Poster salutes women in western culture
Alberta university student’s work chosen
The work of a young artist from Balzac, Alta., will represent the Calgary Stampede next year through a poster created as a salute to women in western culture.
Rebecca Shuttleworth’s artwork was chosen for the 2019 Calgary Stampede poster as part of a competition for youth across the province, which includes a total of $20,000 in art scholarships for the top eight finalists.
Dana Peers, incoming president of the Calgary Stampede, unveiled the poster at the newly opened Doherty Hall Wednesday morning. The 2019 Stampede artwork is the first to be designed by a youth artist.
“The program was about the future,” Peers said. “It was about the importance and the relevance of the Calgary Stampede going forward, as seen through the eyes of the next generation.”
Shuttleworth is in her fourth year at the University of Saskatchewan and has been involved in the arts since she was a child.
“As a fifth-generation farmer I know how hard women work on the farm and that’s something that motivates me every day to do my best — it’s what I wanted to show in my piece,” she said in a news release.
The competition for Albertans aged 15 to 24 is taking place again for the 2020 poster, with the deadline for applications set for Nov. 18, 2018. The competition is funded through The Brandon Flock Foundation.
The 2019 artwork was announced as the doors to Doherty Hall were opened — a site built to provide performance, rehearsal, exhibition and training space for the arts community in Calgary.
Bob Thompson, chair of the Calgary Stampede Foundation, said the 120-person venue is an ideal size for music or dance rehearsals.
“I think it will fill a gap in Calgary for a moderate-sized facility with excellent acoustics and a beautiful environment inside,” he said.
The hall is a heritage replica of Westbourne Church, which was located on Olympic Way. Some historical materials were restored and incorporated into the replica building.
“What’s particularly great about the facility is it’s wired properly so that you can simply come in, plug in and play without a substantial setup complication for performing groups,” Thompson said.
The new site in Stampede Park was built through a donation by the Doherty family and funding from Canadian Heritage and the provincial government.
“Another milestone in our journey to transform Stampede Park into a year-round, world-class gathering place that celebrates western heritage, culture and the arts,” Thompson told a crowd gathered outside the hall for the official opening.
Mike Doherty, the son of Patrick and Maureen Doherty, said his parents are very proud of having the hall named after the family.
“My parents have a long history of philanthropic endeavours,” Doherty said.
“In fact, in 2009, they were awarded the Order of Canada for their worldwide philanthropic work. And while they were thrilled to receive this honour, they never did it for any recognition. They did it because it was the right thing to do.”
Westbourne Baptist Church was built in 1904 at 13th Avenue and 2nd Street S.E. and was relocated to 12th Avenue and 4th Street S.E. in 1911. Former Alberta premier William Aberhart became the unofficial minister at the church in 1915 and started his radio broadcasts in the building.