Latest Arts News

Casa presents darker themed exhibits with Mixed Narratives and 26° 16'9.00"N 127° 44'31.79" E

Friday, 04 November 2016 15:46 Richard Amery

The two new exhibits at Casa opening, Saturday, Nov. 5 have a little bit of a darker tone.

The official opening reception for “Mixed Narratives” and Kazumi Marthiensen’s 26° 16’9.00”N 127° 44’31.79”E is Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Kazumi Marthiensen opens her new exhibit inspired by Okinawa at Casa on Nov. 5. Photo by Richard Amery
“Mixed Narratives,” features the works of three Crowsnest Pass based artists Debbie Goldstein, Tony Partridge and Yurek Panek.

“ The artists use three different mediums painting, drawing and sculpture,” said Casa curator Darcy Logan, who is excited to present an exhibit with a slightly darker theme.
“Tony was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. On first glance they look so pretty, but then look a little closer,” Logan continued.

“ (Debbie Goldstein’s) These lollipops look pretty but when you look at them, they have scenes of torture on them. And on this ceramic cupcake, the girl is ripping out her own intestines,” he said.
“Yurek uses pen and ink to reflect his interest in comics. Their works reflect their personal viewpoints,” he continued.
He is excited to present Crowsnest Pass artists.

“It’s fun to have an exhibit which has a darker theme and I feel the Crowsnest Pass is so close, it is great to feature exhibits from artists from there working in such different mediums,” he said.
Local artist Kazumi Marthiensen drew on her experiences growing up on the Japanese island of Okinawa and the political disputes arriving from the presence of American military bases for her exhibit 26° 16’9.00” N 127° 44’31.79”E.

Monster Mash 2 will be a monster of a good time for a good cause at Casa

Thursday, 27 October 2016 09:53 Richard Amery

There will be a monster of a good time for a good cause at Casa, Oct. 29 as they host Monster Mash 2 from 7-midnight — a fundraiser for the Casa gallery program. The Groove Apostles, playing Love and Records, are playing Monster Mash 2 this weekend. Photo by Richard Amery
“ We have live music from the Groove Apostles as well as all sorts of fun, spooky activities,” said Casa curator Darcy Logan.

A centre piece of of the night will be the finals of an audio arts competition Casa curated.

“Wheat we did is extracted 3-5 minute clips of vintage horror movies and had competitiors create original musical scores for them. We had 15 submissions from all over Canada and the U.S,” said Logan, adding the audience will judge who wins first, second and third prizes of $300, $200 and $100.

“ There is also a costume contest and a pre-carved pumpkin contest,” he said.
“ It’s a fundraiser for the Casa gallery program so we can continue to be a venue for local artists to show their work and get paid for it,” Logan continued.
‘It was a successful event last year, and we thought wit would be another great event to make the Gallery program a little extra revenue. It’s a good way for you to support your local artists,”he said.
Tickets are available at Casa for $20 in advance, $2t5 at the door
While the Monster Mash is for adults, Casa hosts an afternoon Halloween party in collaboration with the Downtown BRZ for family.
“It’s for free. There will be game for everyone’s tastes,” he said.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

Lethbridge arts groups embracing Arts Days 2016

Thursday, 22 September 2016 12:39 Richard Amery

Get ready to get your art on as the “artumnal” season begins Sept. 24- Oct. 2 with ArtsDays takes over Casa and much of downtown. Muffy McKay puts a poster up outide the Allied Arts Council. Photo by Richard Amery

There will be numerous artistic endeavours happening during that time beginning with Word On the Street outside the Lethbridge Public Library, Saturday, Sept. 24.
The next 10 days will be filled with music, art, drama and a whole lot of fun.

“ArtsDays usually starts with Word on the Street, but they moved it to Saturday, so the event is longer,” said Allied Arts Council project co-ordinator Muffy McKay.
“We‘re doing activities beginning on Tuesday. But a lot of groups have booked activities during ArtsDays, so we’re happy to promote them,” added Allied Arts Council communications coordinator Kelaine Devine.
“We need to support each other,” she continued.

“An idea that came from the SOAR festival is we’re having an arts workers meet up at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Sept. 27, which gives a chance for people who work in the arts to come and meet and have a drink together. It’s right after work. And the Owl’s Drink and Draw is right after that which is great because I always want to go, but when I get home, it‘s difficult to leave my house again,” Devine said, noting a lot of other community groups and arts organizations have planned events to happen alongside ArtsDays.

The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra opens their season on Monday, Sept. 26 with Finlandia at the Southminster United Church.

The big event of the week is the annual Art Walk, happening Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 around the downtown. But before that, the Geomatic Attic brings Big Dave McLean and Tim Williams to sing the Blues at the Geomatic Attic, Sept. 25.
Two dramatic productions continue throughout the week — New West Theatre’s presentation of Cowboy: A Cowboy Story at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Sept. 27-Oct. 1 and University of Lethbridge’s Theatre Xtra has their first presentation of the season at the Dr. Penny Foster building downtown — Alexa Elser’s “Let Me Eat Cake” runs Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

“… and You’ll Never Believe What they Saw!!!” at Casa this weekend

Friday, 16 September 2016 20:37 Richard Amery

Are you feeling a little curious this weekend?

Artist bekk QWells demonstrates how home made wings work in his new exhibti, opening, Sept. 17 at Casa. Photo by Richard Amery
In addition to Love And Records, the Lethbridge Fringe Festival and the Lethbridge Folk club’s opening season, Bekk Wells’ new exhibit “… and You’ll Never Believe What they Saw!!!” opens at Casa, Sept. 17.

Wells, who had an exhibit at the Bowman Arts Centre in September 2010 posing the question why stuffed animals are portrayed they way they are, asks a few other interesting questions in his latest exhibit which consists of a few unrelated installations.

“This one is six complete circulatory systems all interwoven. You can actually see the shape of the bodies,” Wells said, indicating what looks like an intricate web of red wires and hearts hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the Casa gallery.