Mary-Anne McTrowe plays the ukulele at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery during the Arts Days on Oct. 2, 2016.
Taiko drummers Hibikiya, Corey McQuaid, Jolene Dunsdon, Yumi Suzuki, Kelly McQuaid, and Vallerie McQuaid perform during Art Days, Oct. 2, 2016.
Taiko drummers, Ukrainian dancers, local musicians performed during the 40th anniversary of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery at CASA. Arts Days was organized by the Allied Arts Council was recently held in the city and lasted a week from September 24 to October 2. Showcased were daily performances from over 300 artists, buskers, live performers and music. Also 44 businesses got directly involved and displayed local talent. Throughout the city people were treated to a wide variety of what the sixth annual Arts Days had to offer.
“This was our most successful Arts Days, it was our 13th Art Walk and third Family Affair on the Square, and every year it gets a little bit bigger and everybody wants to be more involved!” said event coordinator Kelaine Devine.
As momentum for Arts Days gains popularity every year, it is the perfect opportunity for up and coming artists to display their skills. Highlights were theatre and symphony performances, an art scavenger hunt, dance shows, readings and a walking tour. There was also a book and magazine festival, quilt show, art galleries, film and wine night, let’s just say there wasn’t a shortage of things to do during the week.
“I think it’s great, there’s a lot of different events going on and the weather was fantastic for the weekend and I hope a lot of people were able to get out and see a lot of the things going on!” said Mary-Anne McTrowe.
The ukulele artist entertained the crowd at the SAAG.
Not only was this a chance for performance artists and musicians to have the floor it also included visual arts and crafts. The Artisan Market was where local artists gave everyone the chance purchase their one of a kind artwork. Local artist Amanda Thompson who displayed her Windy City comic says,
“I’ve started a second one… it’s an original narrative called Misty Waters and I hope have my own comic with its own characters!”
Arts Days has now a become a fall festival that engages the community in the arts and entertainment the city has to offer. To keep updated on artist exhibitions, art gallery presentations, concert performances, theatre and more visit http://www.artslethbridge.org.
