Art Beat

SAAG takes a unusual peek at portraiture in new exhibits

Friday, 02 December 2022 18:47 Richard Amery

Three new exhibits at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) take a different peek at portraiture.

In the upstairs gallery, Lethbridge based artist Dagmar Dahle’s “Tangle” features mixed media gouache paintings.

Raneece Buddan’s exhibit “Desiderium” is in the SAAG library until Feb. 4. photo by RichardAmery

“She was in a residency in Paris and started doodling as a way to ease mental burnout,” observed Jeremy Franchuk, Southern Alberta Art Gallery communications co-ordinator.

“ “Tangle’ combines 14 years of work,” he said.

She is also creating a large scale work on one wall from Jan. 7 to Feb. 4 so you will have the opportunity to talk with her about her work,” Franchuk continued.

The group exhibition ‘ The Faceless Familiar,” featuring the works of Barry Doupé , Nick Sikkuark, U of L educated artist Kasia Sosnowski, Alison Yip and Capilano based artist Elizabeth Zvonar, turns the idea of portraiture on it’s head.

“ They all reflect portraits and body parts,” Franchuk said, there are surreal paintings, sculpture, ceramics and multi-media works in the exhibit.

works .

“ Kasia Sosnowski works in ceramics. They reflect the fragility of the human body through the fragility of ceramics,” Franchuk said.

Shop local with Christmas at Casa today

Saturday, 19 November 2022 09:33 Richard Amery

November is too early to think about Christmas shopping. But if you want to get it over with then why not shop local and support your neighbourhood artisans and businesses rather than some faceless corporation selling you rubbish from overseas.

The tenth annual Christmas at Casa continues today, Saturday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on both floors of Casa.

Carson Froelich performing at Christmas at Casa, Nov. 18. Photo by Richard Amery

“ it’s unreal that this is our tenth year,” noted the allied Arts Council Communications manager Kelaine Devine.

“ It’s been steady, said Devine, watching the last flood of early Christmas shoppers close off the first night on Friday.

“ It feels like a family. You see a group of people here you only see once a year, and after it’s show and tell because everyone is so excited to show you what they bought,” she enthused, adding they are at full capacity again.

pre-Covid Christmas at Casa attracted over 4,000 people coming though the doors of the two day event.

“ We have 100 artists this year,” she continued, noting there is beadwork, leatherwork, pottery, painters and woodturners. Local guilds including the Textiles Surface Guild, the Lethbridge Handicraft Guild of Weavers, the Lethbridge Society of Glass Artisans and Lethbridge Artists club are also participating.

SAAG Social 2 to feature music and food

Friday, 28 October 2022 16:33 Richard Amery

Get to know the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) as the second annual SAAG social returns to the gallery Nov. 3 from 7-10 p.m.

there will live music and the return of the Owl Acoustic Lounge poutine bar, ice cream samples from Milkman Milk Bar, Flamingo Floss cotton candy courtesy Urban Studio Interior Design, beverages from Last Best Brewing and Distilling, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and more.

Steven William Foord plays the SAAG Social, Nov. 3. Photo by RichardAmery

“ We really enjoyed seeing Festival square across the street from us during the summer. It brought a lot of energy back to the downtown, which we’re hoping to carry forward into the Fall and Winter,” said SAAG communications co-ordinator Jeremy Franchuk.

“ We started it last year in the wake of the pandemic. It’s a fundraiser for the SAAG, but it\s also about bringing the community together,” he said.

Word on the Street celebrates with books and music

Friday, 23 September 2022 14:39 Richard Amery

Word On The Street returned as a live event outside the Lethbridge Public Library, Sept. 17.

Carter Felker plays Word on the Street, Sept. 17. Photo by Richard Amery

Word on the Street a had beautiful weather and a laid back feel as throngs of people threaded their way through assorted tents and booths featuring a plethora of authors promoting their work.

The music matched the laid back feel.

I caught the end of Calgary country musician Carter Felker’s set

He sang a solid set of original solo work, focussing on the more literature inspired songs.

Local country/ folk band Starpainter continued in the same vein, playing a song inspired by John Steinbeck.

They played their usual strong, laid back set.