Back to All Events

January Public Programs


Event // STEPHEN AVENUE LOCATION

CONTEMPORARY KIDS
/ Calligraphy from Around the World

Sunday January 7, 2018
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | FREE

Each iteration of this monthly series will focus on one specific artwork, artist, or theme found in our current exhibition, welcoming families for a brief tour followed by and engaging art activity developed specifically for children, ages 5-12.

Calligraphy from Around the World will give children the opportunity to learn and practice calligraphy from different cultures. 

_______________________________________________________________________

LUNCH HOUR AUTHOR READINGS
/ Nikki Reimer, DOWNVERSE and [sic]

Wednesday January 10, 2018
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM | FREE

Held over the lunch hour this series invites Calgarians working in the downtown core to enjoy their lunch while listening to talks and presentations by artists whose work blends modes of writing with the visual arts.

NIKKI REIMER is a carbon-based life form residing on the traditional territories of the Treaty 7 people of Southern Alberta (Calgary). She may or may not be undead.
 
Reimer writes poetry, non-fiction and criticism, organizes in community, yells on the internet, and makes digital art. Reimer has published two books of poetry: DOWNVERSE (Talonbooks) and [sic] (Frontenac House), which was a finalist for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. Her work has also been shortlisted for the Lit POP award and the PRISM International Creative Non-Fiction contest. Creative and non-fiction work has appeared on stages, billboards, public art exhibits, pop-up bistro menus, and in The Rusty Toque, The Capilano Review, About A Bicycle, The Maynard, The Toast, Modern Loss, The Rumpus, Matrix, Truck, Windsor Review, Lemon Hound, SubTerrain, Capitalism Nature Socialism, Poetry is Dead, PRISM International, Branch Magazine, EVENT Magazine, Quill & Quire, and in various anthologies. She was named a Best Writer Under 35 in 2013 by Windsor Review.
_______________________________________________________________________

FRENCH CONNECTIONS
Matinée du Film: La Nouvelle Vague / Film Matinee: French New Wave

Présenté en partenariat avec l'Alliance Française de Calgary
Sunday January 14, 2018
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | FREE

Pour notre première soirée dans la série de prestations intitulée French Connections, nous présentons Les 400 coups, le chef-d'oeuvre de François Truffaut, qui, à lui seul, a servi à définir la nouvelle vague du cinéma à l'époque. Notre directeur et PDG, M. Pierre Arpin, introduira le film en contextualisant le style révolutionnaire de la nouvelle vague française.
 
Cette présentation aura lieu dans notre salle de projection (au sous-sol) où nos invités pourront se prélasser sur notre mobilier classique du 20e siècle - tout en dégustant gratuitement un délicieux maïs soufflé. La courte présentation aura lieu en français, alors que le film sera présenté avec sous-titres en anglais.
_____
 
For our first French Connections film screening we will be showing François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows, a defining film of French nouvelle vague or “New Wave” cinema. Our Director and CEO Pierre Arpin will provide an introduction to the film, discussing the revolutionary style of “New Wave” cinema and how the film relates to our current exhibition extratextual
 
This matinée will be held in Contemporary Calgary’s screening room where you can relax on chic mid-century modern leather couches while enjoying complimentary popcorn. The introductory talk will be held in French and the film will be screened with english subtitles.
_______________________________________________________________________

LATE NIGHT THURSDAY
/ The Art of Writing Lyrics

Thursday January 18, 2018
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | FREE

Doors open at 7pm - performance begins at 7:15pm

Join us in celebrating the final public program of extratextual featuring a stage show by Selci, which features dancers from Trip The Light contemporary dance crew (Calgary), visuals by artist Sebastian Jarmula (Calgary), and a stage installation that she designed herself. The evening will begin with an introduction by Selci in which she will discuss her process of writing lyrics.

Selci (sell-see) is a Calgary-based singer, producer and songwriter who creates her own beats in an ambient pop/electronica style with elements of r&b. She’s influenced by a variety of pop artists ranging from Grimes to FKA Twigs, Bjork to Erykah Badu and an obsession with James Blake and Frank Ocean. 

Selci’s new single and video Apple$ (early 2018) is being supported with a tour of Western Canada, including shows in Winnipeg (her hometown), Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. 

“ This song has developed over a span of two years, it discusses how gender identity and beauty standards are purveyed in our culture. These concepts affected me deeply growing up. The creation process of the poetry, song, and video was incredibly healing and intense.” - Selci

Her debut single, ‘Gone W Thuh Wind’ (Sept. 2017), was accompanied by a music video that she self-styled, set designed and directed. 

Selci completed her first tour of western Canada in August 2016 following the release of her limited edition (50 cassette copies) EP Earth Person, which included a sold-out show at the Good Will Social Club in Winnipeg. 

In 2017 she also played Manitoba’s Rainbow Trout Music Festival, Shine On Music Festival, and launched Synonym’s Wall To Wall Mural & Cultural Festival in Winnipeg. She was also booked to play Snowdance Fest (Falcon Lake) and Big Fun Fest (Winnipeg) in winter of 2018. 

Selci is a trained classical musician having professionally studied opera, composition, electronics, and new music. She has collaborated with a variety of artists in other mediums such as dance, video, paint, sculpture, and healing arts. She is an avid writer who specializes in poetry. 
_______________________________________________________________________

MARATHON READING WEEKEND
/ Gertrude Stein, Three Lives

Sunday January 21, 2018
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | FREE

Were you one of those kids who loved being read to? In these digital times, we read alone on our screens and in our homes, but Contemporary Calgary would like to bring the community together on a cold January day, to read together, to listen to each other read and to enjoy hearing words spoken aloud together. Please join us for a reading marathon of Gertrude Stein’s Three Lives!  We invite you to read, sing, whisper, read in chorus, and generally have fun with this groundbreaking text, which itself combines the voices of three characters to create a revolutionary experimental narrative work.
 
This event will take place on Sunday January 21st from 10-4pm in Contemporary Calgary’s gallery space which will be filled with leather couches, pillows and comfy beanbag chairs. Breaks will be scheduled throughout the day with complimentary pastries and coffee, lunch and beverages. The day will end with a glass of wine and some cupcakes to celebrate Gertrude Stein’s birthday on February 3rd. 
 
Guests are welcome to join us for the duration of the event or stop by throughout the day to assist with reading or to listen!
 
The writings of Gertrude Stein have inspired several artists in our current extratextual exhibition including Mary Scott and Eve Fowler. These artists and their works will be introduced at the beginning of the event as part of a brief gallery tour. 
 
Please note, we require a certain number of participants to hold this event. We will be in touch with you if adequate enrolment is not reached. RSVP through eventbrite or email CHARLOTTE.LEGALLAIS@CONTEMPOARYCALGARY.COM

Earlier Event: December 3
DECEMBER PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Later Event: March 1
March Public Programs