Deep Freeze Five Finger Friday

It’s a true winter weekend, with big beautiful snowflakes drifting down. We are going to do what we have to do to survive this together – find the good and celebrate.

We are holding the first of many 2016 winter festivals this weekend, right here on the Ave. Deep Freeze is in its 9th year, and here are five reasons why this ‘cool’ festival (sorry) should be on your to-list this weekend.

image from DeepFreezeFest.ca

INDEX FINGER: THE LEADER

Snow and Ice Carvings

The great big snow carvings are always a hit, and what I’ve seen developing on the Ave this year will not disappoint. The ice carving competition (with chainsaws) starts Saturday with judging on Sunday. It’s always fantastic to see what these carvers see in a block of snow or ice. In the case of the snow carvings, sometimes we also get to play.

MIDDLE FINGER: THE ATTITUDE

Mischievous Fairies Projection Mapping

I’m not sure exactly what to expect from this, but I looking forward to something cool every time I hear ‘projection mapping’. This is essentially projecting moving images onto a building in a way that interacts with the three dimension space of the building. These Deep Freeze projections are set to enchant us on the facade of Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts on Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Once the sun goes down, get ready for the fairies will show up and get up to some sort of mischief.

From the website; 

Mischievous fairies, elves and ogres take over the facade of the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts through brilliant projector mapping by Owen Brierley and David Banks. Catch these fantastical creatures popping out of windows, jumping out of doors and sliding down balconies on Saturday from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm.

RING FINGER: THE FAITHFUL

Alysha Creighton’s WAITING ROOM

Find respite from the madness that is a huge festival in the still solace of Alysha Creighton’s WAITING ROOM. Our current intermedia exhibit of image and sound ends very soon, so this is a perfect chance to catch it while you can.

Find out more about WAITING ROOM here.

PINKY FINGER: THE OUTLIER

Alberta. Of Earth and Sky at Gallery at Milner

image from Earth Sky Art

While not out of town, this show is not actually part of Deep Freeze at all, so we shall consider it the week’s outlier.

Local artist and arts champion Jay Bigam (@JayisPainting) has a solo show on at the Gallery at Milner at Stanley A. Milner Library downtown. His show features abstract landscapes that capture the feeling of a place, rather than a direct representation.

Get ready for landscapes that burst with colour and dance across the canvas in ribbons.

Jay Bigam will be live painting at the Gallery every Saturday from 2-5 while the show runs (throughout January).

Get more information here

THUMB: THE UNSUNG HERO

Deep Freezer Races

It’d be hard to dub the annual Deep Freezer Races as art, but I would say this one zany event is the force that keeps Deep Freeze interesting every year. This is the one thing that people tend to go ‘huh?’ about, and the one crazy idea that shows off just how willing Arts On The Ave is to bring crazy ideas to life.

It really is people pushing each other around in deep freezers, and it really is amazing.

Catch the races between noon and 2pm on Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10 on 118th Ave between 92 and 93 Street.

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See you on the Ave this weekend?

Get Arty This Weekend with #ArtScene13

The snow can do what it wants, but spring is indeed here. We’ve got Mother’s Day, markets and some brand new galleries to check out, so let’s get artin’.

Here are 13 bits and bites to keep you arty this fine weekend. It’s another #ArtScene13!

1. Edmonton poet Stephen Berg wants you to know that he writes best in burgundy underwear.
2. Speaking of Edmonton poets, the Arts Council is seeking nomination’s for our sixth Poet Laureatte.
3. One of my favourite galleries, the Peter Roberston Gallery, has a new home on 124th street. Check it out and take in the bright, bold canvasses of Steve Driscoll’s ‘Actually, Everything is Just About the Same”.
4. So does one of my other favourite galleries. The Front Gallery is launching it’s new 124th street space with works from painter Blake Ward and sculptor Jeff Sylvester.
5. Before you leave 124th, check out these colourful explorations by Blu Smith at the Daffodil Gallery.
6. Why not make it a gallery day tomorrow, and visit the great spots of 118th Avenue too? The Nina’s Stollery Gallery is open from 1-3 PM.
7. Take your mom to The Carrot on Friday or Saturday and experience visual art and storytelling with Rebecca and Mary Ann Lippiat’s Mother Love.
8. The Bleeding Heart Art Space is showing fantastic poetry along with some of the best linocuts I’ve ever seen. A great Mother’s Day gift, perhaps?
9. A good friend of ours, Artist Marcie Rohr, is praying for Nepal in pictures. Join her, and get ready for the culination of her 40 day project on June 4. See the image below.
10. Want a great website for your art? I’m leading a workshop for that next week with space for 6.
11. Spend some quiet time with a pencil this weekend. Be like Le Corbusier.
     

    "I prefer drawing to talking. Drawing is faster, and leaves less room for lies."

    Le Corbusier

12. Those aren’t just treehouses in Churchill Square–they are houses in the trees. So head downtown and look up.
13. Dead Venues premiers tonight at Metro Cinema as part of the Global Visions film festival. Take a walk with the ghosts haunting the YEGArts memory lane.

So much to do, so little time. Have fun, get arty, and don’t forget yo’ mamma.