Latest Arts News

Lethbridge Fashion weekend to draw southern Alberta's fashionistas to the Galt

Sunday, 01 November 2015 17:50 Richard Amery

Lethbridge designers, vendors and restauranteurs strut their stuff this weekend as The Lethbridge Fashion Weekend returns to the Galt Museum, Nov. 6.

Shelly Court always looks forward to the Lethbridge Fashion Weekend. Photo by Richard Amery
The ever expanding annual event, modelled after fashion weeks in major centres like new York City, attracted a capacity crowd last year during their first year at the Galt Museum.
Lethbridge Fashion Weekend began in 2007. While the sale used to be the day after, the sale and show will all be on one day this year.

“ It’s going to be pure fun,” said Shelly Court who organizes the event with her husband and a dedicated core of volunteers.

Six is the magic number this year with six different designers participating including “Of A Feather” from Lethbridge College Fashion design program alumni and Airdrie based Sarah Auston, Lethbridge designers “Penny Lane” by Stephanie Hogan, “Troy Anthony Designs” from Troy Anthony, “donell” by Donell Kollias, “Veena ” by Jena Murray, “Aniimiism” by Vancouverite Cassie Dee and “Shelly Kanyo Studios” from Court herself. Beautiful models from Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge and Winnipeg will be modelling the new designs.

The event also features six vendors selling clothing, skin care products and jewelry. There will also be plenty of free food from Umani, Crazy Cakes and Cora's.
“For $20 you get free food, cheap drinks, the first 80 people get a gift bag, you get to see the clothing, the models and you get to shop,” Court enthused adding while they used to hold the sale the day after, this year the sale is right after the show tog et people while they’re inspired by the designs.

“There are also two DJs coming from Edmonton and there is an after-party at the Rogue Restaurant (in the watertower),” she added.
“It’s something different for Lethbridge and you get to dress up without being looked at funny. Though it isn’t mandatory though most people do,” she continued, noting there will be a red carpet and a professional photographer Jayson Domingo photographing the runway action.
“People are getting excited about it,” Court continued.

Lethbridge Comicon 3 features fun for the whole family

Tuesday, 13 October 2015 10:17 Richard Amery

An expanded Lethbridge Comicon celebrates all things comics and geek culture, Oct. 16-18 in the West Pavilion of Exhibition Park.

E-Town Spidey signs autographs at Comicon,Oct. 17. Photo by Richard Amery
“We have TV stars, comic book creators and even more local artists and craftsmen,” said Lethbridge Comicon organizer Adam Essex, who is anticipating between 1,500 to 2,000 people to attend the third annual event.

“And we’re doing even more for kids. So there will be more kids crafts and family entertainment,” he said noting kids 12 and under get in for free.

“There’s lots of kid’s stuff. We’re building a full scale Angry Birds slingshot and lots of crafts. There will be a guy doing 3D printing, so that will be cool for people to see,” he said.

Word The Street 2015 almost blown away from wind

Wednesday, 30 September 2015 11:29 Richard Amery

A decent sized crowd came out on a blustery, windy day for Word On The Street outside the library downtown to officially kick off Arts Days, Sept. 20. Jolen Draper and Steve Martin Play Word on the Street. Photo by Richard Amery

Tents billowed in the breeze a variety of authors answered questions and read from their works.

The city didn’t set up the stage they usually do for Word on the Street, so musicians were plugged in and literally performed their words and music on the street.

I was volunteering at CKXU's table, so only caught a few acts. Jolene Draper's new band played a solid set of bright folk inspired pop music powered by Johnny Greenshields on guitar, Steve Martin on bass, Keenan Pezderic on drums and, of course, Jolene Draper's thin, reedy, emotive voice. Kelly Armstrong reads from one of her books. Photo by Richard Amery

I also caught part of a powerful set from Zojo Black, who featured Steve Keenan and Greg Gomola taking turn on vocals and lead guitar, Paul Kype Local writer Megan Fennell autographs her story. Photo by Richard Amery on bass and Brad Valgardson on drums.

They played some energetic blues, blues rock and country music with some hot guitar playing and driving rhythm.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

Arts Days highlights local artists this week beginning with Word On The Street

Sunday, 20 September 2015 09:42 Richard Amery

There is a whole lot of art happening in Lethbridge. Arts Days is a great opportunity to check some of it out this week.

Ashley Markus looks at a timeline of the history of Arts Days. Photo by Richard Amery
The first big event is Sunday, Sept.20, with Word on the Street taking over the streets around the library.

There will be a variety of music and lots of authors speaking about their works and reading from them.

“ It’s a perfect way to kick off Arts Days,” said Allied Arts Council communications co-ordinator Ashley Markus, noting they used to be independent events, but when Arts Days expanded to a week, they included Word on the Street as a way to promote the literary arts.

“Arts Days is a chance for people to see what arts are happening all over Lethbridge. It’s also a chance for artists to showcase their work,” she said adding Arts Days is about supporting all of the arts in Lethbridge including music, visual arts and dramatic arts as well as literary arts.
“ I like seeing all of the different people at all of the events,” Markus said.

“ You’d expect to same all the same faces but it’s always different. Someone will always come up to us and tell us ‘ I had no idea there was so much going on here,” she continued.
There are events every day all over the city every day except Tuesday.“ That’s our break day,” she said adding many of the events are free to attend.

On Monday, Visual Arts Alberta / CARFAC present a free workshop at CASA for artists interested in learning how to photograph and document their works. it is at 7:30 p.m.in the ATB Financial community room.

Wednesday begins at 9:30 a.m. at the U of L Art Gallery will the coffee will be brewing and the public a can see Jeff Thomas’s new exhibit “A Necessary Fiction — The Portrait,” which is curated by Josephine Mills. Wednesday is also movie night as the Allied Arts Council presents a series of short films from Alberta media artists — Prairie Tales 17 at CASA 7 p.m.

The U of L Faculty of Fine Arts is also presenting a movie — the Valley Below, is four intertwining stories of Alberta's badlands including a pregnant teenager, a hard drinking musician, a reclusive taxidermist and an ambition RCMP officer. U of L New Media professor Deric Olsen will be your host for the night.

The film, nominated for two 2014 Canadian Screen awards, screens at 7 p.m. in the Lethbridge Public Library Theatre at 7 p.m. There is no charge to attend either film.
Thursday will be a lot of fun. The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery hosts The Drawing Bar from 7-9 p.m.

“There will be snacks, there will be a bar so you can bring your drawing materials or knitting materials and hang out in the gallery and check out the new exhibit,” Markus said.
One of Arts Days’ highlights take place at CASA at the same time.

Live in Lethbridge Community Cabaret is a variety show hosted by Lethbridge improv group the Drama Nutz. It will begin at 8 p.m., Sept. 24. There is a five dollar cover.