All by Celina Vides

The Fall

The Fall

Celina Vides
Artist Perspectives, Guest Writer series

After seven years working at Arts Commons (almost to the day as I write this), and in the arts sector in general, I have become accustomed to the fall being the start of our new year, something that was not really part of my life before moving here. Where I grew up, the school year went from January to October, and I only went to university in Canada for a few years before completing my degree. I like to think of August 31st as the stand-in for a New Year's Eve in the arts; I have always thought there is something magical about that unassuming day when we close our season, (and our financial books) and we get ready to start it all again.

The Family Behind Season of Gratitude

The Family Behind Season of Gratitude

Celina Vides
Arts Essentials, National Geographic Live, Arts Commons Presents, Calgary Philharmonic, Downstage, One Yellow Rabbit, Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects

Long-time patrons of Arts Commons, as well as avid supporters of the arts, Rodney and Karen McCann along with their family, wanted to find a meaningful way to give back to our essential workers who have given so much to get us safely through the pandemic. The idea that they came up with, in collaboration with Arts Commons, is the Season of Gratitude program which aims to bring essential workers to productions by the Resident Companies of Arts Commons.

+15 Soundscape: Peter Moller’s 1958 is a journey through time and memory

+15 Soundscape: Peter Moller’s 1958 is a journey through time and memory

Celina Vides
Artist Perspectives, Arts Commons Presents, Behind the Scenes, Inspiring Stories, Visual and Media Arts

When Peter Moller was a little kid, he went to The Grand theatre to watch his very first movie along with his parents and his brother. The Danish family of four was sitting in the iconic Calgary landmark, built in 1912, feeling comfortable on those green leather seats housed in the same space where audiences had seen The Marx Brothers perform, Nelly McClung speak, and crowds rally for both the Liberal and Conservative parties.

Stress is a monster that eats Darryl Sinclair alive

Stress is a monster that eats Darryl Sinclair alive

Celina Vides
Artist Perspectives, Arts Commons Presents, Visual and Media Arts, Inspiring Stories

When you “step” into the virtual Lightbox Studio at Arts Commons, you will notice a large shape greeting you at the door and oversized fabric limbs hanging from the walls of the studio. Soon Darryl Sinclair, multidisciplinary artist, designer, and current resident artist at the Lightbox Studio, will turn that giant shape into a stuffed monster – one that doesn’t feed on typical monster fare, but the messages of stress and anxiety from visitors like you. It’s all part of Darryl’s project Stress is a Monster that Eats me Alive.

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

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!

Visual Arts Goes Virtual: A look inside the creation of the 360 tours

Visual Arts Goes Virtual: A look inside the creation of the 360 tours

Celina Vides
AC@Home, Behind the Scenes, Visual and Media Arts

During the pandemic, we have seen the temporary closure of museums, galleries, and exhibition spaces. For these entities, the work to keep audiences engaged could be said to be relatively easy as they work with highly visual pieces that can be shared online. But as an avid museum attendee, I know there is more to the experience of art than just flipping through pictures on a website.

In our current world, what can cultural organizations do to bring back these immersive experiences? The answer is not as simple as you might think.

Virtual Experiences and Radical Imagination in the Arts: An Interview with Alex Sarian   

Virtual Experiences and Radical Imagination in the Arts: An Interview with Alex Sarian   

Celina Vides
Arts Essentials, Behind the Scenes

I recently had the pleasure of being a Zoom fly on the wall for my mother’s 50-year High School Class reunion. I was a powerful fly (or a Zoom host, whatever you want to call it) who had the ability to mute everyone in the room, provide in-chat tech support, and spotlight participants at random while staying unnoticed in the background. This virtual version of what should have been a real-life celebration with her classmates back home, turned out to be an emotional and unforgettable night for my mother. And I got to witness it all as the Zoom ghost that I have become in the past 8 months.

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