Alberta artists creating a bed of roses
As many have already remarked, the recent flooding in Calgary and southern Alberta has brought the community together in an astounding way.
Even though I am a born Calgarian, I remain completely in awe of the volunteer spirit that has infused the City.
Calgary artists have also come together and organized several initiatives to raise funds for flood relief. One fundraiser in the works is a fascinating project that draws on that symbol of Alberta: the Wild Rose.
Painter Terri Heinrichs came up with the idea after seeing the devastation in High River and Calgary.
“I didn’t know what else I could do to help other than to do some art projects,” says Heinrichs.
So, she launched The Alberta Flood Rose Project.
Heinrichs is asking Calgary and area artists to submit a four-inch by four-inch (10.1 centimetres by 10.1 cm) square with some artistic interpretation of a wild rose on it. Many media are eligible, from painting to metalwork to fabric art.
So far, Heinrichs estimates nearly 300 artists have committed to the project.
“The artists in Calgary are so generous and amazing, I knew this would work,” Heinrichs says.
Due to popular demand, there will also be a Children’s Flood Rose Project for 100 select children’s art pieces.
Once Heinrichs has collected all the individual art squares, she will arrange them into groups of 100 — not unlike piecing together a quilt — to be mounted in frames.
The artwork will be auctioned off and all proceeds will go to the Red Cross for flood relief.
“The idea of putting together the same picture, the wild rose, having all the different artists across the city create their version of it and framing those all together, I think it will be a really powerful piece,” Heinrichs says.
The deadline for submissions is July 26. For more information on The Alberta Flood Rose Project, visit thealbertafloodroseproject.com.
Fiestaval
Given the serious times citizens have been facing these past few weeks, the promise of a festival full of dance, music and food is welcome relief. It’s the annual Fiestaval, a free family festival celebrating Latin culture.
Now entering its seventh year, Artistic Director Christian Greiffenstein promises this summer’s event will be bigger and better than ever. One of the highlights is Colombia’s La Sonora Carruseles.
“It’s one of the best salsa bands in the world. It’s huge,” Greiffenstein enthuses.
The other headliner is Puerto Rico’s Angel y Khriz, a reggaeton group.
“They are the biggest name we have ever brought to Calgary,” Greiffenstein says, pointing to their millions of YouTube views.
“We are expecting to have at least 10,000 people extra from other areas of Alberta because of these names,” he says, noting last year’s attendance topped 45,000.
“It’s going to be amazing,” he adds.
There will also be performance troupes from Edmonton, Manitoba and, of course, Calgary.
Greiffenstein says he keeps the proverbial “ear to the ground” year-round to find out what the “coolest bands” are locally, as he says the cost of bringing in groups from abroad is prohibitive.
Besides 14 bands on the week- end, there will be eight cultural groups performing, as well as Latin dance demos from several of the city’s dance studios.
Of particular note are three local Spanish rock groups that run the gamut from hardcore to reggae. They will play their own tunes, as well as cover songs by South American rock idols.
Greiffenstein is particularly proud of this year’s Latin food vendors.
“We are proud to present a festival that is not only amazing to hear and watch, but the food component is also wonderful,” he says.
“From every corner, there is a dish we have available for people. ... We encourage Canadians to try something different at the festival,” Greiffenstein says.
Fiestaval takes place in Olympic Plaza on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, visit fiestaval.ca.