Seeking Members for the Second Annual Contextural Summer Residency Program

We are currently inviting expressions of interest from those who would like to be part of this dynamic and vital new addition to Calgary's cultural scene as members, participants in a summer residency and the possibility to continue working with the group in securing more long term studio space.

Interested parties should send an application (as listed below) to: contextural@gmail.com with the subject: Summer Residency Application

Deadline for submissions is Friday, May 1 @ midnight.

Submission Requirements:

• Two paragraphs describing how you see working with this group/ in these facilities will enhance your practice and how you think you can enhance the group. (max. 1 page)
  

• CV

• Artist Statement (maximum 1 page)

• 5-6 images of your work – as it may pertain to the work you intend to do in the space. (images should be in jpeg format, 72 dpi and 1024 x 768 pixels) see Do’s and Don’ts of submitting digital images below, as taken from the Canada Council for the Arts application guidelines. Please contact contextural@gmail.com if you need assistance to modify your images.)

• A list of images – including title, date, medium, dimensions of artwork and max.1 sentence describing the piece (optional).

Questions may be directed by email to contextural@gmail.com

Christmas Trunk Show Pics

Contextural Christmas Trunk Show

Saturday December 13, 2008

Thanks so much to all of those that braved the cold! We had a great turn out considering the daily high was -30c.  We had wine cheese and a warm fire for all to enjoy.

Great work to all involved. Stayed tuned for information about our Contextural Spring Trunk Show in May.

Glenbow Gallery and Museum

No photos for fear of breaking copyright law... see the links below...

Al and I have had a great day in downtown Calgary. I was so disappointed that we had missed the exhibition Experimental Art and Culture at the Calgary Art Gallery (it finished a couple of days ago - just my luck) but actually this was no bad thing as they were completely closed for exhibition change and we were forced to go to the Glenbow Gallery and Museum - where we were lucky enough to see the Joe Fafard exhibition of sculptures.
We took the (free) audio guide and Aliya listened to every entry - we found the works amusing, disturbing, beautiful, complex and were in awe of the techniques.
We then (had a drink of course) went to the hands on make your own art (ARC discovery room) - Al did a water colour landscape (Fafard was a farm boy) and I had a go at a pastel drawing of a horses head (he loves his horses and cows!) and we watched a video of him discussing his work.
Comment to say with me - 'If you go into your studio and you say to yourself "I don't have any idea of what to do." Then you should leave the studio straight away.' Creativity should be a natural process and not a struggle, it should be a joy that comes from you and isn't forced out of you, then I guess it is pure pleasure.
Of interest might be the upcoming Sew City: a community project for mending and making May 23 & 24th and the Celebrating Quilts May 1 - July, 2009