Where Calgary Magazine September / October 2018 | Page 23

Art Galleries + Museums
BY S ILV I A P I KA L
BRINGING FAIRY
TALES TO MATURE
AUDIENCES
OCTOBER 5 - DECEMBER 15  In Re-Imagined Narratives
(page 26), Calgary artist and designer Shona Rae has created
22 narrative sculptural rings made using goldsmith techniques.
Each is an imaginative representation of a fairy tale from
western culture combined with one of the symbolic scenes
from the major arcana of the tarot deck (the 22 cards that
are the backbone of the tarot deck and depict recognizable
archetypes like “The Fool”). Rae says she is inspired by metal
work training and a study of myth, religion, fairy tales and
folklore. In
this work, she
combines rings,
traditionally
a symbol of
power and
authority, with
fairy tales,
which she says
were generally
written for the
disenfranchised
or those who
had lost power
and authority.
Rae has made
it her mission
to “reclaim
fairy tales and
folktales for the
adult audience
so that we may
gain wisdom
and direction
in our modern,
hectic lives.”
IT STARTS WITH
SANDSTONE
Until September 30 Through various mediums
including painting, sculpture and video, Formed
By Sand (page 26) explores the impact of
sandstone and oil on Calgary. Lougheed House
invited 14 artists to interpret how geology
has shaped the city’s history, economy and
physical surroundings. Lougheed House itself
is a sandstone mansion, a relic from a time
when sandstone reigned supreme in downtown
Calgary. Due to a large fire in 1886 — which
destroyed 14 buildings — city officials drafted a
law that required all large downtown buildings
to be built with sandstone, ushering in a new
industry and transforming the face of the city.
CONTEMPORARY
CALGARY FINDS
A NEW HOME
After months of negotiations, the City of Calgary
and Contemporary Calgary reached a lease
agreement in the spring for a new modern and
contemporary art gallery to open in Calgary’s
centennial planetarium. The planetarium was
one of about 860 buildings constructed with
federal funds in the 1960s to celebrate Canada’s
birthday. It was home to the Calgary Science
Centre for decades until they moved to 220 St.
George’s Drive NE and reopened as Telus Spark.
Contemporary Calgary signed a 25-year lease
with a 10-year extension available to them. The
city is currently renovating the planetarium to
bring it into compliance with building codes. It’s
expected to be complete by December 2018,
with Contemporary Calgary moving into the
building in 2019 (contemporarycalgary.com).
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
where.ca
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