I've only been to the Esker Foundation Contemporary Art Gallery twice but it's one of my favourite…read moreart galleries/exhibition spaces in the city! It's a beautiful place that easily accommodates both large & small scale artwork. It also regularly features pieces of various mediums including sculpture, painting, photography, interactive exhibits, film & any combination of the above. I've yet to see a live performance piece there, though they do seem to have the capacity for it. The Esker also features talks by artists, family art events & kid focused hands on art lessons! You'll have to register via their site but they are entirely free! It's also FREE for regular visits! As an extra bonus, they have nice longer hours, especially on Thursdays & Fridays, when they're open till 8pm. The place is clean & modern. There's some beautiful architectural elements to the interior without imposing on the features works. There's also a nice sitting area with a fantastic view of downtown if you just want a nice break. The only negative about the space is that the main revolving door is a little too seamless! Meaning: the actual openings to come in and out look way too similar to the glass panels! If you're not touching the glass walls or you're not paying attention (eg: you're talking to a friend or your phone just rang, etc) you can actually miss the opening & have to do the turn again! It's embarrassing, believe me! :( Other than the main door this is one amazing space! I love this place very much, please check it out sometime, or catch one of their talks. Those can get a bit crowded even with registration, so go early! Have fun & fill up on some amazing works of art!

The owner seemed nice at first but I realized she was not genuine when I went to meet her in…read moreperson. Having told her I was working on my first big project and that I was still figuring things out, she was impatient and it felt like she took advantage of the situation. Long story short, she ordered items before I confirmed, as I specifically asked for a quote first, and pressured me into buying them. I had emailed her asking specifically for quotes if I were to purchase X items, and she responded saying she had ordered a bunch of the items and told me the price in the same email. I was shocked by the price and could not afford the full amount I was looking for and initially felt bad, telling her Id take them off her hands since she'd already ordered them, even though I no longer even needed those items, but did not realize how expensive it was and that I just couldn't afford it. When I went in, she said it wasn't her problem and that she had ordered them just for me, and felt that I had led her on... all I had done was discussed the project with her and asked for quotes, and I had been transparent about not being sure about some things being my first project of this scale, but she went ahead and ordered BEFORE giving me the price, there is no obligation on my end to purchase at the end of the day. I could have not shown up at all that day but I am someone who keeps their word. She ended up giving me 10% off, which was literally just one of the 10 items free (I spent close to $1k there, you're welcome, on items that are literally $45 less at Michaels, and I will never be back).

What a GREAT little store, packed with all the art supplies you'll ever need! The owner was very…read moreapproachable and attentive to detail. Stop pouring your dollars into the pockets of American-owned entities like Michaels, etc and support our local economy!

Brian does an amazing job - he's a perfectionist. He also is very creative in choosing framing…read moreoptions. The selection at this shop is extensive, with a lot of variety. And Brian's prices are extremely reasonable, for very good quality work.

This is less vostly than many others. If you know what you want, it works well. I have had…read moreseversl items framed and it has been. Good experience.

Redleaf Moulding has been doing my Framing since I started my art business in January of this year…read more They do very professional work. They make good recommendations to help me get the best look for my artwork. They have been able to turn around some quick orders for me although I do my best to give them as much time as possible. But they are always open to meeting customers, very friendly and professional to work with.

Outside the Shape is a cool little gift shop and gallery, off the beaten path within the Inglewood…read more It's within a cute little home and does a handsome job curating artists, creators and makers. I loved wandering around and imaging some gift possibilities. I was particularly struck by some of the wall art, and a few creative takes on books. This is also the kind of place to return to often, as I'm sure there would be something new to explore on each visit.

How have I not reviewed Outside The Shape yet? I love this store, they take all of my money! It's…read morethe cutest little house turned shop in Inglewood with a delightful owner and her office pup who is just as lovely. They carry lots of great local Calgary makers. When I first visited close to Christmas I literally bought all of the things and had so many positive comments on the unique local gifts that I picked up for everyone. They also host great workshops for everything from social media strategy to painting nights. I've attended two of the painting nights that they hosted with Heart & Swirl and loved every minute of it, the location is great and you can shop in between steps in the workshop.

The Ruberto Ostberg Gallery is in Calgary's NW in one of Calgary's older buildings (many years ago…read moreit used to be a furrier). The gallery features a different artist every month and features the owner's work herself (Anna Ostberg) every November. It is an elegant Gallery with 4 separate rooms, an artist's residence and kitchenette. It is perfect for throwing a small gathering. (Even our speed dating events are held here every few weeks) Kitty corner to Weeds cafe, art classes are held almost every day and art openings almost every month. http://www.ruberto-ostberg.com

Go on a Wednesday for the art battle! SERIOUSLY .... if you are looking to get new art for your…read moreplace, or if you just want to come and flex your creativity, come out. You can make art and then auction it off at the end of the night if you so desire, or you can watch the art being made and then try to purchase your favorite pieces in the auction. For the art battle they spin a wheel and themes are giving, there is an emcee for the evening letting you know what the themes are and how the night will progress, after that the artists are off, occupying every space of the venue, on the floor, couches, against the walls and in the summer spilling out into the streets.... you get to watch as an observer, and go and have conversations with the artists and see whats happening. Then 2 hours later the auction starts.... so if there was a piece that caught your eye stick around. You can sometimes get pieces that would normally sell for thousands of dollars for under $100, and its guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind. And who doesn't like to support local artists and businesses.... 1/2 of the money collected goes direct to the artist, the other half goes to the venue so they can continue to have such nifty events. Usually all the artwork that is up on the walls is for sale too, and it changes frequently, so if nothing caught your eye that time, don't be afraid to go back. All ages are welcome, and many kids create and auction off art as well. Its a totally different date night, maybe work on a piece together, and if you choose auction it off and buy a bottle of wine after! The only downside is the lack of snacks and beverages for those observing, but there is a convenience store just around the corner!

Anyone even remotely interested in creating art needs to know about Rumble House. I paid my first…read morevisit this week Wed. I chatted with the founders who are f/t art teachers, met other artists (all ages and walks of life) and watched them create stuff. Donated art supplies are available for those who have nothing or need something they don't have. Every Wed. is a free drop-in night with three themes chosen (as mentioned in the previous review) if you as the artist want to use them. After 2hrs, you can put your piece up for auction if you're proud of what you made. Within the first hour the place was packed and people were sitting on the floor. If you're not a proclaimed visual artist like me but want to hang out in an interesting and inspiring place, you can bring whatever art project you're working on and just do that. No need to participate using the themes or include your material in the auction. I don't like the use of "art battle" because it's really not that at all. This is not a competitive environment whatsoever and everyone just does their own thing. You can just be a visitor too. Rich Theroux (founder) said that if at least one new person shows up every week they may be able to keep this place alive long-term. There were ten newbies this week Wed, including me. Thursday nights is drop-in figure drawing with a live model for a $10 fee. I'll be back for sure with a sketchbook in hand. I saw some pretty incredible art being made and even just showing up at 9pm for the Wed. auction could get you some pretty sweet original art for a good price. Bring water or something else to drink and snack food if you think you'll be hungry. I had zero expectation that I'd be served anything and there just so happened to be coffee and donuts on hand until they ran out. The Rumble House founders are extremely friendly and generous people who are already doing enough to serve the community in bigger ways.

Worst museum I've ever visited. I'll admit, I'm a skeptic when it comes to contemporary art to…read morebegin with, but from the jump, this experience sucked. Signage wasn't clear as a visitor following directions from gps. We felt lost in the parking lot, and it took a while to figure out that the entrance faced the street that was a haul from available parking in the big parking lot. Signage was minimal and not oriented for anyone arriving in a car. The building is confusing AF. The video installation exhibit: blah. The other couple exhibits: meh. The flow of the building: ugh. Left here pissed off that we wasted time and money stopping here.

January 23, 2020 is the Grand Opening of the Contemporary Calgary. The Calgary City Mayor Nenshi…read moreand City Councils all showed up to the event. They went so extreme and invited 1400 guests to the event and I was one of the guests. Admission is free on the Grand Opening Day. Going forward admission will be $10 for the day per person and if you like you could purchase an annual membership for $20. Contemporary Calgary call themselves as a Planetarium. It is something Calgarian lacked. I walked around this giant complex that is made out of concrete and I feel it has more contemporary arts/paintings than items or artworks associated to the sun and moon or outerspace. I don't know if this is a real planetarium. The biggest and most appealing artwork that they have at the Contemporary Calgary right now is the Museum of the Moon - by Luke Jerram. This is a temporary exhibit/artwork. The artwork inside this museum doesn't interests me too much other than the Museum of the Moon. I mean overall, it is a good addition to Calgary. I am sure I will be back if they add more to the exhibit. Right now part of the museum or halls are left empty. PS: It is like a maze inside.