Events

The 6th Annual Grindstone Comedy Festival comes out swinging with Kenny vs Spenny, Jon Dore, Robby Hoffman & more at four Edmonton venues 
Catch a curated lineup of Stand-Up, Improv and Sketch from across Canada at Grindstone’s 6th Annual Comedy Festival, plus comedy competitions, workshops, parties and more.

Performances from July 2-6 at The Grindstone Theatre, the Howl & Roar Outdoor Stage (100st 81Ave), Maki Maki, and The Orange Hub Theatre.

Tickets starting at $15 at www.grindstonecomedyfest.com 

dhARTworld is delighted to present Kyle Beal’s debut solo exhibition with the gallery … Double Fantasy, from May 8th to May 30th, 2025.  The opening will take place on Thursday, May 8th from 6 to 9 pm.

Keep your eyes open and ready to twinkle. Edmonton artist Kyle Beal conjures from reflection and shine with a dazzling array of works realized on paper, glass and aluminum that speaks to celebration.

Beal’s new and recent works in the exhibition centre on his obsession with mirrors and mirrored surfaces, exploring the nature of reflection, the omnipresence of self-image and subsequent construction/deconstruction of identity.  In this digital age of social media where our focus is at an all-time low and the pressure to perform mounts, we are drawn farther and farther away from reality and the present moment.

Working in concert with Beal’s mirror pieces are a grouping of exquisite pastel drawings of theatrical curtains called Approval Stage.  These curtain pairs consume their foreground with voluminous dramatic undulations, drawing the viewer hither and thither, into a conceptual world behind and in front of the closed curtain call.  From behind emanates the joyous hidden energy of the performer’s finale, and from the front, a demonstration of approval and elation.  Confetti anyone?

Beal’s work humorously asks- Would the real you act this way? Here and now? Or maybe just later? We put on a face, play the part, and rehearse for the life we want (or think we want). So put on a show, preferably to great acclaim, sold-out audiences and standing ovations. Or maybe just to an audience of one (in your living room). 

Act out and act up! Come out and see your self for yourself, a Double Fantasy.

For further information or to arrange a preview, please contact Dana Holst by calling or texting (780) 953-3859.

www.dhartworld.com/double-fantasy-beal-2025 

March 20, 2025 - the official first day of Spring. Yet I just drove to work with snow on the ground. This dichotomy used to cause me grief until I started to take note of the small local changes in season and appreciate natures more subtle brushstrokes.

This practice was one of the inspirations of “Nom Chomp”, our upcoming video game where the Nom makes their way through painted landscapes representing Alberta’s seasons.Following the inspiration of seasons has led to us to the art of Haiku. This form of poetry historically includes allusions to the seasons and we would like to incorporate a poem at the end of each round of gameplay.

The challenge for this competition is to write a traditional or modern haiku (not requiring the 5-7-5 structure) reflecting on your personal experience of ‘Spring in Alberta’. As the Nom moves through the world by eating, additional consideration will be given to poems that reference related terms (such as savouring, tasting, eating, etc.).

The submission period opens May 1, 2025, and will close May 28, 2025, at 11:59 pm. MST. Each participant may enter only once, submitting a maximum of two original, self-authored haiku via email to hoby@copperkettlegameoworks.ca . Please submit unpublished work.

There will be one official winner and four honourable mentions chosen by the crew at Copper Kettle with the guidance of Haiku author Tim Sampson. Winners will be notified by e-mail in early June and then publicly announced June 5th, 2025.

The official winner will receive: Their poetry featured in the game. Their poetry featured on a printed art poster. A cash prize of $120 CAD. A copy of the game upon release. A copy of the printed art poster Various features across social media.

The four honourable mentions will receive: Their poetry included in the game. A cash prize of $20 CAD Various features across social media.

Eight-Step Editing with Elizabeth d'Anjou: 

The Calgary and Edmonton twigs of Editors Canada are pleased to offer the Eight-Step Editing workshop, to be presented in person by Elizabeth d'Anjou. 

Eight-Step Editing is a lively, interactive workshop that teaches proven, practical strategies for improving a piece of writing. Attendees will acquire a “toolkit” of techniques—along with a systematic approach for using them—for making a text more readable.

The workshop combines theory with practice. Participants gain an understanding of the principles underlying each of the eight steps, then apply those principles in exercises. There is ample opportunity to ask questions of the expert instructor in a supportive atmosphere.

Since the 1980s, Eight-Step Editing has been in demand as a unique training opportunity for communications professionals in government, corporate, and non-profit settings, as well as for academics and for freelance editors and writers.

See a detailed breakdown of the workshop.

When and where:

Calgary: 
May 24, 9 am-4 pm
RGO Treehouse, cSpace (4th floor), 1721 29 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

Edmonton: 
May 25, 9 am-1 pm
The Orange Hub, room #333, 10045 156 St NW, Edmonton, AB 

Find more information and purchase tickets at the link below: 

mailchi.mp/9c1a5e710989/kk4k8vmifd

Come explore the online art exhibition Asian Communities in Canada: Representations in Comics.

Produced by independent curator Yang Lim, this exhibition features works from artists of Asian heritage in Canada who expand the conversation around what it means to be Asian today.  Highlighting the unique qualities that characterize the comic genre’s incorporation of text and image, this exhibition’s artists construct diverse representations of themselves and their respective communities that speak to different historical, cultural, and geographical contexts.

Enjoy this free online exhibition from May 8 to June 15, 2025!  It features the compelling works of seven artists: Allan Matudio, Althea Balmes, Lorina Mapa, Naomi Fong, Stefano Jun, Vivian Zhou, and Xulin Wang.

This exhibition has been assisted by the Province of Alberta through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, its arts funding agency.

Artist Q&A Event: Want to learn more about the artists? On Sunday, May 18, 2025, you will have an exciting opportunity to join a FREE live Artist Q&A and learn about their creative processes, artistic journeys, and stories behind the works featured in this exhibition. Register here to confirm your spot in this free event!