February 3rd First Thursday
February 3rd First Thursday at Art Central
Thursday February 3, 5-9pm
Admission is free. All ages welcome. www.artcentral.ca
Heat up your February with live Flamenco music by guitarist David Matyas* and Flamenco dancing, Valentine card making station, exhibition openings, and art & jewellery to inspire love and romance.
UPPER LEVEL
Collage Gallery: From me to you with love: jewellery by Louise Chong
One Blue Wall Gallery: Opening Reception of Cherish: small treasures by Amanda Meador, Jenny Tzanakos and Urban Orchard
The New Gallery (TNG): Then + Then Again - Practices within an artist-run culture, 1969-2006 by Clive Robertson (Kingston, ON)
UPPERCASE Gallery: In celebration of the release of their latest issue of the magazine for the creative and curious, UPPERCASE presents "The Touchy Feely Letterpress Exhibition" and "The Perfect Match Miniature Label Montage". A must-see show for lovers of letterpress and those enamored with ephemera!
MAIN LEVEL
AXIS Contemporary Art: Prom Storm: Kirsten Johnson; the tumultuousness of youth meets the tumultuousness of the weather
Micah Gallery: Opening Reception of Practical Beauty: exhibition by Yukon Tlingit artist Jean Taylor, whose colorful paintings depict traditional First Nations beaded dance footwear, artist in attendance.
Rox Gems: Valentine is here! This year Sterling Hearts on long chains are really fashionable. I have designed some beautiful pieces for your sweetheart. For those of you who love those eternal gemstones I have a gorgeous selection too.
Shisomiso: Photography by Amy Victoria Wakefield
Studio Todorovic: Year of the Rabbit: group exhibition
Swirl Fine Art & Design: Opening Reception of In and Out of Season: Featuring new work from artist Lindsey Love
LOWER LEVEL
Calgary Arts Development: Love Bytes Date Night: Celebrating stories of disability and sexuality presented by the Calgary Sexual Health Centre and the Disability Action Hall. Come share the love; view photographs of sexuality and disability, watch our film debut Love Bytes: Stories about Disability and Sexuality, Valentine Sculpture making, snacks and love for everyone.
My Escape Art Studio: Opening Reception of Loving Lines III: Celebrating love through abstract line designs on cards & clothing.
* About the Musician and dancers:
David Matyas has trained in Winnipeg with Jim Shewchuck, principal guitarist for flamenco dancer Claire Marchand, and also with Calgary-based guitarist Peter Knight. He has travelled to Spain frequently to continue his guitar studies. David has accompanied dance classes at the School of Alberta Ballet in Calgary for Toronto-based teacher Claudia Carolina. In May 2009, David was invited by Carolina to teach guitar in Whitehorse, Yukon, as part of a four-day flamenco workshop. In the summer of 2009, David was awarded a grant by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts to pursue extensive studies in Montreal with Myriam Allard's flamenco company La Otra Orilla, and its principal guitarist, Kraig Adams. David was invited to Edmonton to perform in Triptico in September 2009. He performed in Cross Over, with dancer Rosanna Terracciano, as part of Calgary's Fluid Movement Arts Festival in October 2009, and From Spain to Calgary via Montreal with La Otra Orilla and Terracciano in December 2009. David recently performed with cantaor Felix de Lola from Sevilla as part of the Salero Calo flamenco group at the Beat Niq Jazz and Social Club. Recent performances also include Expo 2010 in Saskatoon with dancer Kari Alba, and Flamenco y Opera at the Arrata Opera Centre in Calgary.
Francesca Canalizo has been dancing flamenco since 1998 and has been privileged to study under many well respected flamenco artists including: Claudia Carolina, Claire Marchand, Myriam Allard, Kari Alba, Joselina de Leon and Oscar Nieto from Canada, Martin Gaxiola from the United States, Sabas Santos, Barbara Breton and Andrea Perez Cervantes from Mexico, as well as Alejandro Granados and Christina Hall from Spain. Francesca has also had the opportunity to study in Spain at the well known Flamenco school "Amor de Dios" in Madrid with great master El Guito. Currently Francesca performs with Salero Calo and has performed on the productions "Ritmos y Sondidos", "Encuentros" and "Raices". Outside of Salero Calo, she had also performed in Flamenco!, Flamenco! 2, Flamenco Forms, Fiesta Gitana, Ritmo and "Flamenco y Opera", as well as other projects in the city with fellow flamenco artists.
Maria Regnier has been studying and performing Flamenco for over ten years. She has studied in Spain numerous times with respected and well known Flamenco artists such as Juana Amaya, Pilar Ortega, Isabel Bayon and Torombo. Maria has also attended many workshops in Canada with Alicia Marques, Christina Hall and Manuel Gutierrez. She performs around Calgary with Flamenco group Salero Calo and has performed in many flamenco productions in Calgary and Saskatoon including Imagenes, Ritmo, Fiesta Flamenca, Expo Flamenco and Raices.
