Arts Commons Blog

All in AC@Home

Jun 8

Jun 8 NASARIMBA: One Year Later

Visual and Media Arts, Artist Perspectives, Inspiring Stories, AC@Home, Arts Commons Presents, Behind the Scenes

In June 2020 we caught up with artistic duo NASARIMBA, the muralists who’ve been making their mark all throughout Calgary. Since then, Rachel Ziriada and Mikhail Miller have been busy developing their practice and finding new ways to create and interact with their audience, including collaborating with Edmonton-based artist Jill Stanton last summer for the Beltline Urban Murals Project (BUMP) festival and taking part in the RBC Emerging Visual Artists Program. Originally scheduled to work in the Ledge Gallery at Arts Commons, they’ve alternatively migrated their work to a home studio in order to adapt to current restrictions. Needless to say, a pandemic has not meant stagnation in their work.

May 3

May 3 What is Mountain Goat Mountain? Exploring the world of audio-led theatre

Alex Bonyun

AC@Home, Arts Commons Presents

What is Mountain Goat Mountain? Sarah Lockwood and Tahli Corin asked this exact question just over a year ago when the COVID-19 pandemic first began the tide of lockdowns and at-home isolation. For families who had suddenly found themselves educating their children from home and limiting their social interactions, the team were inspired to create something that would allow parents to bring the theatre arts into homes. Thus, Mountain Goat Mountain was born.

Apr 22

Apr 22 FLEX AVE - The Calgary-New York Edge Effect

Alex Bonyun

AC@Home, Inspiring Stories

Yo-Yo Ma is famously cited for elevating the idea of The Edge Effect, a scientific term for when two ecosystems combine and, as a result, create an area of increased biodiversity. An example of this would be a coral reef, where land and sea come together as a unique, biodiverse habitat. Yo-Yo Ma posed the idea that The Edge Effect could pertain to the Arts as well, and that if you took two very different artforms and performed them side –by side, something new and more powerful than both would be born.

To illustrate this point, Yo-Yo Ma performed Camille Saint-Saens' The Swan with street dancer Charles Riley, aka Lil' Buck, at China's National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

Apr 6

Apr 6 One Yellow Rabbit reimagines beautifulyoungartists

Alex Bonyun

AC@Home, Artist Perspectives, Behind the Scenes, One Yellow Rabbit

This three-week performance residency gives four of Calgary's young performance artists real-life stage experience. This is the first step in the launching of a newly envisioned beautfiulyoungartists program which will kick-off in the fall with eight young artists given the learning experience of a lifetime.

Mar 31

Mar 31 Four reasons why you should not miss our TD Amplify Cabarets this Spring

Celina Vides

AC@Home, Arts Commons Presents

The complex grace of Black femininity, the healing balm of love and compassion, a convergence of beauty and bravery from the African and Afro-Caribbean Diaspora all the way to our home on Treaty 7 land, and all-inclusive celebration of radical performances - now Queerer than ever! That is our TD Amplify Cabaret Series in a nutshell, back for 2021, bigger and better, and streaming straight to your homes.

Pour your favourite drink, ease into a comfy seat, and get ready to join us!

Mar 18

Mar 18 Migration, Safety, and Dignity - National Geographic Live Virtual

Alex Bonyun

AC@Home, Arts Commons Presents, Behind the Scenes, Inspiring Stories, National Geographic Live

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.

Mar 1

Mar 1 Space, Aliens, Planets, and Moons – oh my!

Alex Bonyun

AC@Home, National Geographic Live, Inspiring Stories

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.”

Feb 24

Feb 24 Prioritizing a Greener Future

Alex Bonyun

Arts Commons Presents, AC@Home, National Geographic Live

Champions of the arts for the past two decades, Enbridge has prioritized the importance of enhancing the communities in which they operate, strengthening Calgary’s cultural institutions with their support. Sponsoring arts and culture is just one way that Enbridge has solidified their commitment to real change. In late 2020, they unveiled a comprehensive plan for progressive change within their company, including a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 with an interim target to reduce emissions intensity 35% by 2030. To drive results and accountability, Enbridge linked the achievement of ESG goals to employee and executive compensation.