This episode includes an interview with visual artist Edward Van Vliet, whose exhibition “Recipes for Kneeling” is showing at the Fringe Gallery throughout October.

Links from the episode:

The New Body Creative Network Gallery …
http://www.bodycreativenetwork.com/index.php/network-gallery/

Edward Van Vliet’s blog…
http://etechne.blogspot.com

The Portal Gallery …
http://www.theportalgallery.ca

The Shack Discussion …
http://www.bodycreativenetwork.com/index.php/forums/good_reads/the-shack/page-1

 Body Language - October 08: Gallery [00:49:10m]: Download

Come out and check out some wonderful work, while supporting our good friend Edward Van Vliet (aka. techne).

The location: Fringe Gallery, 10510 Whyte Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta
The dates: October 4-21, 2008
The opening reception: Saturday, October 4, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm.

Here is the statement:

recipes for kneeling

Books have always been the main raw material for my work. Richly metaphorical objects, they symbolize knowledge, story and communication. Books are objects with cultural value, with a human scale and dimension. We all share the experience of holding and even cherishing them.

Light is associated with knowledge, revelation, unveiling. We may seek it, or run from it.

In recipes for kneeling, the symbolic weight of light (as well as its absence) is combined with the metaphorical richness of books. Images and text suggest connections between the books as well as between the books and viewer.

The title for this installation, recipes for kneeling, evokes questions. What is meant by “recipes”? What is meant by “kneeling”? How are they connected, if at all? This questioning is a way to open up ideas for the viewer to explore and to find their own place in the work.

This is a contemplative space. The room is dark and quiet – take time to wait and consider.

Anybody want to hit up the reception with me?

Well, Edmonton seems to be getting a host of new venues these days. Coming in 2009 will be the newly built, beautiful Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts on Alberta Avenue. Also in 2009, in case you’d forgotten, the Art Gallery of Alberta unveils it’s new, architecturally wonderful or worrying (depends who you ask), building downtown. I can’t wait to step inside!

In the meantime there have been many smaller venues popping up, too. I have to admit, with my time spent largely at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse (9351 118th Ave) I haven’t put a lot of time into these other venues, which are getting rave reviews. The Artery (9535 Jasper Avenue) presents a large open space for artists to create a myriad of shows and events. The Haven Social Club (15120 A Stony Plain Road) has created “Edmonton’s Newest Live Music Venue”, also providing a visual arts gallery. I’ve heard from friends hat this is a great place to see a show, with a very cool “vibe”. Perhaps a Dave Von Bieker show would be good to catch there?

And now, this morning, via Facebook, I stumble across a venue so new, so fresh, that all I get on its’ homepage is, “Website up by Sunday. Put your fingers in your ears.” (and a logo). The Hydeaway is another space for art shows and live shows and whatever artists can dream up, by the sounds of it. They have a few really cool ideas brewing, like a “communal camera”, where people can sign out the camera (for use in the Hydeaway) for the night, and at the end the pictures are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/communcalcamera. You can get much more detail on their Facebook page here.

So, as you plan out your schedule to check all these venues out, don’t forget those venues that last for only a moment - or a weekend. The Kaleido Family Arts festival is coming September 26-28 and will transform several spaces on Alberta Avenue into temporary theatres, dance and music stages, galleries, workshop spaces and more. You can find out about that amazing event at http://www.artsontheave.org.

Did I miss any? Share your amazing venue in the comments below.

A new featured artist coming to the Portal Gallery - our good friend Marcie Rohr!

Here is what Marcie has to say about her show …

Marcie is a dreamer. In her dreams she has spanned the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, laughed and cried, lived and died. She dreams the vibrant hues and silky strokes that dance their way across her canvases. Art is the medium of Marcie’s spirit, a bridge between her sleepiness and wakefulness. When not in dreamland she is self taught, God taught, life taught, mentor taught. Marcie has participated in the Art Walk in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007. She also shared her art at the former Harvestmoon Festival in 2006. Marcie is a cofounder of Papercastle Art and Photography, an organization which seeks to give underprivileged children a voice in art. In August 2007, Marcie traveled to Pacasmayo Peru to do just that. The art from this experience is currently being displayed at the College Plaza Steeps Teahouse. Marcie is anticipating a solo exhibit in August 2008 entitled “Lost and Found”, a display focused on childhood. The bright pastel hues and dreamy ‘childscapes’ will lead the viewer into a world of their own as they contemplate what is gained and lost through the journey of life.

Here is the invite from Giselle at The Portal …

The Portal invites you to view the art of:

Marcie Rohr

Solo Exhibition

“Lost & Found”

Opening Night with artist in attendance:

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

7:00 - 9:30pm

Show Runs:

August 12 to September 12

You can visit The Portal online at www.theportalgallery.com

The art of Cheri & Giselle will continually be shown in the gallery during the shows of other artists. There are always new and fresh paintings to see! Come on down to see our lovely space in the summer months. Feel free to forward our e-mails to anyone you think may be interested.

Thanks to Cory Hochachka, who will be at this market, for sharing the info with us.

The Arts Market will be under the glass covering in Churchill Square and runs for 10 days!

A Taste Of Edmonton 2008

Start date: Friday, July 18, 2008
End date: Sunday, July 27, 2008
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square
Address: 100 Street & 102 Avenue
City: Edmonton
Phone: 423-2822 Ext. 24
Website: http://www.eventsedmonton.ca

Edmonton’s greatest arts publication , Notebook Magazine, is coming out again very soon!

Here is Steve’s invite to the launch party …

Saturday, July 26, 2008
8 - 12 pm
Remedy Cafe
8631 - 109 st.
FREE EVENT

Notebook Magazine ( www.notebookmagazine.ca) features Edmonton based artists and writers in a full colour, glossy format. We are celebrating the release of issue 6 at Remedy Cafe on Saturday, April 26. The new issue is packed with jaw dropping art. It is going to be a fun ride for your eyes and soul. There are over 30 artists, writers and curators featured and I’m even going to be gluing 3D glasses into each and every copy! This is not an issue to be missed. Come down on the night of the release to check out some of the art in person, chat with some of the people involved and get your copy first.

Feel free to stop in to Remedy Cafe anytime between 8 & 12 pm on Saturday, July 26. I just finished hanging a show of 10 differet artists in the cafe for you to see. There is no cover. The night of the party there will be free eats provided by Remedy. They also have a great beer selection for those of you looking to indulge.

Check out the all-star cast involved with issue 6:

Tim Rechner
Fish Grikowsky
Josée Aubin Ouellette
Mandy Espezel
Jessica Joan Delorme
Karolina Kowalski
Jennifer Poburan
Nomi Stricker
Megan Kemshead
Elaine Wannechko
Vince Dale
Roberta Murray
James Gaa
Isabelle Hunt-Johnson
Aaron Falkenberg
Elizabeth Derksen
Rhianne Ireland
Keith Walker
Joe Renaud
C. Joseph Gurba
Jordanna Rachinsky
Glen Ronald
Jensen Kimmitt
John Onyschuk
Karen Probert
Murray Allen
Renee Pascal
Ronald Kurt
Joe Reimer
Kathy Meany
Raimund Schwind
Emily McKelvey

Harcourt House presents their 20th Annual Members Exhibition and Sale.

Thanks to Corey Hochachka for tipping us onto this event. He’s also showing there.

You can view a full alphabetical list of artists from their website, here.

I had the privilege of checking out The Works twice this past week and I will head down again, for likely the last time, tonight.

This festival is free, and it is outside, both of which, on these balmy summer days, are good things!

My personal favorite exhibit was GRAPHEX - a gallery of award winning graphic design from accross Canada (though mostly Montreal?). It was really inspiring to have a look through that, and I thought I should mention it because it is tucked away on the second floor of Enterprise Square (the old Bay building where you find the Art Gallery of Alberta for the time being. In the same building, on the main floor, you have some modern visual work, sculpture and furniture reflecting “the West” which is also really interesting. I like the “sled lounger” and the end table made of sawed-off branches.

I happened to go on the day of the “no mobile phones” exhibit. The idea was they had an elaborate bungee system setup and would do an impromptu installation by hanging mobile phones donated by patrons for a 24 hour period. It was cool to see this visual representation of many people giving up their “lifeline” for a day. Especially when a phone would randomly ring! The only downer is that I heard they got a paltry 25 phones or so handed in. Perhaps that is a more powerful statement than a fuller exhibit ever could have been.

Finally, if you, make SURE you say hello to Body Creatives Giselle Denis and Dara Loewen. They both have art booths up for you to enjoy and would love for you to say hello. They’d love it even more if you bought a piece of art

Anyways, I will post some photos I took soon. Even better if you go in person.

Visit the Works website at http://www.theworks.ab.ca/festivalfolder/festival/festival.html

Our good friends Julie and Marcie, the artistic (and literal) sisters of Paper Castle, are keeping busy this summer.

Here is a listing of activities they shared with me, that I am now sharing with you. If you can make it to any of these events, please do, and be sure to wish them well.

“STEEPS - our Peru art and books will be on display (and for sale) at the STEEPS TEA HOUSE on Whyte Ave (11116-82 Ave) for the month of June, so stop by, grab a cup of tea, and ponder.

NORTH COUNTRY FAIR - for any of you fine folk who like folk music, or music festivals in general, we will be vending at the North Country Fair June 20 - 22 up near the massive metropolis of Driftpile Alberta… see http://www.lslncca.ca/current for more info.

THE PORTAL GALLERY - Marcie’s art will be showcased at the Portal Gallery (9414 - 91) from August 9 to September 12th - mark your calendars for TUESDAY, AUGUST 12th when Marcie will be having her opening night reception for that show! Wooooohoooo!

We will unfortunately not be at the Art Walk (July 11 - 13) this summer due to an out-of-town wedding that we are attending that weekend - but still go and check out all our friends’ art! There’s always fantastic art to be found that weekend.

Visit us at www.papercastle.ca to see any updated and fun information!!”

poor posture

Catch the Portal on location this Saturday @ The Downtown Farmer’s Market

Giselle Denis’ gallery, The Portal Art Gallery, will be located at:

to the Downtown Farmer’s Market
104 street and Jasper Ave.
Edmonton, Alberta
this Saturday, May 31st, 9:00am to 3:00pm

Come and see what new paintings have been created!

The The Spring Stop & Shop Show is back at the Trans Alta Arts Barns, and you’ll be able to find “creative” Giselle Denis, among many others, represented.

May 16, 17 ,18th
at the Trans Alta Arts Barns.
Visit the facebook group ‘Stop & Shop’ or
visit: www.stopandshopshow.com