-460-5990 or visit www.vasa.ca for more information.
