All in Artist Perspectives

Internal Jihad Screaming in a Sea of Silence

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.

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

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.

20 Years of Ethno-Chaos with DakhaBrakha

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.

My adventure with Kiliii Yuyan: Life on Thin Ice

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.

Rewriting the Calgary Arts Scene

When people talk about Calgary and its arts scene, the story that often gets told is that emerging artists usually leave our city; they don’t choose to stay or move here to practice their art. There’s no support; they can’t make a living.

While that story may have had some truth to it at one time, it’s no longer accurate. Assistance for these artists has expanded significantly. Local organizations such as Arts Commons have created programs to provide educational and mentoring opportunities to accelerate emerging artists’ careers.

Shemekia Copeland and Dawn Tyler Watson Show Calgary Audiences What the Blues is All About

The most important part of the moniker "Black History Month" has to be the word "story". And there is nothing more reflective of the power of story telling than the musical art form known as "the blues". In preparation for BHM 2024, I got the chance to talk with two phenomenal blues singers in advance of their Calgary concert, at the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons on February 9th.