Arts Commons Blog

Mar 25

Mar 25 Internal Jihad Screaming in a Sea of Silence

Artist Perspectives, Guest Writer series

Every other dawn before the birds take to their singing, I sit at my desk thinking of the myriad ways a story can be told or a life lived to appease a foe’s aggro or appeal to the sentiments of readers and spectators waiting to be intrigued; people asking to be enthralled in a web, a weaving that transforms the acts and flaws of a character into the magic created from a marriage of the mind, the ink, and a blank sheet of paper; the most perfect threesome ever since man opened his eyes to see the breaking of dawn and the falling of dusk, the two constants that determine his days, ways, and the canvas on which he paints his masterpieces.

Mar 25

Mar 25 A Groundbreaking Artist's Story Comes to the Stage in World Premiere

Chris Loach

Alberta Theatre Projects, Theatre Calgary

Few know of Selma Burke, the Black American sculptor who played a major role in the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920s and 30s. Among her works is a bas-relief plaque of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which is now widely accepted to be the basis for the design on the American dime, and something for which she never received credit within her lifetime.

Mar 21

Mar 21 In the Minds of Muses - Mental Wellness and Art Intersect in Wakefield Brewster Presents, Pt. 3

Chris Vereshagin

Artist Perspectives, Arts Commons Presents, TD Amplify, TD Incubator

Wakefield Brewster Presents, Pt. 3 sends a passionate invitation from four beloved local female artists to relish in the power of wellness and art. Soul-affirming Indigenous songs swirl with sculptures made of newspapers, joyfully brought to life with performance, poetry, and the beating hearts of ideas beautifully in-sync.

Mar 21

Mar 21 The Wild Side of Theatre with OMG Someone Dies!

Katherine Rawlinson

Downstage, Artist Perspectives

Downstage Artistic Producer, Katherine Rawlinson, sat down with Bitch Sassidy, co-creator with Karla Marx, of GoGo Battles about Motel Theatre's upcoming one-of-a-kind experience you don't want to miss. This is a prime-time satirical feminist wrestling mini-series event for the ages!

Mar 14

Mar 14 How Eagles: Their Greatest Hits Became the Best-Selling Album of All Time

Thomas Johnson

Classic Albums Live

In record stores worldwide, usually floor-bound stacked in unruly piles, often dusty, combed through daily by digging fingers, are boxes of dollar-priced records. These boxes, with rare exception, are filled with the same things: water damaged wax, one-hit wonders, tribute records, covers albums and – mostly – compilations. In a broad stroke, compilations lack sequencing and narrative. They are built, not grown. They aren’t original visions, they are recycled collections. Never a career highlight, they are rather a simple recap of previous triumphs. Unless, of course, that compilation is The Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975). For your chance to hear it live performed by Classic Albums Live, join Arts Commons Presents on Thursday, April 18 in the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons.

Mar 13

Mar 13 Immerse Yourself in the Secrets of the Whales in a World Premiere Concert

Alex Bonyun

Arts Commons Presents

Picture this: the Jack Singer Concert Hall is immersed in an underwater world, using footage shot by legendary National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry and produced by James Cameron, as an orchestra provides the musical backdrop, and none other than Jann Arden guides us through a captivating story of whale life. That's what you'll get with National Geographic Film Concert: Secrets of the Whales on April 21 - 23 in the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons.

Mar 6

Mar 6 20 Years of Ethno-Chaos with DakhaBrakha

Alex Bonyun

Artist Perspectives, BD&P World Stage

DakhaBrakha burst onto the scene 20 years ago, redefining what the genre of world music could encompass with larger-than-life costumes, theatricality, and multimedia elements. They quickly became bold new ambassadors for Ukrainian culture, highlighting festivals around the world. This April 4, they come to the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons to demonstrate why they have made such an impact everywhere they’ve performed.

Mar 4

Mar 4 My adventure with Kiliii Yuyan: Life on Thin Ice

Karen Youngberg

Artist Perspectives, National Geographic Live

National Geographic Explorer and award-winning photographer Kiliii Yüyan illuminates the importance of human connection to the land and sea with two student presentations in the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons May 27 & 28 with Life on Thin Ice. Associate Director of Education at Arts Commons was able to travel to Yüyan’s hometown of Seattle, Washington to see him live this past January and it was a life-changing experience for her.