All in Inspiring Stories
You may have walked into the Blues Can or Ironwood and wondered at the powerful vocalist on stage, only to find out that she’s a local gem who now calls Calgary home. Bebe Buckskin, known off stage as Danielle Ghostkeeper, has set herself apart with her gritty and soulful performances, evoking such Canadian legends as Alanis Morissette. This May, you’ll have an opportunity to hear her perform on CKUA in a special live recorded performance in the Engineered Air Theatre at Arts Commons.
Welcome to the fifth instalment of the Artists of Arts Commons, a series sharing the stories of our staff who practice art in their personal time – whether it’s an active hobby or as much as a secondary career. We’ve been excited to be able to share a wide range of artistic pursuits with you, from painting to dancing, to felting and script writing. In part five, we introduce you to a puppeteer, a sketch artist, and a full-time music teacher who are all part of our dedicated front-of-house team.
This April, Arts Commons Presents and National Geographic Live are bringing a virtual presentation of three inspiring women photographers to screens and homes in Calgary. From diverse backgrounds exploring a variety of subjects, all three have one thing in common – they train their eyes on the subject of global migration, particularly on its effect on women around the world.
This year for International Women’s Day, we are proud to uplift and amplify the voices of the women featured in the upcoming show Strawberries and Peaches: A TD Black History Month Cabaret. This virtual show was curated by local artist Lemba (Misha Maseka) to celebrate the complex grace that is Black femininity.
Astrobiologist, planetary scientist, and general expert on everything alien, Kevin Peter Hand is out to change the way we think about life on other planets. No, we’re not talking about big-eyed, grey-skinned men from Mars, but what we are talking about is the infinite possibilities for life outside of our safe, blue sphere.
“Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe. People assume that this is the search for life beyond earth, which is correct, that’s certainly part of astrobiology, but what’s also central to the study of astrobiology is study of the origin, evolution, and future of life on earth. Where did we come from? Where are we going? How did life originate?” asks Hand. “When you think about the living universe, right now, all we know of is life on Earth. We have yet to find even a speck of life beyond Earth.”
Love is in the air, or rather, halls!
Arts Commons is a home of so many memories and traditions. You might have seen your first concert, admired your favourite visual art piece, or even experienced a play. For some, memories include meeting or marrying their partner in one of our spaces.
This February, Arts Commons Presents: TD Amplify Cabarets return! Each of these popular cabaret-style performances feature a different cast of amazing local talent that have inspired, challenged, and energized audiences with dance, music, poetry, and performance art in the intimate space of the Engineered Air Theatre. As with so many events right now, this first presentation of the TD Amplify Cabaret series, Strawberries & Peaches will feel a little different, streamed virtually direct to your home rather than live in the theatre.
After what has now been nine months of closed theatres and live performing arts venues, with huge restrictions on our ability to gather due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are realizing now more than ever how essential these forms of human interaction are to our well-being, sense of community, and cultural awareness.
